XPOTRPR Minitruck (1986 Toyota Pickup)

Well, since the Taco was getting up there in age and mileage, and spending the last year or so slowly replacing worn out parts, fixing and improving things, and just giving it some good ol' tlc.. I started thinking about a commuter vehicle.

One night searching Craigslist for fun... I found this little 86 Toyota pickup. I fell in love. I've always liked and have been curious about minitrucks, so I had to have it. Perfect useful and reliable commuter that I wouldnt hate driving, and that could be used for a future project truck.

I'm the 3rd owner, the first 2 owners were lifetime neighbors, and the previous owner started restoring it. My plan is to keep it patina'd, do some JDM styling to it, and just enjoy it.. for now.


1986 2wd Toyota Pickup 22r 5-Speed


AS IT SITS 1/22/23_




When I bought the truck 9/26/18







DRIVETRAIN_

22r 2.4l 4-Cylinder
5 Speed Manual
Stock header
Cat Delete
2.25" piping
18" Magnaflow
Center exit/dump
3.73 open rear-end
Valve cover breather
Champion Dual Core aluminum radiator

SUSPENSION_

DJM 3" Lowering Control Arms
4" Block Rear
Monroe Struts
Energy Suspension UCA, LCA, Strut Bar and Sway Bar Bushings
Sand Blasted and repainted Sway Bar

WHEELS/TIRES_

16x7 5x114 Crown Vic Mesh wheels (custom refinished with copper color)
Barum Bravuris 3hm 205/55/16
Extended Wheel Studs
Red Open end Lug-Nuts

INTERIOR_

Pioneer AVH-P4400 Double Din
Sound Ordnance P-40B 4" 2-Ways
Sound Ordnance P-52CB 5-1/4" Components
Sound Ordnance P-8PTD 8" Powered Sub
GettaGrip Vans waffle Shifter (Toyota 6spd manual)
Black Carpet w/ Mass Backing
Black Leather captain seats (2018 town & country)
Black Leather custom door panels
Black aluminum window cranks
Red Seat Belts
Red Door Pulls
Hexomat Rubber Floormats
Dual USB charger/volt meter
Updated Rearview Mirror/LED
Grant GT Steering Wheel
Sticker Bombed A-Pillars and Dash
Sound deadened back wall
AZ flag back wall

MODS TO COME_

Wide angle(multi-panel) rear view mirror
Rear wing
Rear Diffuser
Front 84-86 4runner Valence or make own
Shift Boot
Header
Air Horns
Clear turn signals w/ LED
Clear Parking w/ LED
Yellow Foglights/LEDs
Rear Auxiliary Lights/LEDs

MAINTENANCE_

Prior to Purchase(9/26/18) - All Hoses, Oil, Interior upgrades and repairs

192,326(10/25/18) - New Water Pump/Thermostat/Fan Clutch/Coolant Flush/Fixed Seized Heater Core and attached cabin lever cable
192,417(10/27/18) - Cat Delete/2.25" Piping/18" Magnaflow/Center exit
193,534(1/20/19) - New: DJM 3" LCA's/UCAs/Upper & Lower BJ's/Inner & Outer Tierods/Center Link/Idler Arm/Steering Stabilizer/Energy Poly Bushings all around/Front & Rear shocks/4" Rear Blocks/Rotors & Pads/Wheel Studs
193,764(1/28/19) - New LCE shifter bushing/New Updated Rearview mirror w/LED
194,116(3/24/19) - Cleaned & Greased Regulators and Channels/New Stereo/Wiring/Black Carpet/Seat Belts
195,864(4/24/19) - Changed Oil/Filter/Air Filter (5 Qts Valvoline 5w-30 High Mileage Synthetic Blend/STP Filters)
197,133(8/16/19) - New Champion Alu. Radiator/Plugs/Fuel Filter/Trans Fluid/Carb Rebuild
198,876(9/28/19) - New Tires
201,475(12/5/19) - Changed Oil/Filter (5 Qts Valvoline 5w-30 High Mileage Synthetic Blend/STP Filter)
203,796(10/1/20) - New Group 26 battery
207,423(8/3/21) - New UCA's with rubber bushings
209,243(2/28/22) - Changed Oil/Filter (5 Qts Valvoline 5w-30 High Mileage Synthetic Blend/STP Filter)
210,324(4/16/23) - New AC system (compressor, lines/fittings, dryer, clutch fan)
211,879(5/12/23) - New LED Headlights
212,346(11/8/23) - New Heater Bypass valve
218,682(7/22/24) - New Group 26 Battery/Oil change
221,247(2/10/25) - Oil Change/Filter (5qts Valvoline 5w-30 high mileage syn blend)

 

So nice man!! Clean AF.

 

Added some window cranks and some Door pulls since there's no handles or anything.. lol

 

Thanks man!

 

New water pump.. had to do this twice over since I didnt prep the surface well enough the first go around. we'll see tomorrow once the gasket maker fully sets and we do a Flush and Fill.



Slapped on a replacement decal on the timing cover..

 

I'm trying to do all this same stuff and more to the Z I just picked up a couple of mo months ago. It's not in as good of shape as your truck though at all. Seems like ever single piece of plastic I touch on the car breaks.

 

Nice! that looks like a fun ass project!

and unfortunately.. no.. mine has broken on me too..

just yesterday I tried to take the A pillars covers off.. it was so dry rotted it crumbled in my hand. haha.. so my plan of taking them off to replace or restore them, has changed into sticker bombing them.

 

​

 

I'm doing the timing belt on the Z and took these off the outlet on the block. 27 years old and I was able to tear them with my fingers. Lol

 

hahaha.. sorry man. I know the feeling. I guess now's a good time to replace all the hoses. lol

 

Oh man. This thing is going to have a lot of new parts. Can't wait to see where the truck goes.

 

So made some progress on the minitruck yesterday. Going to finish it up today.

Pulled the thermostat to find it was an aftermarket one with no gasket and wasn't even seated correctly. so I picked up a new gasket for the new t-stat and installed it. Picked up new bolts and hardware for the new water pump and installed it as well. Cleaned up a bunch of stuff and noticed they had to modify these non OEM parts quite a bit. No wonder I was having issues with the fan clutch. Bolts instead of studs, shitty thermostat, ground down BS, etc. So much better having it all back to OEM and working. Just need to finish assembling and do a flush and fill. Then time for the 4" rear block to go in!


Heads of bolts ground down..


Old t-stat was just using a paper gasket.. no rubber o-ring...



New water pump with studs vs the old without..



You can see where they cut the shaft down on the old water pump to fit the aftermarket fan clutch. The OEM fan clutch is recessed to fit over it..



T-stat and water pump in .




Blocks to go in after all this..

 

finally found some of the details on the pickup. been trying to decode this little bastard for a while now.

Made in Japan

JT4RN50R3G0202927

MODEL: RN50L-MRA

Engine (R): 22r
Model Name (N): Truck
Model (5): 4x2
Wheelbase (0): Short
Steering (L): Left hand
Trans (M): 5 on the floor
Grade (R): Standard
Cab (A): Regular

SPECS: 557VN41F302W55
Color (557): Toyota creme
Trim (VN41): ???
Axle (F302): 7.5"/3.73 ratio/2 Pinions(no LSD)
Trans (W55): 5 speed

 

Welp.. after poking around more last night, I found what I assume is the cause for the heater not working.

I started looking into the heater core to do a flush and check the lines and even the check valve. When I traced the hoses back.. first thing I noticed was this kink..



Then I started investigating the check valve itself. the mechanism was seized solid (stuck closed)... AND the cable from the temp lever inside the cab wasnt even connected. He must have just disconnected it and left the check valve/mechanism seized. I was having some trouble from time to time adjusting the hot/cold lever.. It felt like it was getting hung up.. well.. now I know why.



I soaked the mechanism, valve, and cable in wd-40, re-attached cable, and worked the lever for a bit. all works flawlessly now.




all thats left to do is replace the temp sender unit/switch.. which controls the gauge. this sensor with the spade connected on it. Going to snip the old terminal off, crimp on a new one, and install the new sensor.

 

Subbed

 

'd

 

Wants reliable commuter since Tacoma is older and getting up in miles. Buys 32 year old project truck with 200k.


Curse of TacomaWorld strikes again!


Sweet truck, dood. Mini trucks are love. Looking forward to block installed pics.