Florida B.S. Thread

Yeah, that's one of the ones I was saying was hinky. It clearly has an IFS front end (you can see it in the first pic), so it can't be a real '84. More likely an '84 cab on a later model frame--if they are not just completely lying.

 

So many flats because the beds rust out on them.

 

You are going to spend more than 2k if you want an 85 pick up in good shape. You may think it's going to be cheap but unless you find one that is already built up you're going to be spending quite a bit of money. These trucks do not flex from the factory at all. Also do you know anything about working on your own engines? I wouldn't bother with 22r, I don't know if you have wheeled with a carburetor before but it sucks. So that narrows it down to an 85 only and people who are selling those seem to think they are worth their weight in gold. If you only owe 12 on your truck then put it back to stock and sell it. You will make money. Go buy a 4wd and you'll be better off.

 

What this guy said^ Forreal. Sell your truck already and get a 4wd. No way around it.

 

I can't say I entirely agree with this. There's nothing wrong with a 22R. It's a good engine. I've had a 'yota with a 22R (and one with a 20R) and had no issues wheeling with them. I've seen 'yotas on 44s powered by a 22R that were damn near unstoppable. Sure, a carb might have an issue or two when the truck is put in an extreme angle, but this is Florida. If it does become a big enough issue, someone probably makes a TBI replacement that wouldn't be difficult to install and isn't outrageously expensive.

Also, if he gets a straight axle 'yota, it IS going to be a hell of a lot cheaper to build than any Tacoma or IFS P/U. You could put 6 inches or more of suspension lift on one for half the cost of a decent 3 inch kit for a Taco. It's all leaf springs (unless you link it and that's an entirely different matter)--just get a set of re-arched springs, extended travel shocks, maybe a drop-pitman arm, and have the driveshafts and brake lines lengthened depending on how high you go and you're set. I had 4 inches on my '83 and did it for less than $200 (2.5" AALs, 2" drop shackles, and extended travel shocks). And while I agree the IFS p/us don't flex for shite, the straight axle models are a slightly different story. Guy's 'Runner is a good example even though it is an SAS, it's still the same configuration as a straight axle p/u.

Beyond that, if Alfuh can afford and has a place to keep to have two vehicles, then he's got the right idea.

 

Where I go wheel every weekend just about. I see carbs shut off on just about every off camber trail. It gets annoying having to sit there waiting for the guy in front of me to get it together.

That said, I myself could have had an 85' p/u months ago but having to tear into an old engine, the carb deal plus the fact that putting d60s under an older pickup costs almost as much as doing it to my second gen after all costs are figured out really made it not worth it for me. Now, if i had found one with a completely rebuilt engine it would have been a different story

 

What would you need D60s for? The Yota straight axle is pretty damn bomb proof. If not as strong as a d60, then it's not by much...especially if it has Longfields.

I'm with you on the engine rebuild thing though. Finding a 22R that doesn't require a funnel and hose taped to the dash so you can keep up with the oil it's burning would probably be a rare find. When I parted with my '83 it was because I had to put oil in it more often than I had to gas it up, and I had a 45 minute interstate drive into work and back every day at the time.

As far as the carb thing, again I say, if it was too much of an issue, someone probably makes a bolt-on TBI kit for it that would replace the carb. Converting to a 3.4L Taco engine seems to be popular too, although I'd be intimidated by the wiring that must involve with the EFI, distributorless ignition, and all the other crap it would take to make it work. Be easier and more cost effective, IMHO, just to drop a 4.3L Chevy V6 with an Edlebrock or Holley TBI unit in it.

 

A 22r is a great motor I agree, 22re is better for wheeling, this is a fact.

Just because it has a solid axle doesn't mean it has flex. It is not as just throwing springs on. You want RUF's and 63's? That's probably the cheapest route. Hi steer, spring hanger up front, shackles, driveshaft. Then finding parts in Florida is a challenge. Trying to find a set of rear springs is almost impossible. Weak clutches, underpowered engine, Need to regear, birfields suck. Wants long fields? Whats that $600? Does alfuh know how to put them in, no? Pay a shop to do all the labor on his truck. Can you change a clutch?

I'm not saying pick ups or 4r's arent good trucks. I loved mine, they aren't for someone that have no mechanical or fabrication skills though. Sure say they make a fuel injection kit. How hard will it be to install, tune, what will the total cost involve?

 

A toyota axle is strong, yes, it will never compare to a d60.

You say it is easier and more cost effective to drop a 4.3 into the truck to get fuel injection. Does this sound like something a kid with absolutely no mechanical background is capable of.

I'm not trying to be a dick, just realistic.

 

All good points.. If I had a kid in Af's place with what hes got and what he wants. I would tell him Trade that prerunner in on a 4WD .Y have 2 trucks and nether one is 100% what you want.. This ( put it back to stock and sell it. You will make money. Go buy a 4wd and you'll be better off.) And also this (Sell your truck already and get a 4wd. No way around it.)

 

My 22re has some qwerks here and there but I'd say I'm pretty pleased with it. All I've really done is water pump and ignition coil and head gasket as far as in depth repairs. But swapping an engine in an older p/u just for the SFA, seems like a not so simple task. Why not just get a mid 90's and do the conversion?

 

Nice on the new truck you got

 

EFI is better for crawling, agreed. But, it's not like you can't wheel without it.

Honestly, I'm not sure how flexy my '81 and '83 were. I didn't do that kind of wheeling back then. I was pretty much only interested in mud which didn't require much flex (or EFI for that matter). I would imagine that it was quite a bit more flexy than the torsion bar IFS, and probably the Taco coilover IFS.

Gotta start somewhere. When I was a kid with no mechanical experience, I pulled the 455 out of my '70 Buick Wildcat and rebuilt it. Of course, I had people I could ask advice of (as does Alfuh, IIRC), but it was mainly just me and a Chilton's manual.

Going back to your previous post, does he need to have an exceptional crawling rig right out of the box? I would think not, but a '79-'85 straight axle truck in serviceable condition (solid frame, doesn't burn a quart of oil per gallon of gas, etc...) would be a great platform for Alfuh to learn the skills he needs to build one on. In the meantime, these are the trucks that established Toyota's reputation as exceptional off-road vehicles. They have a lot of potential for fun off-road without having a whole lot of cash spent building them. And they're a lot more bullet-proof than a Taco driveline-wise and because of their simplicity.

As far as a Toyota axle comparing to a D60, my acid test is how they hold up to 44s in the mud. And frankly, the Toyota axles seem to hold up just as well as D60s as far as what I've seen. I know they seem to break a lot of Birfs when crawling, but I've heard they break D60s all the time as well...and they even break 2.5 ton Rockwells.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some 60s and 14 bolts and I think you absolutely made a great choice for your truck, but I just think that the yota straight axles (including the pre-taco rears with the full floating axle shafts) are more than adequate for probably 99 percent of the wheeling available in FL.

BTW, there is one area that the Toyota axles have D60s and 14 bolts beat...ground clearance.

 

I'll make my own ground clearance, lol.

 

You think an engine swap is more difficult than an SAS?

I guess it would depend on the engine, but an older push-rod V6 engine would be a simple bolt-in conversion with just a little wiring for the alternator, starter, and whatever other electronics you might choose to run. You wouldn't need to know how to fabricate or weld. You wouldn't need to get everything square and properly aligned so the truck wasn't going sideways down the road.

 

The kid is not set up for any thing with a lot of work to it,,This

 

I need that

 

I just found this video of mine from this winter and it brought a smile to my face. Action happens around the 1 min mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHNGeWMxkLU

 

Good by Rick Scott ==
Charlie Crist On Medical Marijuana In Florida: 'I ...