Author Topic: Mint '82 SR5 - what to upgrade with originality in mind.. (Read 6364 times)

integrale · « **on:** Mar 08, 2010, 03:56:36 PM »

Hi All, I'm a new member been lurking for a while, and have a really nice SWB SR5 I wanted to share with you. Hope the links to pics work below. The truck is in phenomenal shape - has A/C, sunroof, power steering etc the only niggles are a carb issue (crazy high idle - intermittent - i think a vacuum issue) and a slight floor rust issue where the front mud flaps were, but everything else is solid. 118K miles, and original owner until 2008. My plan is to keep this truck as stock as possible - and its going to only do minor off roading only. I think the truck is too nice to heavily mod.

Here is the question - Being on the site - the upgrade bug is really starting to bite

Given the truck is in such awesome shape - and I really want to keep it original looking, what kind of upgrades should I be considering? My thoughts were to start with the carb, as it needs work anyway - would I be crazy to switch over to an EFI setup??.. would this kill its originality?

How about a suspension upgrade? - I'm not really wanting to do a lift, but would really like to refesh the setup. Most upgrades seems to involve lift as well.. I have many more q's but those can wait.. Thanks for looking at the post!
Rich

ajordan1975 · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 04:21:12 PM »

WOW!!!

what an amazing looking truck! i wouldn't touch it. put it in the garage and leave it there.....

83yota5960 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 04:36:07 PM »

damn thats crazy clean. i would fix the carb and leave it in the garage. to clean to touch looks like it just came out of the factory

integrale · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 04:50:55 PM »

Yeah - I figured originality is important. I should fess up - it had been repainted before i got it - and I wonder if the bed liner is covering anything up.... however its still in really good shape... I want to keep it as good as possible - but am open to improvements as well...

toyyota · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 05:56:27 PM »

Please keep you truck as original as you can, This is what made Toyota what it is. If you need small parts, a lot are still available from the local dealer. Yes, I know, the dealer is more money than the local salvage yard, but the parts you buy should last another 20 years or so. I just completed a complete frame off restoration on an 83 4x4 short bed. (If you ever want to sell...let me know!).

85_4RNR · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 06:01:28 PM »

They dont make them like they used to. $I\'m Down$

pumkin toy · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 06:10:39 PM »

gorgeous truck! I would start by fixing the carb. It would be cool to leave it carbed and not swap to fuel injection. Once the carbs are tuned right they run really well. Some mods you could do that really wouldnt affect too much of its originality would be things like maybe a header and some new exhaust if it needs it. If you wanted to you could get another set of wheels/tires. Maybe some black "soft eight" steel wheels with some 31" or 32" mud terrains would look real nice on it. then you could use those for the mild wheeling you would like to do. You also mentioned wanting to upgrade the suspension without lifting it. You could always get a complete bushing replacement kit and that would help freshen up the ride quite bit.

Quick Draw · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 06:18:37 PM »

Beautiful truck... I've never seen such an immaculate 1st gen interior. For example, I have never ever seen an uncracked dash top like that one. I would bet you could sell just that for like $200, since there are only like 5 others in existence. I wasn't alive when they were new, so I can only sort of piece together what they may have looked like on the dealer lot based on somewhat clean and about 50% original interiors on other crawlers. My truck has no interior pieces at all... That's so cool!

birfection · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 07:09:07 PM »

Quote from: Quick Draw on Mar 08, 2010, 06:18:37 PM

Beautiful truck... I've never seen such an immaculate 1st gen interior. For example, I have never ever seen an uncracked dash top like that one. I would bet you could sell just that for like $200, since there are only like 5 others in existence. I wasn't alive when they were new, so I can only sort of piece together what they may have looked like on the dealer lot based on somewhat clean and about 50% original interiors on other crawlers. My truck has no interior pieces at all... That's so cool!

I must have one of those 5 uncracked dashes-WooHOO!! But the rest of my 1980 is not NEARLY this clean. I'm not sure if I could have fun wheelin a truck this clean.

CrazyYota · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 07:10:32 PM »

Beautiful truck!!!

I vote fix the carb and leave it alone!

integrale · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 07:19:27 PM »

This is great feedback. Thanks for all the props. Aisin carb repair it is then

I'll also tackle a front axle rebuild i think, I've got oil slowly leaking out of the birfields. Dont suppose there is any way to still get new Aisin carbs? - I've seen rebuilt ones here and there but dont really know a reliable place to pick one up - can anyone recommend a point of contact?

birfection · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 07:27:21 PM »

Get a Weber Carb. It'll give you more power and better fuel economy. They're also very easy to tune. Pretty sure you can get a new one for between $400-$600

Nihal · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 07:37:14 PM »

Hi

to

Thats a well maintained truck you have and they are good trucks, like others have said try hard to keep it that way

You must be proud, because they are few and far apart

Nihal

H8PVMNT · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 08:35:07 PM »

Wow what a find! I think this truck would be a great candidate for Old Man Emu suspension. It is only about a 1.5"-2" lift and will give you a true "upgraded" suspension with better on road ride and offroad performance without losing that stock look or having to cut anything up. Other than that fix the carb and do a good quality Toyota tune up with Toyota parts. Nothing wrong with the weber carb idea either...

K.Lund · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 09:18:18 PM »

Nice truck, it brings back memories of when I bought my truck new in 83.

79coyotefrg · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 08, 2010, 09:24:54 PM »

kneedownnate · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 09, 2010, 12:37:07 AM »

That thing is WAY too nice to modify

I'd fix the carb (webers are expensive turds, don't waste your time or money) and rust issues, throw in some nice comfy seats and enjoy it like it is! Find another ugly first gen to modify if you want to

toyyota · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 09, 2010, 07:17:59 AM »

Carb parts available from Toyota, keep it OEM.

Plekto · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 09, 2010, 10:04:53 AM »

Lock it. Gear it. Put some armor (black, tastefully done as possible) underneath. Maybe some small sliders/nerf bars.

Absolutely nothing else.

2manytoys · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 09, 2010, 02:15:37 PM »

I agree with Plekto. Lockers and gears don't change the look at all but really improve the off road capabilities.

The body armor/skids will protect it if you do take it off road and are removable. Just keep whatever original parts you do remove, box em up and store em.

I'd keep the original carb too. Keep looking for a carb expert and get it repaired and or tuned right.

The OME suspension is a great idea too.

Gorgeous Truck!!! Keep us up to date on what you decide to do with it.

luvdirt · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 10, 2010, 09:19:37 PM »

Great looking Toy!!! You don't see them as straight as that anymore.
I would keep it stock. Looks cool just the way it is. If you plan on keeping it all original then look at rebuilding the carb. I would also get
that rust on the floor taken care of asap. Rust is like cancer and it will get worse unless you remove all of it. If there is rust on the floor, there will likely be rust starting in places you can't see, like inside the
doors.
I would pull the door panels off and look to see if any rust has started on the door seams at the bottom.

luvdirt · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 10, 2010, 09:28:27 PM »

I almost forgot....get a rear bumper before someone rear ends you and wrecks that hard to find tailgate and box.

Rokntoy · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 12, 2010, 11:31:32 PM »

Dont touch it put it in the garage leave it alone and buy one to beat on. A truck that old and that clean is rare.

howyadoin · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 13, 2010, 05:03:55 AM »

Quote from: Rokntoy on Mar 12, 2010, 11:31:32 PM

Dont touch it put it in the garage leave it alone and buy one to beat on. A truck that old and that clean is rare.

This.

possume22 · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 14, 2010, 11:56:23 PM »

wow what a truck dont touch it!!!!!!!! put that truck up fix factory carb dont wheel in that thing and ruin it do yourself a favor and buy you a beater upper to play in

DD85runner · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 15, 2010, 01:58:34 AM »

Quote from: Rokntoy on Mar 12, 2010, 11:31:32 PM

Dont touch it put it in the garage leave it alone and buy one to beat on. A truck that old and that clean is rare.

x2

64-Hurricane · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 19, 2010, 09:46:37 PM »

Don't wheel it, but definitely drive and enjoy it. I've got an all original absolutely cherry 64 cj5 that belonged to my grandfather. Was passed to my dad and was mothballed until it was passed to me. I said to heck with that and brought it back to DD status. That little jeep loves to be driven, let it sit more than four or five months and it just gets crabby.

I'd say do the carb work and body work now. Especially the rust work, before it's too late/gets worse. If you wan't to mod it and make it more aggressive go for it. It's your truck, you've only got one chance to own it. IMO, use it or waste it. If you like to look at shiny trucks sitting in your garage thats cool, my vote is enjoy that beaty.

Mnmstoy · « **Reply #27 on:** Mar 20, 2010, 12:29:54 PM »

The only thing I see that needs replacing is the Brake Pedal Rubber cover. Maybe, "armor all" the shifter boots.
Nice ride.
Mike

Yota87Truck · « **Reply #28 on:** Mar 20, 2010, 10:24:48 PM »

Quote from: ajordan1975 on Mar 08, 2010, 04:21:12 PM

WOW!!!

x2

hilux-1983 · « **Reply #29 on:** Mar 23, 2010, 11:10:04 PM »

I'm glad you FINALLY started a thread on this thing. Everyone has good points but the biggest one of all, get those parts in that you bought from me(rust free body mount pillars). That cancer has GOT to GO. You've got the transplantable parts now get to it!!!!! Can ya post those pics that you sent to me a while back on this thread Or even better quality ones. So that we can see those rusting body mounts. Man she's PURDY!!

integrale [OP]

integrale [OP]

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