1990 Pickup (5th Gen)

Just agreed to a price on this guy. 155k og miles. Up until 2019 was inland CA. Pretty excited about it. Not the $5000 trucks of yester-year, but closer to that than the $10k+ price tags everyones putting on anything with 4 wheel drive and half a toyota emblem still hanging on. Im in school and have a 2 year old, so wont be able to spend much money on it now aside from maybe a seat cover... but im looking forward to having it for a very very long time. Definitely open to any pointers or things ill definitely want to do. We have an over the phone verbal agreement, still going to go give it a once over before handing over cash.

 

Nice, looks super clean and the OEM wheels do look best with all the chrome. Is it a deluxe or SR5 trim?

Definitely post more photos when you see it in person and feel free to DM if you have any questions. I kept my truck going for 15 years on a budget of as little as possible.

 

Much appreciated. It’s a dx with a bench seat, which was super important so my wife and dog can all squeeze in the cab when need be. Don’t love the chrome, but that’s what most of em had it seems and it’s not a deal breaker for me in the slightest. I am a sucker for the smooth Steelies like you used to have. So I might eventually swap em out when I burn through the tires on there. But like I said… no rush but to keep in running and keep the rust away (I’m coastal).

 

If you can find an OEM set in good shape, go for it, I think it'll look nice. It would have cost more to get my OEM steelies blasted and repainted properly than it did for me to buy new wheels, so I decided to go for the white truck, black wheels look.

One more easy to fix minor, but annoying, problem your truck might have. The o-ring that keeps the idle adjustment screw from moving is usually pretty flat and crusty after 30 years, so the screw can spin just from engine vibration. If your truck has a variable idle, just get a new o-ring from the hardware store, 50 cent fix.

 

Rad Truck! The early 6th gen trucks looked the meanest imo... the grill/logo change in '92 was a mistake

 

LC engineering has a thumb screw idle adjustment for $14.95
https://www.lceperformance.com/22RE-Idle-Speed-Adjusting-Screw-Stainless-Steel-p/1061049.htm

 

Thanks man, I’ve always been a fan of the classic logo as well.

Yeah that’s a nice upgrade option, particularly if the threads are worn on the original screw. I went cheap and just replaced the o-ring.

 

Purchased. Hopped in and drove 10 hours from portland oregon to the bay area. Not a single mechanical hiccup. A little more scratches than I could see in the images... but i dont care about that. Minimal rust, past all smog BS. And best part is, it actually fits in my garage! Woo hoo!

 

Very nice OP. Good friends (Twins) each had the 3.0 V6 5spd versions of your truck. I had the extra-cab version. Loved that truck for 14 years. Few weeks old here.

 

Congrats man! That’s a great looking truck.

 

Got impatient and couldn’t help myself once I realized I needed new tires and alignment. Did wheels and the 4600s as well. Found a clean set of the 80s factory white steelies for $300. Og 90s Bacpac super light campershell (molded plastic not fiberglass) for $250. Anyway, this thread has been a major inspiration. Excited to hit the trails and see what this little engine can do. Perhaps my favorite truck yet…

 

Nice choices, it’s looking really good. The white steelies are a great fit with that truck.

How do you like the 4600s? It was huge upgrade for me, but my OEM front shocks were also absolutely toasted.

 

It’s funny, the truck had some gas station special tires on there when I had bought it and the whole thing rode like a jet ski with a pretty annoying but not too concerning pull to the left. I did the 4600s first and the pull immediately was corrected, although still had a bit of a wavey feeling. Once I swapped out tires too, the whole thing really came together. Suddenly it absorbs bumps, holds tight on turns and just feels like a different vehicle… and just a fun little truck. Still getting to know it… and for some reason still feeling a touch of anxiety around it starting and holding a steady idle. But I think that’s just getting used to a new to me old vehicle at this point.

 

If you’re worried about your idle fluctuating, you can mark the idle adjust screw with a paint pen and make sure it’s not moving when the engine is running.

They do sound a little different than more modern trucks.

 

Well I thought I had everything squared away and I was planning to wait a few years before I took the dash out and replaced the gauge cluster. Unfortunately, I’ve had a little puddle of coolant appear in the passenger footwell. Looks like I’ll be replacing a heater core sooner rather than later.

Question is, should I put the SR5 gauge cluster and try to add AC at the same time? I already have the gauge cluster, just need to source a heater core (and AC parts if I go that route). I wonder if you can still get OEM heater cores?

 

I’m sure you can find just about anything if you’re willing to dig deep enough. I have to admit, mines got AC and power steering and I’m happy I have both.

 

I’ve wanted AC for a long time, just don’t know if I could source parts quickly for a reasonable price. I’ve actually been ok without power steering, not sure why that doesn’t bother me.