Looking at this 1986 Toyota Xtra Cab SR5 TURBO. Any advice would be much appreciated

Hey Taco Fam. So I've been hunting around for an 84-86 Hilux in good condition and a relatively fair price just to tinker on and possibly restore. I've ran out of things to do on my TTundra and Taco so I figure this would be next I met an awesome dude online whos been the owner of the truck since birth. From the provided pics and through our dialogue online everything seems to be looking good. The truck runs and is currently being used as a daily on a ranch. HOWEVER, the turbo was removed a couple of years back because it kept blowing gaskets. I'm totally not an engine guy, but from what the owner says an aftermarket Turbo can be installed as well. I'd prefer the OEM one but I'll cross that bridge once I get to it.

My question is, will I still be getting a good deal at 4k if I need to do a good once over on the motor? A couple of things he mentioned needed to be addressed eventually are the head studs. The radiator will need to be replaced also. At the moment the cooler line for the turbo was sealed off. Currently, no driveability issues.

LMK what you guys think. 4k is where I'm at right now. I think it's fair, but I don't know if there are gremlins lurking. Thanks in advance!

4x4
Auto tranny
22re
200,000 miles

 

hmm. So you're saying they don't come in an automatic tranny? I didn't look into it. I just noticed that the ad said automatic transmission. And as for the gaskets.... I'm assuming the head gaskets or am I off on that tone too?

 

I mean, I still like the truck and I can live with it be naturally aspirated. Itts not like it would be a fast track or even comparable to any of my newer trucks even if the turbo was present. If I can get away with not even running the turbo without compromising the truck's reliability then I can liev with that. It would be nice to just know that all the original parts are working. Or that the turbo was swapped out.

 

SOLD lol. Thanks James

 

The tranny in that truck is junk, you should sell it to me ASAP

 

Check this out if you haven’t already done:

https://jalopnik.com/my-265-000-mile-turbo-toyota-pickup-had-a-nasty-surpris-1823882873


https://jalopnik.com/my-265-000-mile-turbo-toyota-pickup-had-a-nasty-surpris-1823882873

 

Yea I did. I’m pretty excited to have a lil project to keep me busy. Should be picking her up this Sunday

 

Sweet! do a build thread, stuff like this is cool. I love to see these old yota's saved and fixed up!

 

UPDATE. I ended up passing on the 86 TT and purchased a 1984 Xtracab Deluxe. One owner, no rust all matching numbers. The engine has 300k on it and is running strong, but I plan on pulling the entire thing out and rebuilding it. I drove from San Bruno to New Castle to check it out. It was listed for a steal at 6k, but the owner was an older dude who did not respond to emails or texts. He was particularly short on the phone and preferred to do the old school face to face transaction. Wanted to make sure it went to a good home. After a test drive and a meticulous walk around He accepted my offer, which was a steal at 5k. I'm extremely happy with the buy and it leaves me plenty of $ to really go over the engine with a fine-tooth comb. My original plan was to build a BTTF replica, but it would be an abomination to molest this absolute gem. I'm going to fix a couple things and call it a day. The dinky tires is a love/hate thing right now. Im loving the "WILLY type wheels, but damn those are some skinny tires. They remind me of Honda Civic donuts.

Trailering it home with the Tundra on Monday straight to my mechanic who owns a 86 Xtracab TT himself. Can't wait to take that photo!!

The guy had some pretty impressive documentation to go with it. Check out the pics!

 

quick vid my buddy made of the short day trip

https://youtu.be/_NPSa3SMG24

 

That is awesome!
Years ago I wound up showing my truck at a Land Cruiser show (small show, they saw it in the parking lot and insisted that I participate). The other older pickup there was identical to the one you just bought except it had like 56,000 original miles on it and was in damn near showroom condition.

There is a turbo 5 speed 2wd in that same color running around here. Guy has my contact info, told him that the day he decides to sell it to call me.

If that was my truck I would clean it up as best as possible w/o repainting it, do a real mild lift and some 33x10.5s on those wheels. I love that look.

Here is my 3 owner, 280k, original paint 87 4x4. It photographs better then it looks in real life but still looks pretty good all things considered. And my wife's 87 2wd

 

hmm. i hadn't even thought of a lift. Id prefer not to, but im sure the suspension will need a refresh as well. so I'll look into that once the engine is done. Your truck looks very nice. Can you share with me the specs of your lift wheels and tires? Looks perfect. Not overdone att all

 

Thanks!

Mine is an 87 so the front suspension is totally different (IFS versus your leaf sprung front). But it is a Trailmaster bracket lift, Rancho torsion bars, Daystar bump stops and Bilstein shocks not the best thing for offroad but it came installed on the truck (per the PO, it was almost new when the lift got put on it). Rear is a set of Old Man Emu 3" springs and Bilstein shocks. The rear had lift blocks on stock springs when I got it, I put the rear leafs on and did all new bushings, balljoints, tie rod ends and idler arm.
Wheels are 15x8 Mickey Thompson/Alcoa Challenger IIs with 33x10.5x15 BFG All Terrains on them. Wheels have been out of production since the mid 1990s, sets do pop up for sale occasionally here and there.

You would probably only need 2-3" to clear 33s on those wheels. If you don't plan on wheeling it, pretty much anybody's kit will do. An alternative would be to keep it stock height and get a set of 31s.

 

Let me guess...you're going to be painting it cement gray?

 

Actually no. This truck will stay as original as possible, with the exception of a new set of wheels and tires. Cement gray? yuck. ugliest color for a Toyota

 

You see that interest rate? 15.99%

Yikes.