Winter project: '84 Toyota PU

So after NOT finding a new project, I've just decided to work on the Toyota PU I've had and used over the summer. It's 2wd and, apparently, a base model with the 22r/ 5 speed. I always thought it was sorta fun to drive though and since it's bought and paid for, I'll just mess with it over the next few months in an attempt to make it nicer and more fun for next year. It was certainly a work horse hauling a skid of bricks, a load of sand, gravel (twice) , and mulch with no complaint.

Or at least none that I noticed.

Anyway......I have Pirate4X4, ToyotaNation and YotaTech as forums/ reference sites and was just wondering if I'm missing one of two really good sites for my truck questions and information.

thanks, Stan

Ask your questions here too, as there's a bunch of us with them or that had them. I have a engnbldr torquer cam in my 86, and I megasquirted it. I redid the seats with a whole hide of Spanish leather and my grandmother's hand crank Singer. I think I have a thread here on that somewhere.

YotaTech makes me feel dumber after reading some of things people write. There's some good tech there but lots of dumb people too. You could also check out TTORA and IH8MUD. They're geared more towards later models and Land Cruisers, respectively but they both have pickup sections.

Pre-runner or low rider?

Dr. Hess wrote: Ask your questions here too, as there's a bunch of us with them or that had them. I have a engnbldr torquer cam in my 86, and I megasquirted it. I redid the seats with a whole hide of Spanish leather and my grandmother's hand crank Singer. I think I have a thread here on that somewhere.

That seat sounds great! I thought this place would be a great resource (of course!), but didn't want to abuse you people...

As for pre-runner/low rider: more stock-ish with a bit of lowering or something to fill the wheel wells a bit more. Any good ideas on stock wheels that are out there (I know they're the 5X4.5 so the selection should be pretty good.

Stan

We're here for your abuse. It's complicated.

Here's a pic:

The hide was $230 delivered. Just take the old seat apart completely, trace the pieces to the hyde, cut it out, sew the pieces back together with upholstery thread. Pretty simple, just tedious. It took about a week of evenings and a weekend. New carpet off of amazon.com.

stan wrote: It's 2wd and, apparently, a base model with the 22r/ 5 speed.

The 22R was the only engine for 1984. The 22R-E didn't come along until 1985, and then only as an option.

I had a 1992 Toyota pickup with the 22R-E and a 5-speed. Bulletproof until it encountered a distracted 19-year-old driving in the wrong lane. Loved it, miss it.

I had to sacrifice my 4x4 toyo for a land deal I made . Allways lookin for an extra cab to use for huntin camp , until then I am riding a mitsubishee truck I got from a dui /sheriffs deal which wont quit . You cannot go wrong with these trucks.

stan wrote:

Dr. Hess wrote: Ask your questions here too, as there's a bunch of us with them or that had them. I have a engnbldr torquer cam in my 86, and I megasquirted it. I redid the seats with a whole hide of Spanish leather and my grandmother's hand crank Singer. I think I have a thread here on that somewhere.

That seat sounds great! I thought this place would be a great resource (of course!), but didn't want to abuse you people... As for pre-runner/low rider: more stock-ish with a bit of lowering or something to fill the wheel wells a bit more. Any good ideas on stock wheels that are out there (I know they're the 5X4.5 so the selection should be pretty good. Stan

Run Mk2 Supra 14x7 wheels. Totally killer 80's styling to match the truck, and they bolt right up.

SlickDizzy wrote: Run Mk2 Supra 14x7 wheels. Totally killer 80's styling to match the truck, and they bolt right up.

Urm, are you sure? Mk II Supras use the same 4-lug bolt pattern as RWD Celicas and Corollas, namely 4x114.3 (4x4.5 for us SAE folks) All the 2WD 'yota pickups I've seen (including the one I owned) used 5x4.5, a pattern that's shared with Mustangs (amongst a lot of other stuff).

Oops! I misread, thought it was 4x4.5, and always thought the 2WD Yoda trucks were 4-lug, my mistake!

Although for what it's worth, that means Starion wheels should fit...

Yep. Many of us have had and some still have Toyota trucks of that vintage. You can certainly make them do interesting things. I tarted one of mine up with a locker differential, sway bars, big wheels, etc. Still had a stock 22RE engine, so I was slow as molassis, but it cornered remarkably well.

For forums, I'd suggest 4x4wire. The folks there are knowledgeable and laid back. Unlike Pirate and ToyotaNation. The one is a flame fest by testosterone queens, the other is littered with trolls and zombies.

Anyone know where to get the plastic bezel for the inside door latch for an RN Truck? Is there someone that specializes in these odd pieces? I have a feeling they are unobtainium from Toyota after 23 years, but I haven't tried. They did have the freon tube that goes between the receiver and the coil, but I had to bring my BIG debit card.

Dr. Hess,

Ebay. By the bucket load.

Any updates? Im putting together my 22Re 90 2WD in a week getting the metal timing chain guides in a few days can't wait to get her on the road

Dr. Hess wrote: Anyone know where to get the plastic bezel for the inside door latch for an RN Truck? Is there someone that specializes in these odd pieces? I have a feeling they are unobtainium from Toyota after 23 years, but I haven't tried. They did have the freon tube that goes between the receiver and the coil, but I had to bring my BIG debit card.

I've had good luck getting the smaller interior pieces from the dealer like the inner mirror covers from the dealer for a lot less than I expected. There were only 2 or 3 different door handles Toyota used on everything in the 80s, so they shouldn't be hard to get.

Resurrecting this thread because I hope to pick up a dirt cheap example of an '83 this weekend. It appears (though only from CL pictures) to still have the majority of its bed...which most who are familiar know is VERY rare on these things.

Apparently this one needs a flywheel ring gear (that the starter engages with to make the engine go round and round).

It has some aftermarket aluminum wheels...so that's cool.

I had an '84 (there's a body style split between the '83 and '84) about 3 or 4 years ago and loved it for smooth highway and around town driving...and I even towed a miata on a dolly two hours back from KC with it (in the DEAD of winter no less).

Thou I would LOVE to have an '85 or earlier (solid axle front) 4x4...the little 2WDs seem pretty neat in their own right.

Clem