Topic: im hooked. need some help

[CaliZuki]

well im hooked. i want a yoda. now i have been wheelin full size trucks for a few years and know alot about them. but now im going to buy a yoda. and have no idea about them. can anyone give me some info on them? like tht to look for as far as axles , T case , tranny . alreay lifted pick ups. stuff like that. im looking for an older pick up. i think you guys call them a gen 1? should i look for a long or short wheel base? this truck will be a daily drive for around a year or so. now i dont know what year these trucks are . but i want somthing for 70s to mid 80s. as far as lift i was looking at this 5 inch wth the SOA. that is on the web page. ( marlins is also in my home town) what size of tires could this kit clear? i wana run atleast 35s if not 37s or 38s. are the stock axles good enuff to run this big of a tire? or would i have to go with a dana 44 or somthing along them lines. and info you have will help. thank you    p.s before i forget. ill have around 6grand to start off with. thats buying the truck and doing some mods.

[79coyotefrg]

1st generation trucks can be had for $2000  or less,  and 79-83  is what you want,

the best year is the 83,  short bed if your going to rock climb,  otherwise the longbed can come in handy

[CaliZuki [OP]]

could you tell me why 83 is the best? why not any of the late 70s? or 81 82? i want the older ones. because well then i get more options on engine swaps. ( dang califonia) smog is a pain here . so the older the better for me.

[kneedownnate]

You can't get a toyota 4by truck that you don't hafta worry about smogging in california!  If you're looking to do that, you're better off buying a pre 75 hilux and converting it to 4wd.  79 was the first year of the 4wd truck on the hilux chassis.

[studentwheeler]

83 is the best cause its got the best tranny of the 70-83 trucks, has the l52 which is suppossed to be stronger than the l50 and 45

[Rocksurfer]

The best yr. would be a second gen. and 1 yr in particular, 1985. The reasons are simple, EFI and a straight axle. Short box long box or extra-cab it doesn't matter which one. I'm partial to a lwb. If you want a 1st gen. then get an 83 since it will sport a 22r. The trans is still a weak point even with the 5 speed, you should never ever use 5th in low range will go away if you do. This continued through the 1st half of 84, and is another reason to get an 85.

[CaliZuki [OP]]

thanks for the info. you all are really helpin out. as far as smog i know i cant get a yoa that donthave to be smoged. i never said i wanted one. i said that the older it is . the more engine options i have.  all i hve o do is be upgrading. if its an 80 i need an 81 or newer to pass the smog.

 anyone have any info on the axles for me? whats the biggest tire i could run on them? i will re gear them problys around a 5.13

[Rocksurfer]

They say that Toy axles are the same as having Dana 44's and I'd agree except for the birfs. Birfs are Toys weak links I would personally not run anything under 5.29's and 35's or 37's max. Others run much larger tires on their rigs. Right now I run 4.37's (stock for my year) with an 84 5 speed and tcase. I have also converted to a 22r motor which helps in the power dept. If you lock the front your issues are compounded. I've always tryed not to start out with my tires turned, once moving the load shock is much less on the birfs.

[CaliZuki [OP]]

yodas come with that low of gear stock? so i i plan on running a 35 to a 38 inch tire. what gears would be good for this? this will be a daily driver for a year or so. and ill hae to drive free way. wht kind of RMPs will i be hitting at 65mph?  im not to sure if ill even do the gears if there  low already. if 4.37 is stock for some years. i mite be doing a 350 swap. i got a 85yr  350 in my shop that is ready to go. so ill have all the power i need. and the gears will be low enough from factory

[86 4runner]

didnt 4.37's only come in automatics??

[79coyotefrg]

no  4:37's  where from what ive been told,  a option for 79-80 models  i have a 79 with 4.37's   and the autos had 4.30's

[kneedownnate]

  Your swap options are very open for any year.

[kyle_22r]

there were no gear options in 79-80, they all came with 4.375s and a 4 speed.  toyota never really had a "low gear" option in their 4x4s, they just kind of corresponded them with tranny/tire size(e.g. 4.56s with 31s stock)