$1,500 "Trophy" Truck!

[Grim Reaper]

If you can't document the miles on the timing chain then I strongly recommend you pull the valve cover and look for wear and broken guides and think about changing it.

http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_ala_carte.htm

has a metal backed timing chain guide. A big problem is when the chain stretches it starts slapping the guides and breaks them. The parts get stuck on the oil pump pickup and in some instances the chain will hit the timing cover and wear a hole though at the area the water pump is.

Other then that...RUN THE HELL OUT OF IT!

[Hltoppr]

Thanks for the heads up! I'll take a look....

-H-

[Photog]

Great truck. Not the same, but similar is this 1990 yota 4x4. I was impressed with is capabilities on 28" tires last saturday. It actually got me thinking about getting one!
Have fun with it!

That is Steve's truck, from Sonoran Steel Fab. I understand Steve is an even better driver, than he is a fabricator. None of his rigs look overly built; but he is able to drive them through some really rough areas. He built that truck as the "office work truck", and only put 28" tires on it, to prove the trails don't require 35" meats, and all the adjustments that go along with the big tires.

He also has a Toyota 4Runner, that he put a straight axle in; but it is set up for spring-under-axle, to keep the CG down. I hear he took it through the Hammers.

I was skeptical; but you are the second person to mention the difficult places he has taken that little truck.

The little trucks are a good platform to start with, and only need a few things to make them bomb-proof.


Check out Steve's website.
http://www.sonoransteel.com/

[DaveInDenver]

If you can't document the miles on the timing chain then I strongly recommend you pull the valve cover and look for wear and broken guides and think about changing it.

http://www.engnbldr.com/toyota_ala_carte.htm

has a metal backed timing chain guide. A big problem is when the chain stretches it starts slapping the guides and breaks them. The parts get stuck on the oil pump pickup and in some instances the chain will hit the timing cover and wear a hole though at the area the water pump is.

Other then that...RUN THE HELL OUT OF IT!

Good advice on checking the timing chain. But FWIW, I found that the metal back guide is unnecessary and is really just a false sense of security. My $0.02 is to use Toyota nylon guides. My original guides went 140K miles without incident (i.e., never failed) and I replaced them with metal guides. Those went 45K miles before the driver's side broke. With a plastic guide the parts shatter, fall to the pan and the chain makes a big racket. When a metal one breaks, it's violent and I was only going 20MPH when it happened! The broken piece wrapped around the crank timing gear and actually deformed to the teeth. Personally I think the problem is aftermarket plastic guides are junk, most people get a lot of miles from the OEM guides. Since the chain needs to be replaced about every 100K~125K miles, the stock guides are perfectly sufficient and much quieter.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...5&postcount=21

[DaveInDenver]

I would like a 85' 4runner in good cond. down the road in a few years for a project truck.

Start looking and when you find one, BUY IT! The 1985 4Runner is the Holy Grail of mini trucks. Solid axle, removal top, 22R-E. It's the one everyone wants and they're not getting any more common. Personally I think getting a nice '86-'89 is a much better value, much better. The difference is IFS and you can get the 3.0L V6 if you want it, but you have such a larger selection and there are some very nice ones for good prices. The reasonably priced ones are not all beat to heck with a million miles, too.

[Brian894x4]

I would be shocked if the timing chain hasn't been replaced at some point with that age and that many miles, but I'd definately check it out.

Other common problems if they are original parts at that mileage is front oil seal, alternator brushes, starter contacts, and diff carrier bearings.

Also, the front steering relay rod is currently under recall from Toyota, so get that done for free if it hasn't already. Probably not a bad idea to put new tie rod ends and rebuild the idler arm.

Nice find! She's got another 200K left in her.

[Hltoppr]

Brian,

I was looking at your bed inventory and organization for some gear I intend to take to the trophy...nicely done!

...I don't know if I can live without my fridge!

-H-

[Grim Reaper]

Also, the front steering relay rod is currently under recall from Toyota, so get that done for free if it hasn't already. Probably not a bad idea to put new tie rod ends and rebuild the idler arm.

Nice find! She's got another 200K left in her.

The recall is 89 up. Now my truck was wrecked in 91 and the relay rod was changed I found out. So I called the dealer to ask how I could tell if my relay rod was effected. They said its not it is only 89 up and it "would be a different part number". Well it isn't a different part number. The part number is the same 86-95. I have been arguing to get mine replaced as a warranty to no avail.

[Brian894x4]

That's weird. Maybe the part number is the same, but the supplier was changed in 1989 and that's the problem. Or Toyota might be arbitrarily limiting the years to limit the cost in the recall. I would imagine if they had a lot of problems on rigs prior to '86, they would have shown up by now.

HLtoppr, thanks for the kind words. Unfortunately, the bed doesn't look like that now. I'm slowly getting the truck ready to sell, which involves removing some parts and cleaning it up for the potential buyer.

[Hltoppr]

Here are some pics of the "Trophy" beast!





Not bad, IMHO, for a total investment so far, including the truck, some cleaning supplies, title/registration, and tires of $2,100.00....

Now...I just saw a 2007 4Dr Wrangler X with the V6, Dana 44 rear end, and hardtop for $24K.....tempting....



-H-