Should i buy this 85?

There is a 85 toyota pickup for sale by me and i was wondering what you guys think. It is a extended cab, it needs a head gasket, a transfer case, and he said the frame is a little rusted but i could just plate it and it would be fine (dont know how bad it really is) . I pull put the link up and a couple pic's.

http://gainesville.craigslist.org/cto/4316417631.html






the truck comes with the 20's if they clean up good i might have to put them on my truck. The seller said that he will take 900 for it, is that a good deal how much would a used transfer case cost, how hard is it to change a head gasket? Looking for any input, i have a 2nd gen and like to off road but i just fixed the front end form hitting some trees driving down a dirt road, and cut a hole in my roof driving down a stream and tried to go under a bridge but a low hanging bolt cut the roof. After all the repairs i want to retire my truck to daily driving and buy a truck for just off-road. I have not really done anything big mechanical but i am not scared of a project and with my budget i am not expecting to find anything in perfect condition.

 

Do It!, turn this fixer upper into your offroad toy, and keep that 2nd gen pretty.

 

that is what i was thinking especially with new paint on my whole cab but wanted to see what people on here think about it.

 

pic 1+2= oh cool, pic 3= wtf???
Seems like it needs some work for sure, could be a nice project though. Make sure the frame isn't toast

 

Fix this baby up and make her like she was back in the 80s

 

The color is bad but i will either spray it with bed linear or pasti-dip until then i will cover it in mud. It is already lifted and it has 5.29 gears front and back, if the frame is not bad then i think it will try to get it with a set of 36 swampers for 1000

 

Sas it, lower it big time, 37s, duals, lockers, winch, turn it into a raisin

 

Hopefully one day i can SAS it but i cant afford it, but i think i will leave the front alone and get rid of the 4 inch blocks in the back.

 

I miss my 85. Put a bunch of mileage and money into that sucker. Diamond Plate welded in over the X cab window openings,,you'll thank me later, because you will still have possession of your truck. Those are extremely easy to break into,,just so you know.

Looks like a good project truck candidate.

 

before people start saying sas swap look you can see it does have a solid axel in the front and I would definitely buy it the t case isn't to hard to change. the head gasket shouldn't be to bad as long as the head is good make sure you have the head checked out at a machine shop before you put the head back on save you from having to do the job twice. also while your there I would do the timing chain and tensioners.

 

x2 looks like its already sassy

 

thanks for the reply this is what i was looking for, it already has a solid front axle but it is a toyota axle and the truck clears 40's but will probably only get 36-38 (the guy selling the truck has a set of 36's and i will try to get those a package deal) but the stock axles can handle the big tires before they start breaking things so when that starts to happen i will look in to a SAS

 

I am going to look at the truck today if i can change my transfer case and front diff fluid, and spark plugs before it gets dark. I am very happy and hope that the truck (i am worried about the frame) is not a POS. I will keep you guys posted and hopefully soon i will make a build thread for it

 

I saw the truck today the frame did not have a lot of rust only 1-2 small spots and the PO tired to weld a plate to fix it (looks crappy i do not know how strong it is). Where I saw the most rust was on or around the door. The roof is dented but has a sunroof, and both doors you have to lift up to close. he said that he would take 1000$ for the truck and a set of 36 supper swappers, and has a brand new 5.29 gears for the rear

 

You guys...your derp is showing LOL

85 is the best year of Toyota you can find IMO. It's the first year with fuel injection and the last year with the solid axle.

It looks in pretty good condition for as old as it is. Little TLC and should be good as new.

 

From the pic it looks like a 22r carburated

 

I believe they had both in 85. My brother had an 85 ex-cab that was carb. And as Lauren said, last year of the factory solid front axle. It was the truck that introduced me to yota's and if i ever come across one i will pick it up and build me a toy

 

Yeah it's carbed.

OP, key words you said. "With your budget" you don't expect to find anything in perfect condition. I only say that because the truck you posted could become a money pit, to get it where you would "really" want it. And to throw money at it, you could put into your 2nd gen. I understand you want a dedicated off road toy so you can retire the 2nd gen tho.

Just keep in mind older stuff can suck that wallet dry and almost always ends up costing more than you originally thought.

 

My 85 was a carb truck,,which made it alot easier installing my Downey off road 42/44 downdraft kit, cam and header.

Was also a IFS truck,,which also got the Downey bracket for the bottom of the suspension,,to keep if from spreading when wheeling. Couldn't wheel that stock IFS to hard,,but it rode nice. Eventually bought the full Downey IFS kit with HD torsion bars and all the bits and pieces.

 

you don't have to look into a sas because that means solid axel swap you so you already have a solid axel. but Toyota axels can be built strong also. with upgraded gears and Bert fields and It also matters a lot on how you wheel it. If your smart with the skinny pedal you will be a lot better of but if your always balls to the walls hitting everything as hard as you can you will break shit no mater how much you build it. but YOU DO NOT NEED A SAS because SAS means solid axel swap with you already have.