Older Toyota PU Question...

[GaryMc]

What was the last year for a solid front axel in the US trucks? '94?

[Rexsname]

1985......last year for solid front axel and first year for EFI. The Holy Grail of Toyotas

REX

[hinoranger]

I assume half the board knows more about Toyotas than I do, but I was thinking my friend's 4Runner was an '87 and that that was the last year.

[Martinjmpr]

No it was 85.

Here's a photo of a much younger me and my then-new 85 Toyota Hilux:

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Misc%20pictures/85TOY.jpg

I for one don't join in the general obsession with SAS. In fact, I recall that when Toyota announced in 85 that the 86 truck and 4runner would have IFS, it was generally hailed as a much needed modernization.

My first 4 4x4s were SAS and the one thing I remember most is that driving them on washboard roads was terrible. IFS is a huge improvement for anything other than super-hardcore rock crawling.

[Rexsname]

Not saying that I would turn up my nose at one if it were offered to me but.... I love my 2001 Tacoma. My brother has a '85 Four runner. He gets lots of jelous looks from other wheelers.

REX

[snipecatcher]

The grass is always greener on the other side....

That being said, I still miss my '89 PU.

[taco chaser]

No it was 85.

Here's a photo of a much younger me and my then-new 85 Toyota Hilux:

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Misc%20pictures/85TOY.jpg

I for one don't join in the general obsession with SAS. In fact, I recall that when Toyota announced in 85 that the 86 truck and 4runner would have IFS, it was generally hailed as a much needed modernization.

My first 4 4x4s were SAS and the one thing I remember most is that driving them on washboard roads was terrible. IFS is a huge improvement for anything other than super-hardcore rock crawling.NICE YOTA HILUX!

[ntsqd]

I've an '84 and the PO told me that EFI was optional then. Became std in '85 with a carb being the option until something like '89. So don't just assume that '85-up automatically equals EFI.
The PO's dad bought Patch new and wisely, I think, opted out of the first year of EFI. I do wish Patch had EFI, but I don't think that the first year of anything new like that is a great idea.

Adding Bils 5100's on All Poo hoops uterly transformed Patch's wash board ride. Prior the ride was so bad that I had thot of selling the truck. It was that bad. With this damper set-up on the front and some 7100's & 63's on the rear I can give the wannabe pre-rnnr's a run for their money. I'm not going to be able to stay with a serious pre-rnnr, but then it's not a serious pre-rnnr either.

[nickw]

No it was 85.

Here's a photo of a much younger me and my then-new 85 Toyota Hilux:

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z256/ZappBranigan/Misc%20pictures/85TOY.jpg

I for one don't join in the general obsession with SAS. In fact, I recall that when Toyota announced in 85 that the 86 truck and 4runner would have IFS, it was generally hailed as a much needed modernization.

My first 4 4x4s were SAS and the one thing I remember most is that driving them on washboard roads was terrible. IFS is a huge improvement for anything other than super-hardcore rock crawling.

It is funny how we think people always had it better back in the day. I remember when I was a kid and my dad a very nice 1979 lifted chevy pickup with Dana 60 up front. Many years later he sold it and bought a 1991 chevy 3/4 ton 4x4 IFS which was a 'much' better truck, and like you said, much easier to drive on washboard roads.

Now looking back that old chev' was super cool and very desirable, not so much with the 91'. People are always going to want what they can't have and the grass is ALWAYS greener.

PS-that is a sweet rig you got there. I bet at the time you didnt know you were sitting on a rig that was going to be one of the most desirable 4x4's ever. Still got it?

[DaveInDenver]

I've an '84 and the PO told me that EFI was optional then. Became std in '85 with a carb being the option until something like '89. So don't just assume that '85-up automatically equals EFI.
EFI was optional on the 4Runner in 1984, standard in 1985 and up. EFI was still only optional on the pickup until at least 1988 AFAIK. I think it wasn't until the 1989 trucks that EFI was standard on all trucks. I think at some point SR5 trucks got EFI automatically, though. Basically, I think it's the other way, the 22R was standard and the 22R-E was an option. But you are right that up until 1989 it was possible that a truck could have a 22R. My buddy's 1986 4WD long bed was a 22R, for example.

[ntsqd]

Given that Patch is an SR5 that might have been what he was referring to. :dunno:

[Grim Reaper]

I assume half the board knows more about Toyotas than I do, but I was thinking my friend's 4Runner was an '87 and that that was the last year.
85 and 87 are the same body style considered the First Gen. 89 was the start of the 2nd gen.

Unless you plan to rock crawl then don't let the IFS scare you away. The IFS with just a couple upgrades is very stout and for anything other then hard core rock crawling it will get the job done. I bought a 84 4Runner to build (it was rough) and then decided I would be better starting with the IFS truck and doing a solid axle swap. I even have the solid axle but I have not seen the need for what I am doing with the truck. I managed to fit 33x12.5's on it with NO lift. The key is stock offset rims in a 15x7 size. Just had a little hammer work to do it. See link in sig. a 33x10.5 would be perfect or a 285x75x15 would be a good combo

The holy grail is the 85 with Fuel injection and they are rare in a truck. All the 4Runners had FI from 85 up.

85 is also a engine year change. That's the first year of the "Laser" block. The 84Fi motor is a oddball one year deal in the trucks. Celicas had it for a couple more years but the 85 up is a better set up.

[Martinjmpr]

If I had gotten the SR5 package in my 85, it would have had EFI. As it was I had the box stock Hilux with the carb'd engine.

And no, I don't still have it. I rolled it in '86 and it was totalled. :(

[Clark White]

85 was the last year for solid front axles, but you have to be careful because 85.5 was when they started IFS. Friend of mine has an 85.5 that he bought sight unseen thinking it had a solid front and he was sorely disappointed to learn he was a few months too late on the model year.

[toyota_jon]

as others have said 85 was the last year for the solid axle. my 85 is great, i def. use the benefits of the SFA. but i will say it is a ROUGH ride. i'm currently thinking about doing a coil over conversion or something so that i don't kill my back. if you do just light 4wd'ing or use it for a DD IFS would be way better. they're pretty tough in stock or slightly bigger than stock configuration. the hardcore rock crawlers have given it a bad name, but what rig wont' fail when attempting a 4ft boulder? an added benefit of getting a newer model is nicer creature comforts. just my .02

[kcowyo]

85 and 87 are the same body style considered the First Gen. 89 was the start of the 2nd gen.


For clarity and accuracy regarding this Generation and that Generation of 4WD Toyota trucks, here's a list and link provided recently by BogusBlake. The link goes to Pirate, so you know, it must be right.....


Pickups
1st gen= '79-84
2nd gen= '84-'88
3rd gen= '89-'95

4runners
1st gen= '84-88 (looks like 2ng gen pickup)
2nd gen= '89-'95 (looks like 3rd gen pickup)
3rd gen= '96-'03 (looks like 1st gen Taco)
4th gen= '03 and up

Tacoma
1st gen= '95.5-'04
2nd gen= '05 and up

Here's a link to some more history: History of Toyota Pickups and 4runners (http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=579609)

[Martinjmpr]

It's also important to note that the early Toyota 4x4 trucks have serious rust problems. I don't know if it's the thickness of the metal or the compound, but I don't think I've ever seen a 1st or 2nd gen Toyota 4x4 that didn't have severe rust, particularly around the fenders. And this is in CO, where they don't use salt. I can't even imagine what a 1st or 2nd gen 4x4 from the Midwest or Northeast would look like, probably there aren't that many around because they've all rusted to pieces.

[DaveInDenver]

It's also important to note that the early Toyota 4x4 trucks have serious rust problems. I don't know if it's the thickness of the metal or the compound, but I don't think I've ever seen a 1st or 2nd gen Toyota 4x4 that didn't have severe rust, particularly around the fenders. And this is in CO, where they don't use salt. I can't even imagine what a 1st or 2nd gen 4x4 from the Midwest or Northeast would look like, probably there aren't that many around because they've all rusted to pieces.
A couple of things come to mind here.

First, we DO use salt here, it's just that it's magnesium chloride and not sodium chloride like some midwestern states. It's also corrosive, just that it has to be liquid for it to be so and it apparently dilutes faster than NaCl. But it's definitely corrosive and even CDOT acknowledges that and have started running billboards the past couple of years that tell people to wash their cars in the winter. CDOT is having trouble with it corroding the steel in bridges.

Also Toyota delivered early trucks without beds. I dunno if this was a tariff issue, space on the boats or what. I also speculate that having the beds made here at NUMMI was a way to shake out the production issues with getting a new factory up and running. But for whatever reason, the beds were not made in the same way as the cabs. In the '79-'83 trucks, didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference, they rusted quite badly all over (front fender lips and floor boards are most common). The beds on those were also single walls, so that didn't help. The '84-'88 trucks had double wall beds, so dents and bumps inside didn't compromise the appearance presumably, but they still rusted along the seams. But you'll see that on the 2nd gen 4WD trucks that the cabs tend to fair better than the beds generally. That's because the Japanese were getting better at corrosion protection and all the cabs were made overseas. I think by the '89-'95 trucks the North American production was up-to-speed with the Japanese corrosion-proofing and they seem to be much better all around.

[toyota_jon]

It's also important to note that the early Toyota 4x4 trucks have serious rust problems. I don't know if it's the thickness of the metal or the compound, but I don't think I've ever seen a 1st or 2nd gen Toyota 4x4 that didn't have severe rust, particularly around the fenders. And this is in CO, where they don't use salt. I can't even imagine what a 1st or 2nd gen 4x4 from the Midwest or Northeast would look like, probably there aren't that many around because they've all rusted to pieces.

mine doesn't :wings: ...yes i know i'm a rare case, but thats what you get for buying your truck in NM. the biggest problem, in my opinion, is not washing the sand and dirt off. i wash mine religiously. any place sand can collect, sand will hold water against the frame/body/ anything steel, and cause it to rust. one thing i did was cut the lip off all the inner fenders that way sand won't collect there. Also it's worth noting places like on top of the gas can where you can't see is a very problematic place because you don't think about it and sand collects big time there. this should go without saying but i'll say it anyways, if you drill a hole in anything, ex to mount a CB make sure you coat the inside of the hole with either paint or silicone to prevent that bare metal from the elements. I have noticed on my truck, because of the larger tires i run, it throws rocks very badly so my rockers are all chipped so i'm gonna use Duraback bed liner and coat the entire lower body line on my truck to prevent bad rust from forming.

[ntsqd]

Not all 2nd gen beds are double walled. My'84 is single walled. Does not have and never had the tabs to bolt in the inner walls. It is what I call the "Canadian Bed" i.e. external rails and hooks, but center tailgate latch.

My '86 turbo has what I call the "Calif. Bed" (Smooth exterior & center latch) and is double walled.

I suspect that at least some of the noted bed rot is due to moisture retention behind these panels. The suggestion of periodically cleaning out behind them is very good advice.