School me on Toyotas!

[13below0]

Whats up new to this board. I'm looking to buy a mid to late 90's Yota and need some general info. Like what to look for, where do they rust? Frames etc. I'm from the northeast so it will probably have rust. Any motor better than the other? pretty much the basic stuff. I have searched but everything I found is about mod's. I got a Jeep I wheel with right now so I can take some time and do the Toyota over the summer. Any years that I should stay away from? Thanks 

[jimbo74]

haha, the late 90s.... by then, they were all tacomas or plush 4runners... lol

[gturismo]

 

Well, if you plan to do any serious wheeling, you should consider getting a truck with a solid front axle.  You can do a solid axle swap on the 86 and later IFS trucks, but that requires some fabrication skills.  All Toys were solid axle through 1985, and IFS 86 and later.  I think the only MAJOR difference between all the solid axle trucks is whether its carb or EFI.   Most people prefer EFI, and that wasn't available until 85.  So the ideal truck to start with would be an 85.  However; a properly set up carb will do very well.

If you plan on light to moderate wheeling, or are using it as a daily driver most of the time, then get yourself a nice IFS truck with EFI.  The only engine I would stay away from is the 3.0 V6.  It doesn't seem to be as reliable as other engines, is heavier and provides only a modest gain in power over most of the 4cyl engines.

I don't know much about rust problems.  I live in the rust free zone

[13below0]

Thanks! I dont think there are any nice 85's on the east coast. I got a Jeep with D60's etc. to wheel. So the toy would be a DD until I get bored and want to sell the Jeep. I have always wanted to do a Toyota, Especially after seeing the new stuff that Longfield is putting out, I think I can build something pretty bad a$$ and still have a good driver. What about the later 3.4 motors are they any good?

[gturismo]

Yes, the 3.4s are good motors   If you get a Taco with a rear E-locker, that will get you a lot of places.

[Rocksurfer]

 

[wa4x4]

haha, the late 90s.... by then, they were all tacomas or plush 4runners... lol

Hahahaha yeah....but at least they're 4x4.....tool.

[Rocksurfer]

Hahahaha yeah....but at least they're 4x4.....tool.

RS Jim


..but, but some day it will be a 4x4.

[13below0]

How about 1st gen? I found a supposed to be frame off 83 SR5 w/ a  lift and 35s brand new paint etc. its got a 22r 5spd. How are these for gas mileage? I think the price is a little high asking $5500 but I havent seen in person yet to know exactly whats done.

[UGLYTOY]

If you're in the northeast, it will be surprising to find a 83 w/o a rusted out frame....check the inside of the frame near the gas tank area, there's usually holes there from rust......there's also a crossmember to the rear of the gas tank that looks basically like a pipe that rusts through often also
I'd look for a early 90's up to a 95 w/22re, then sas it when u r ready.  fyi, the tacoma's have the front driveline on the wrong side, so wouldn't be able to use toy axle (and longfields) for sas, unless there is a crawler/conversion on here to use an earlier t/case (i haven't paid much attention to those years)...

[rockscrambler]