Topic: Help my 1981.

[cjoens]

I got my first 1981 Toyota Truck a few months ago after hunting on CL for the last year. It has been good to me and reliable as my DD up until about a month ago. Took it to the shop to because it died and left me stranded at work... (60miles from home) Got the factory carb rebuilt and picked it up today. Feels pretty good but the mechanic had quite a list of things that need to be addressed on it and said it was not worth fixing   I am fairly handy and have my own tools and garage space so i would like to tackle some of these items on my own.. but i don't want to spend too much money/time if its not gonna be worth it. Would love your guys' input on the things listed below...As far as whether or not they are worth fixing.. to me it doesn't sound too bad.. maybe he was just a tired bummed out mechanic. Any recommendations on how-to's or parts for the stuff below would be much appreciated. I do love this truck and i want it survive. 

1981 Toyota 4WD 5spd 22r

    - Drive Belts are bad
    - Fan Clutch Bad
    - Exh. Manifold warped pulled studs in head #1 + #4 Cyl
    - Clutch master leaking
    - Shift Tower Bushings worn out
    - Both Front Steering knuckles leaking
    - 4F Wheel bearings loose
    - Steering box starting to leak
    - Rear n/f muffler leaking
    - Trans Counter bearings bad/noisey
    - Bad speedo cable

[cjoens [OP]]

Also.. The body is very straight and the interior is in excellent condition. So the truck does not appear to be a total pile.. it has around 180K miles on it.

[81 shortbed]

Fix it. Don't junk it. Everything except the tranny bearings and exhaust studs are easy fixes. Heli coil the exhaust studs and find a used tranny.

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[mudmaster]

All of that is fixable. It depends on if the truck is in good enough shape to make it worth it and it sounds like it is. Go for it!

[Rocksurfer]

All sounds minor to me, and some of those issues are on my list of things to fix on my truck. Also nothing on that list would stop me from driving my truck.

[tgmaul88]

If you can get a 1st gen do it, if you have a 1st gen never sell it. 1st gen trucks 4 life

[tgmaul88]

find another toyota savy mech

[1985CRAWLER]

all doable in a short amount of time if money permits, i say gather all the parts first and one day just dive into it, youll learn very quick that these old toyotas are mostly easy and fun to work on when it comes to the little things.

make sure u have another vehicle to drive just in case u dont finish it all in the time u set aside.

keep the truck til it blows up, clean low mile 1st gens are becoming rarer.

[cjoens [OP]]

thanks for the morale boost dudes!  Looks like will be on the hunt for some of these items.. Do you guys use the Chilton online manual service? seems like a good deal..

[81 shortbed]

all I have is a Haynes manual, and don't look at it often. most of your list is pretty self explanatory. start with the easiest/ cheapest and work your way up. every successful repair will boost your confidence and make you more knowledgable  about your ride. and don't be scared to ask questions !

[_HOIST_]

Definitely fix it. Im on my phone now but Im sure someone can point you to the 83 Factory Service Manual that is floating around for download. Tech manuals don't get any better than that. Also, if factory parts are not an option for whatever reason, Rockauto has an extensive online catalog with great prices IMO.

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[toyodaaddict]

if thats all thats wrong with it i say your in good shape, its not exactly a new truck remember. Does your mechanic drive a jeep? Of coarse its worth fixing, its a toyota.  my 80 was alot worse off than what you describe when i started. now its a solid reliable rig i wouldnt trade for nothin. most of what you listed is more or less just maintenance stuff for a truck that old. the transmission issue sounds like a great excuse to upgrade to a newer  w56 and maybe some :turtle:dual cases while your at it. thats what i did. if you plan to do hi steer youll be changing the leaky box anyway. for manuals i use haynes and the factory fsm. i have a chilton but rarely use it.  i cant tell you that your truck isnt going to cost you some $$$$ but i can guarantee it will be worth every penny and youll learn something. thats priceless.

[89 runner]

If any mechanic says an 80's yota is not worth fixing then he's no mechanic in my book. The dealer has those parts still. fix that thing and wheel it

[KSTacoBoy]

Save yourself some money and do most of that on your own.  Most of that list is easy fixes, plus you'll know what you did and how to do it again when the time comes!   

[Snowtoy]

As long as the frame and body aren't rusted through it is worth restoring, especially with you willing to do the work yourself.  Given what the mechanic said, I would guess he doesn't have a clue to the value of clean 1st-3rd gen Toyota's, is a Jeep/domestic guy, or was hoping you would ask if he wanted to buy it.

When clean, the 1st-3rd gen('79-'95) Toyota trucks(both 2 & 4 wheel) hold their values rather well compared to their domestic counterparts, even against the Tacoma, and with U.S. market automakers no longer making a mini-truck, their value should only increase in the years to come.

[x250f23x]

 The mechanic was right, not worth fixing :rain:Your best bet is to just cut your losses, and sell it to me:bandit:

[cjoens [OP]]

Thanks a bunch everyone! I will dig into that list and let y'all know if i have any questions along the way. I'm sure i will.

[spuds015]

you do realize its a 30 year old truck thats to be expected. also where are the pics???

[rybike]

If your still lokin for a good Chilton,Hayens type manual i tend to uses this as a reference, most of your work should be fairly straight forward but this tends to help with some of the complicated issues 

http://toyotachinook.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/how-to-keep-your-toyota-pickup-alive.pdf

good luck hopes this helps keep your Toyota alive!
 

[cjoens [OP]]

Thanks man! those illustrations are awesome..

[CrazyYota]

I say fix it! It sounds like most of it can be fixed over a weekend with the right parts!

some inspiration!

before




After

[86bobbedtoy]

nice!

[BadnewsBob]

Most of that list wouldn't stop me from taking a long trip in it. The list on my truck was longer than that and I drove it everyday. Learn how to fix it yourself and you'll be in love with that truck when you do.

BTW you'll never get done working on it or fixing it unless you sell it, Then you have to get another one to do it again with. It's a sickness that only death can cure .

[1haoleboy]

Don't let it die!

[cjoens [OP]]

Well big thanks to GarlicGabe for selling me an L50 and helping Instal it in my truck! That took care of the tranny issues.. getting this toyota right one step at a time.

Here is one pic. I need to post more i know.

[HogCanyonHopper]

Right on Gabe!! way to help a brutha out 

[tgmaul88]

gabes a good dude! sold my sum 5 29s

[kneedownnate]

Take some automotive courses at the community college, learn to fix stuff yourself and tell the "mechanic" to worry about fixing what he's paid to and keep his opinions to himself.  Your list looks like a weekend or two of fun!

And you could make some pretty lengthy lists of stuff that needs to be fixed on my toys, but they still get me around worry free.  Well over 550,000 miles on my 80 4by and about 258,000 on my 91 2wd w/original clutch, one that slips bad... and has for a few years.