86 pickup sitting outside for 30+ years. Where to start?

I’m getting an 86 pickup 4x4 with the 22R (someone is giving it to me) and it’s been sitting outside for 30+ years (since 89). The truck has 22k miles on it and it has a manual transmission. I was originally going to use it as a Gambler 500 vehicle but am having second thoughts on that. I might just put it back together and add some miles to it every once in a while.
The back window fell out years ago so it’s been getting rain inside for who knows how long. The bed has some rusted out spots towards the back (might convert to flat bed later on).
I have a while before I can work on the vehicle but I would like to have a general idea on where to start. These are the only two pictures I have right now.

 

New fluids, clean the carb, new battery, check compression, see if it'll start. New tires, interior, drive it for 30 more years. Profit

 

This looks like a fun little project. Good luck with getting her running. That low mileage is amazing!

 

love it!
i had an '86 regular cab in red back in the day...tough as nails...
i was young...sold it & bought a K5 blazer for a "project"

 

Sweet, change all the fluids, all of them, radiator, brake, everything. Take the plugs out, get new one's, pour some motor oil into the spark plug hole to lube the rings and cylinders, turn the engine over by hand with a big socket and wrench on the pulley bolt, if it doesn't turn over by hand, try the starter, if no go,....... now you're looking at tearing into the engine to see what's up.

 

Step one, get rid of that awful hood.
Step two, check the truck over for mouse/rodent damage (chewed wires).

 

These all sound like good places to start. I appreciate all the input and will be sure to post more pictures of whatever I do next with it. Thanks all

 

I just got my 86 going after I wrecked it 10 years ago. Definitely drain the tank, most likely you’re going to have to remove it and get it cleaned or replace it. Replace the fuel filter, change first the motor oil and antifreeze as well as the spark plugs. Fuel does sit in the carb and I’m sure your carb needs cleaned but I would try to start it at first without cleaning it. A little oil in the cylinders would be good. My truck has 345,000 original miles, your truck is just barely broke in. This is just what I think you need at the start, you’ll have a lot more to do to get it road worthy.

 

I’ll definitely have to replace the tank, i was told that it started leaking a few years back. What years is this compatible with? Or what websites have you used to find replacement parts for these trucks?

 

That sounds like a lot of work.
You should give it to me.

Lol.

 

Suggest before you dump $$$ into it.....try to roll the engine over. If the engine won't roll.........scrap yard it.

 

I agree. Makes it look like a Lego truck.

 

It's a beauty, congratulations. It looks like It’s going to need a lot of TLC, lotz!
I would first start by asking myself what the ultimate goal or purpose of the build is. How much time and $$ I’m prepared to commit to it, realistically. And the last part is to get an estimate for the cost to do the parts you can’t DIY.

That should leave you with a more realistic idea to see if the end result has a reasonable chance of success and to see if the end justifies the means.

Good luck

 

That hood scoop is so bad it's kind of awesome. I would keep it

 

Thanks for all of the input everyone. Does anyone have a link to the service manual for this truck? Only thing I’ve found is a link to the 22RE, but all of the ones for the 22R are dead or no longer available.

I don’t really have a specific purpose for it right now (I wasn’t even looking to purchase it but like I previously mentioned I got it as a gift) so to start off I’ll be trying to get it to run, then eventually look into restoring it. It’s definitely going to be a slow project that I’ll work on as the funds become available.

 

first you set out to have a purpose, then you set a goal. My goal for that beauty would be a bit ambitious

 

My pickup is a 2wd so the tank will be smaller then yours, I can’t remember right now but there is three letters/numbers in the vin that reference it, mine was something like L50?

I bought my tank on eBay and it looked good, no drain plug.

I have the factory manual, the engine should be the same if there is something I can reference for you

 

Neat old truck. I have restored a couple old cars over the years and it sounds like your getting good advice. Check that frame over real good before you start tearing into it.
The hood scoop would look great if there was something under the hood. I laughed when i saw that because it must have been a popular item to put on Tacoma's back in the 80s. My brother in law had a red 86 with the same scoop. He still has most of that 86 sitting under a 93 now. The hood went to the scrap yard with most of the body when he did the swap 2 years ago.

 

Cool truck. It will probably need a carb diaphragm and valve adjustment in addition to what everyone already said