89' 1st Gen for $14k??
- Thread starter rmbertoldi
- Start date
SomeDay
New member
Sweet! SFA! An 85! Those are rare here. Clean, straight body, I like them in red. Brown interior? You can get rear bumpers (replicas) in ToyotaFiberglass in case you don't find a good OEM. Is that side guard (in doors and quarter panels) original? My 4R doesn't have them.
You don't need to do a lot to restore that one to the original condition. Nice truck! Best trucks ever made, I love them.
Do you have enought posts to create the rebuild thread? Ready to subscribe.
You don't need to do a lot to restore that one to the original condition. Nice truck! Best trucks ever made, I love them.
Do you have enought posts to create the rebuild thread? Ready to subscribe.
So that was my "old" 1985 4Runner DLX, owned from 2004 to 2009. Only qualm with it was that it was an automatic, and I never bothered to regear from 4.10's due to funds so driving it on the highway was hell. Back then, I was afraid to do anything other than change the oil. Now my current 1985 is sitting on jack stands with all the engine accessories removed. Rebuilding the hubs, brake system, replace front main seal, etc. It's running fine-ish (can't find the damn idle misfire cause), I just want to clean up rust and an oil leak aftermath that rivals the Exxon Valdez spill ... Plus the original color was red and the engine bay wasn't painted. Except for this impermeable black rubber coating that is randomly splotched everywhere. Even a wire wheel has trouble with it. Looks like someone attempted to undercoat the engine bay in random areas ... just my luck. Most of the parts I've taken off the engine area are OEM and more than likely original (i.e. 35 years old), which is nuts.
I'm a 1985-only DLX-only snob, I'll admit it. Less things to break I guess all around (SFA vs. IFS complexities, no power windows/CC/sunroof). I also find the inclinometer tacky, not nostalgic. And I love the basic gauge cluster without the tach. I also hate chrome
. Here's a sneak peak of the "new" one. Still a 1985 DLX, but with a manual which is 100 times better than my automatic. It's also a "utility 4Runner" with a port-installed bench that has no way of properly being secured to the body. In my album, you can see the welded bolt situation someone made at port to install these. Has A/C but like most trail-bosses, they haphazardly ripped it out "cuz performance" and now I have to source a discontinued A/C hi-pressure hose that was hacked off at the firewall. Body panels are all straight, some new, no rust (except for bolts, rear diff which I will clean up this summer), fresh 033 Toyota White paint job. That's primarily why I bought it (foundational/cosmetic/body is paramount on these).I don't have too many photos that aren't documenting the work I've been doing, but here are two:
As I picked it up (since swapped out wheels and tires, they were all dry-rotted - see in next picture).
Replaced wheels/tires with black 15x8 AR's/BFG AT KO2 31.5"x10.5" (still searching for OEM 1985 wheels, pain due to backspacing issues for SFA):
The whole album is here and public on Flickr, so feel free to browse as I update (and will let you know when the build thread starts). With this latest flurry of exchanges, I'm a few away from 15 ...
1985 4Runner DLX Restoration - Project Pinemind
Sorry, didn't answer your questions about my "old" 1985 red one. I don't know about the side guards. Back then I wasn't concerned about what was OEM or not, but I haven't seen those elsewhere in my travels. It was missing the black plastic panels in front of the rear wheels on the quarters, which my new one has in perfect condition.
What that 3 megapixel circa 1999 digital camera was hiding in the old one, was rust on all 4 wheel wells. So I had planned if I kept it, to do full fiberglass swap out on fenders and quarters. This new one has zero body panel rust or dents, so I get to save about $2k in not replacing the panels with fiberglass.
Ask and you shall receive ...
This makes me want to polish up my '85 rims and chuck them on. Were they 33x10.5s?
SomeDay
New member
Nice, they look very good in white also.
Do you have the rear bumper, rear bumper end caps and the quarter panels 'covers'?
If you like the DLX models, you hate the tail gate window, as [MENTION=80771]RAD4Runner[/MENTION] does! I bet on it.
Sweet!:
One of my current searches for parts in is regards to the OEM rear bumper situation. I have the quarter panel pieces and end caps. And I know I can get a fiberglass OEM bumper from ToyotaFiberglass. However, I am missing the actual brackets that attach the bumper to the frame. I have the passenger side (found it on ebay) but can't find the driver's side. Long since discontinued, and all the local junkyards are stripped clean on 1st gens. So once I get that bracket, I'll be able to finally get the bumper on.
Actually, I love the rear window. It's the one thing that sets the 4Runner apart through all generations of SUV's. And while it's over complicated in how it works electronically (i.e. the multitude of stop-switches especially on the 1st gen with the topper-bolt switch), I think it's a hallmark feature for 4Runners. I like that it's the "only" power option on the DLX, makes it stand out even more.
Looks like I'm finally over 15 posts, so I'll start my build thread soon
Ask and you shall receive ...
This makes me want to polish up my '85 rims and chuck them on. Were they 33x10.5s?
Yep, they were 33x10.5 BFG M/T's.
If you decide to part with your 85 OEM rims, I'll take them. I've been cross posting across forums, searching ebay and junkyards for any OEM 1985 wheels for about 6 months now with no luck.
Nice, they looked great. I think shipping would be a bit cost prohibitive, I'm in Australia. They're not easy to find here either.
fourwd1
Moderator
What kind of 1st gen parts you looking for? I have too many.
PM'd (short list: OEM rear bumper and brackets, brown manual trans/4WD shift console surround, OEM 1985 wheels)
