Thinking about buying a 1st gen

[hamiltonj2w1]

Ok so I have had a 4th gen 4runner and currently own a 5th gen Trail my wife has a Rav4 so we are pretty big Toyota fans. I have always wanted a 1st gen for the longest time in white and I have found one and the guy is wanting to trade for a truck which is great because I am selling my 85 Dodge power Ram 4x4. I am mechanically inclined enough to get me in trouble and I am decent at body work since I used to do it back in high school. My question is other then the typical body rot in the rear quarters what else is there to look for on the 1st gen besides the obvious?

 

[turboSR5]

Forget the body panels, check the frame up and down and then check it over again.

 

[green96taco]

Check the frame, Rear quarters,rocker panels, FLOOR PANS!!!!!, the cowl seems common around ohio as well.

 

[shoudagotan85]

Rust. look for rust on the frame and underneath. Also under the carpet and floor panels. The first gens are from 84 to 89 so I think any one under 150,000 ish miles is very rare. If it's around 200,000 miles ask if there motor was rebuilt at all, or atleast if the timing chain has been done. Oil leaks and things like that. Make sure it passed smog first (In Cali, owner has to smog before sale). Even leaking quarts at a time, this motor will run for years. Keep em maintained and they will run forever.


A lot of people prefer the 22R or 22RE over the 3VZE(3.00 V6 right?). To each is own, but I believe the 22 to have a lot less problems

 

[hamiltonj2w1]

Any particular spots on the frame that are more prone to rust then others? I will probably end up going to Denver to find one if the one in NE doesn't work out.

 

[fourwd1]

Most common places for frame rust are adjacent to the fuel tank, above the rear wheels, and where the frame turns upward from horizontal. Check check inside, outside, and bottom surfaces.

The thing is you can't just look at it, you have to bang on it with something.

If you SEARCH the forum you should find plenty of threads on it.

 

[Dano85]

Many of the 1st Gens need work, lots of work. My 1st gen was in fine shape body wise. The frame was undercoated 25 years ago so I lucked out. The engine starts well and runs well. But mechanically, everything was run down. Master cylinder, rotors, calipers, pads, break lines, wheel bearings, knuckle felts, seals... practically my entire front axle had to be rebuilt. Same for the rear axle. Seals, drums, shoes, cylinders... For someone mechanically inclined, these are great weekend projects. It may look menacing at first, but one time through a front axle rebuild and you'll be a pro.

Just don't be surprised if that old truck doesn't require some work, they all usually do unless you are buying one already restored. They are truly amazing off road and if built right, they are near bullet proof rigs... ask me how I know, I wheel mine really, really hard.

Before: (those fender flares are hiding some rot)

After:

 

[shoudagotan85]

Many of the 1st Gens need work, lots of work. My 1st gen was in fine shape body wise. The frame was undercoated 25 years ago so I lucked out. The engine starts well and runs well. But mechanically, everything was run down. Master cylinder, rotors, calipers, pads, break lines, wheel bearings, knuckle felts, seals... practically my entire front axle had to be rebuilt. Same for the rear axle. Seals, drums, shoes, cylinders... For someone mechanically inclined, these are great weekend projects. It may look menacing at first, but one time through a front axle rebuild and you'll be a pro.

Just don't be surprised if that old truck doesn't require some work, they all usually do unless you are buying one already restored. They are truly amazing off road and if built right, they are near bullet proof rigs... ask me how I know, I wheel mine really, really hard.

Before: (those fender flares are hiding some rot)

After:

Beautiful 4runner. I seriously wish I had gotten the 85 i looked at before I got mine I own now. straight axle would have made the mods I have in mind so much easier(wouldn't have to do a damn SAS down the road). I see the PA plates. where ya from? I grew up in the cornfields outside of Bangor, closer to Martin's Creek and the Delaware River. NJ border

 

[Dano85]

Beautiful 4runner. I seriously wish I had gotten the 85 i looked at before I got mine I own now. straight axle would have made the mods I have in mind so much easier(wouldn't have to do a damn SAS down the road). I see the PA plates. where ya from? I grew up in the cornfields outside of Bangor, closer to Martin's Creek and the Delaware River. NJ border

Thanks! It looks really good from 20 feet away, that way you don't see the dents LOL. Yep, PA! Not too far from that area!

 

[hamiltonj2w1]

The guy never emailed me back about the trade so either he thought it was spam or he sold it and doesn't have the common curiosity to let a guy know. Here is where I am not sure what to do I have been scouring craigslist in Colorado since I am only 6 hours from Denver I have found several that already have a sas and lots of trail armor for around 4500 to 6000 but I have also found several cheap stock ones for around 1500 to 2500. So now which road do I take buy somebody elses hard work and just go with it or do I build my own? I know an old truck is going to need some work trust me my beater Dodge 1/2 ton is leaking from so many places lol. I pretty much figured on brakes and rotors and typical stuff like that. That is one sweet 85 though make me just want to buy one already done and change a few things to make it suit my needs decisions decisions?

 

[Dano85]

Bummer man, sorry to hear that. At least you have more to pick from. It took me 6 months of daily craigs trolling to finally find an 85 that I deemed worthy. Building mine up from scratch was the most enjoyable year long project that I've ever taken on. I love wrenching though, it's therapeutic. Everything I did was a lot like a restoration so I put a lot of time in to it. All the old parts were cleaned, wire wheeled and repainted to like new condition and combined with the new parts.

But like I said before, those $1500 trucks usually need a lot of work. They usually run good too, but on close inspection, they usually need lots of attention.

A $6000 work in progress probably will need attention too, but if things like a lift, wheels/tires, high steer, brakes, and knuckle rebuilds are already done, it could spare you or deprive you the pleasure of stuff like this: