Finally found my 85 and joining the 1st Gen club!

[94Runner4]

Hey guys! I am not new to 4runners (This is my 5th ). I have wanted to find a great condition 1st gen, preferably and 85, ever since I bought my first 4Runner which was a 2nd Gen and seeing everyones awesome rigs on here. After keeping an eye out, browsing eBay, Craigslist, autotrader, etc., etc., for many years, I finally found her!!

1985 DLX, 22RE, Manual, 2 owners and only 138K original miles! All original except the wheels, rear bumper and new paint on the top. Truck has never left NorCal since it was purchased here in 85. No rust!! I does need a few things like fixing a small water leak behind the dash, then carpet and possibly an engine rebuild here soon (thinking either rebuilt 22RE or 3RZ swap) as its burning a lot of oil.

Look forward to spending a lot of time here in the classics section and picking your brains!

 

[Redthies]

Congrats on the new rig! She’s a beauty, in a great color too. 3RZ swap is a good idea in my opinion, as if you’ve got to rebuild or repower, you might as well make some gains!

 

[Eugene13]

Agreed on the 3rz swap. If you've got the time and knowledge, that would be the best route to go. Beuatiful truck btw:thumb:

 

[94Runner4]

Congrats on the new rig! She’s a beauty, in a great color too. 3RZ swap is a good idea in my opinion, as if you’ve got to rebuild or repower, you might as well make some gains!

Thanks! Wasn’t my first choice in color but it’s definitely grown on me! I also have never seen another with these decals/stripes.

 

[Redthies]

I’ve never seen those stripes either. Not sure if they are factory. Maybe dealer installed?

 

[Blind Cleric]

Beauty! I had one that same color for 10 years.
Decals make it look like a middle east spec vehicle. :wow:
Surprised it's burning a lot of oil at <140K miles. So much for the vaunted 22RE.

I hope you keep it riding at stock suspension height, or there abouts. It's a nice stance. The lifted ones look like they're on stilts.

 

[thennen]

Nice find! A 22R-E burning oil at that mileage was either badly neglected, or the mileage is inaccurate (4200 miles per year on average). Or maybe it sat for a number of years, or was used for a bunch of tiny trips where it didn't get a good warm-up. But I vote for the 22R-E to keep it mostly original. Congratulations!

 

[Redthies]

I vote for the 22R-E to keep it mostly original.

OP, if your plan is to keep this all original, I’d think about rebuilding the 22R as well, but if you are going to modify it for camping/road tripping (or “Overlanding” if you must use that term), then you might as well put some more power to it so you can handle the extra weight you’ll be carrying.

On a side note, I find it interesting how people bash on the 3.0 all the time and praise the 22R engines, when it seems to me, there are as many 22R or RE engines popping head gaskets etc. I think the engine design department at Toyota was not quite up to standards in this era...

 

[94Runner4]

Nice find! A 22R-E burning oil at that mileage was either badly neglected, or the mileage is inaccurate (4200 miles per year on average). Or maybe it sat for a number of years, or was used for a bunch of tiny trips where it didn't get a good warm-up. But I vote for the 22R-E to keep it mostly original. Congratulations!

I have both the Carfax and Autocheck reports. Th mileage looks pretty consistent each year for most of its life. It looks like it only went up a few hundred miles each rear between 2010-2014, 2014 being when it was sold to 2nd the owner. The first owner used it as a weekend rig for camping, etc. The guy I bought it from is someone I’ve known for a year or so and is trustworthy. He bought it from a good friend of his he’s known for many years.

I’m thinking the oil burning is from it not being used much between those years. Probably sat and dried out the gaskets/seals. It doesn’t leak anywhere externally. It also really doesn’t smoke much out of the exhaust which is a little odd based on the oil it’s burning. A little on warm up but that’s it.

 

[94Runner4]

OP, if your plan is to keep this all original, I’d think about rebuilding the 22R as well, but if you are going to modify it for camping/road tripping (or “Overlanding” if you must use that term), then you might as well put some more power to it so you can handle the extra weight you’ll be carrying.

On a side note, I find it interesting how people bash on the 3.0 all the time and praise the 22R engines, when it seems to me, there are as many 22R or RE engines popping head gaskets etc. I think the engine design department at Toyota was not quite up to standards in this era...

My original plan was to rebuild the 22re. Just have been reading a lot on the 3rz swap. Not even close to decided yet on this. Going to take it to a yota specialist this week to dig in and see what’s going on... It may get a mild lift in the future and would be nice to have the extra power for the larger tires if I go that route.

I had a 3.0 with a 5 speed in my 2nd gen. It did have the head gasket replaced before I bought it around 120k but, I had zero maintenance issues after that. It was pretty gutless maintaining hwy speed up inclines though..

 

[Redthies]

I think these first gens look best (most “appropriate “) with 3” or so of lift and a 33x10.50 tire, but if you go to a bigger motor or gears and 35s, they are so darn cool too, like Eugene13s truck.

I’ve got OME suspension and 31s on mine and it still has plenty of (relative) pep with the 3.0 and 4.30 gears, but I’m going to call my Toyo rep buddy who owes me a favor and see if a set of 33x10.50 MTS are in my future. If I get the 33s and it’s a total dog, one of my friends is going to set me up with some 4.88 thirds.

 

[N8_TX]

Nice find! A 22R-E burning oil at that mileage was either badly neglected, or the mileage is inaccurate (4200 miles per year on average). Or maybe it sat for a number of years, or was used for a bunch of tiny trips where it didn't get a good warm-up. But I vote for the 22R-E to keep it mostly original. Congratulations!

Congratulations on your find! I also agree on the 22R-E. It's been reliable for me in my 84.

 

[Voltan73]

Nice find; you really scored with that one. Welcome to the club...you have a TRUE 4Runner. Congrats!

 

[Llowlife]

My favorite generation. Had 2 and wish I'd kept at least one. Just can't do a 2 door in my present situation. Looks like a sweet ride

 

[Aaron_dos]

Great find, welcome to the club.

 

[Khalima]

Looks like a sweet rig. I looked at a 86 last week, but it was in rough shape and not worth the asking price imo. I too am semi in the market. Enjoy!

 

[MtBuck]

It looks like it is begging for some OEM wheels.
Great looking runner!

 

[NG51T]

Wow-that is clean! I love the color-looks really subtle and functional.