Buying a 1st gen runner

[AlienBacon]

Hello everyone!

I am planning to buy a 1st generation 4runner. 1986 posted at 1000, it has 276k miles on it. Are there any major concerns I should be looking for when I go check it out?

I know these:

No radiator, it was taken out - had a hole in it.
Possible cracked head/gasket.
Been in their family since 1988.
No roof leak.
Little rust on back from fender bender.
Supposedly no transmission problems ever.


I am willing to rebuild the engine (22re), but is there anything else I should pay special attention to when I go check it out.

Thanks

 

[asahi4runner]

If you are rebuilding the motor I assume you going to replace everything else on the motor. I would look for rust. Toyota can become rust buckets very quick.

 

[92-SR5]

Welcome!
Most areas in the states you have to be concerned about frame rust. The northwest isn't horrible for rusting frames but it is worth looking. The head issue isn't that hard if you have decent mechanical ability. Do it right and put a whole new timing kit in with the steel guides. There are tons of write-ups with pictures for doing those kind of jobs, look on sites such as here, yotatech, pirate 4x4, 4x4 wire, etc.

Oh yeah, post some pics so we can see :eyebrows:

 

[fourwd1]

Rust rust rust rust rust rust rust rust ....
That's the only thing I worried about when I bought my 84 and 89 runners
One frame swap was enough