Advice for a possible 85 purchase

[mtbtim]

Howdy, I've been looking for a while to purchase a 1st Gen and I think I've found a good one.

It's an 85 with 323,000 miles. The engine was rebuilt by a reputable guy 15,000 miles ago but I can't remember his name. I looked up reviews for his rebuilds and they were positive. The receipt for the rebuild is $3200. It also has a fairly brand new interior which ran $2800. A new clutch was installed with the engine.

The guy selling it is the second owner. The original owner supposedly took really good care of it and has a stack of receipts that I will look through when I go see the truck tomorrow. I asked about whether there was any work ever done to the transmission, transfer case or differentials and the guy didn't know.

From the pictures, it looks like it was repainted, but the guy claims it's original paint. So, the original owner must have garaged it over the years. It has ORW bumpers, new BFG tires, Borla muffler, AC, keyless entry with alarm, LED light bar, and he has an SR5 cluster he's going to include.

Here's some pics:











He wants $8500 for it. What do you guys think?

 

[PlanetExpress]

Well you are in San Jose so I doubt it will have rust issues but be sure to check anyways, specifically the frame. Other than that it sounds like a great truck. I would offer 7k and see what he says.

 

[v_man]

I saw this on CL as well , says it's been listed for 27 days , which you could infer a couple things from :

1) He's really holding out for his asking price, which is high
2) Something's amiss with the vehicle and beware

An 85 'Runner with the straight axle and EFI should go like hot cakes . Just makes me wonder why it hasn't sold yet ....

 

[mtbtim]

I saw this on CL as well , says it's been listed for 27 days , which you could infer a couple things from :

1) He's really holding out for his asking price, which is high
2) Something's amiss with the vehicle and beware

An 85 'Runner with the straight axle and EFI should go like hot cakes . Just makes me wonder why it hasn't sold yet ....

I was sort of wondering the same thing you mentioned. Why hasn't anyone jumped on this yet? I guess I'll need to look over the truck and paperwork really carefully before I decide to make an offer. But, if everything checks out, would this truck be worth $8500?

 

[KidVermicious]

Howdy, I've been looking for a while to purchase a 1st Gen and I think I've found a good one.

It's an 85 with 323,000 miles. The engine was rebuilt by a reputable guy 15,000 miles ago but I can't remember his name. I looked up reviews for his rebuilds and they were positive. The receipt for the rebuild is $3200. It also has a fairly brand new interior which ran $2800. A new clutch was installed with the engine.

The guy selling it is the second owner. The original owner supposedly took really good care of it and has a stack of receipts that I will look through when I go see the truck tomorrow. I asked about whether there was any work ever done to the transmission, transfer case or differentials and the guy didn't know.

From the pictures, it looks like it was repainted, but the guy claims it's original paint. So, the original owner must have garaged it over the years. It has ORW bumpers, new BFG tires, Borla muffler, AC, keyless entry with alarm, LED light bar, and he has an SR5 cluster he's going to include.

Here's some pics:

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He wants $8500 for it. What do you guys think?

Here's the thing with that truck - you're going to pay a serious premium because it's clean and has the factory solid axle, which is fine if you're in collector mode and want a nice clean classic collectible truck. But if you're going to use it like a 4Runner that's paying way too much because a) it isn't going to stay that clean and b) by the time you've upgraded the axle and suspension for wheeling on 35s you'll have done the same thing you'd have done if you'd bought an IFS truck for half as much and swapped a solid axle in.

Dummies pay way too much for a solid axle truck because they think it's a shortcut to an SAS. Your seller is looking for one of those dummies, and he's not likely to come down much in price. Whether it's worth $8500 to you is up to you, but if it's as clean as it looks $8500 is about right for the market.

 

[Dropzone]

it may take him awhile but he will eventually get his asking price.
85 4Runner with EFI is the wanted one.
That truck is a very clean example, getting harder to find.
too many have been trashed by guys getting them cheap and wheeling the crap out of them

 

[nevada]

that's a damned nice rig.

I happen to own an 85/sr5/22re 4runner. I paid just a shade under $4k for it many years ago. it was almost as nice as that one at the time. im guessing I could still get my money back...


like said above, if you are planning on USING it, that is too much. if you are just wanting a really nice straight axle 1st gen, and are OK paying that much, then it IS worth it you.

it depends on your plans. I could never spend that much on of those.

 

[mtbtim]

that's a damned nice rig.

I happen to own an 85/sr5/22re 4runner. I paid just a shade under $4k for it many years ago. it was almost as nice as that one at the time. im guessing I could still get my money back...


like said above, if you are planning on USING it, that is too much. if you are just wanting a really nice straight axle 1st gen, and are OK paying that much, then it IS worth it you.

it depends on your plans. I could never spend that much on of those.

If I bought this, I do plan on wheeling it, but nothing too crazy like extreme rock crawling. I was considering buying this as a play rig/back up vehicle and keep my 3rd Gen 4runner as a dependable travel rig. I don't want to beat up my 3rd Gen and then not have it be dependable when I'm 3 states away from home on a mountain biking trip.

I was just thinking this might be a reasonable purchase with the newly rebuilt engine, new interior and overall shape it's in. Based off NADA guides, high retail for one of these is around $4200, but I've seen nobody selling a 1st Gen this nice for anywhere close to that price, at least in California. Most I've seen are beat-up rock crawlers or tired looking original rigs that will need a decent amount of work.

Talking with the guy, I'm confident I could get him down to $7500. But, I first have to look at all the receipts and see what has been done over the years. My main concern is there's 323,000 miles on it, and the guy couldn't tell me if there was every any work done to the transmission, transfer case or differentials. So, it may be very close to needing rebuilding of one or more of the drive train components very soon.

 

[KidVermicious]

My main concern is there's 323,000 miles on it, and the guy couldn't tell me if there was every any work done to the transmission, transfer case or differentials. So, it may be very close to needing rebuilding of one or more of the drive train components very soon.

Dude, it's a thirty year old truck. Receipts be damned, count on it needing regular maintenance. If you intend to wheel it, count on it needing more than regular maintenance.

I understand the attraction, first gen 4Runners are sexy and that particular one is very sexy. But old trucks need lots of love. I'll be honest, if you're even looking at the miles, I think a first gen might not be for you.

 

[nugsfan]

Dude, it's a thirty year old truck. Receipts be damned, count on it needing regular maintenance. If you intend to wheel it, count on it needing more than regular maintenance.

I understand the attraction, first gen 4Runners are sexy and that particular one is very sexy. But old trucks need lots of love. I'll be honest, if you're even looking at the miles, I think a first gen might not be for you.

Yes but for that price, I would definitely want to know what has been worked on and what hasn't been...Saying that though, yea the miles are meaningless.

 

[mtbtim]

Dude, it's a thirty year old truck. Receipts be damned, count on it needing regular maintenance. If you intend to wheel it, count on it needing more than regular maintenance.

I understand the attraction, first gen 4Runners are sexy and that particular one is very sexy. But old trucks need lots of love. I'll be honest, if you're even looking at the miles, I think a first gen might not be for you.

I'm not following you here but maybe it's because I didn't explain myself well enough. I'm going to look at the receipts to see if there was ever any work done to significant drive train components like the transmission and transfer case. If I don't see any documentation to that effect, then I can safely assume that at 323,000 miles, a rebuild of these components will be in my near future if I decide to buy it. Rebuilding these things isn't something I'm going to do myself. I'll be pulling it and taking it to a transmission shop to rebuild it for me and that will be a decent expense. So, that's where I'm going with looking at receipts for a truck with this high of mileage.

I do realize old trucks will need work, and I've done enough wheeling to know shit will break, but I'm trying to make an intelligent decision if this truck is worth what he's asking.

 

[mtbtim]

Took a look at the truck and it had too many red flags for me to make an offer. People always want stupid money for these 1st Gen 4runners so I'll most likely never get one unless I accidentally stumble across one that's actually priced reasonably. They are cool looking trucks, but I could get way more truck for the money by buying another 3rd Gen.

Thank you to those that gave me some advice.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Found this thread closed... didn't see any reason why. Possible mistake?

Opened it back up. If there was a reason it was closed, let me know and I'll close it again.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

What red flags did it have? Looks like a very nice rig. Decent asking price, too. How well did you inspect it?

3rd gens and 1st gens are so different, cross shopping them doesn't really make much sense to me. Entirely different vehicles to drive, maintain, etc. Most people who shop for a 1st gen know that it will not be as comfortable or nice as a 3rd gen, certainly not as nice a daily, but it has its appeals. Any 30 year old vehicle will need maintenance, much like a 3rd gen will at that age. 30 years is a long time and most vehicles don't fare well by that time. This one looks like it's fared well, and done so in spades.

FWIW, if I sold my my truck right now, you'd find the history has far more "red flags," but simply inspecting it would reveal its a great rig.

Bought my 87 with 264k, service completely undocumented. Sat in non op for 9 years. 4 Previous owners, last of which left the truck at a junkyard. Red flags everywhere.

I put in a rebuilt motor/turbo, chassis at 273k, motor at 9k. Took out the automatic trans and swapped it with a transmission came from a 1988 that sat 10 years, no service documented. I went through most of the truck, such as the front suspension (brakes, hubs, wheel bearings, etc). The sucker is SOLID. Throughout all of that, I have one receipt for the motor work.

A quick drive was enough to feel how well the W56 had fared. Smooth shifts (good synchros), no whines or chattering bearings. Underneath showed no leaks. During install, I just changed the fluid and shifter gaskets, plus the boot around the shift fork, that was all it needed. Nearly 9k miles later, no hiccups. I keep it maintained and treat it right, very doubtful the trans will need any work.

One look underneath and it is clear the diffs have never been cracked open, but there is no whining, clunking, or leaks.

My point is, How my truck sits now, I'd ask roughly 6500 or so, but if it had a SFA, I'd ask at least 8500, with original paint and patina. I've had several offers on it so I have no doubt I could get that much for it.

If you came asking me about the diffs and inside the trans... you'd probably leave and say my truck has red flags, too (atop of its history). If you took it to a shop to have it inspected, without telling them how many miles it had or any of the sketchy history, it would pass with flying colors.

It's red as fck with red interior, maybe a red flag would fit right in

 

[TheManOutside]

I would also like to know what these red flags were for you. Based on what you've said/shown, it looks like a great rig!

All these trucks need love though, no matter how nice. I bought mine for $1000 because a tree fell on it. Look at it now. I would jump on that truck if I were you.

 

[RAD4Runner]

$7K would be great, if it's as clean as it looks. But don't forget to add a properly-wired starter relay.

Dude... thirty year old... sexy ... need lots of love.

Heck, I'll give her lots of love

 

[greenie3754]

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