YotaTech Member Gives a 1984 Toyota Pickup a Basic Makeover

Toyota pickup gets an engine rebuild, new wheels and some exterior touch-ups.

Toyota pickups from the early 1980s have become popular subjects for restorations thanks in part to the truck featured in Back to the Future. When “DevilDawg712” went shopping for one of these trucks, his goal was to build a truck similar to the one driven by Marty McFly, but the 1984 Toyota that he found was too nice to completely modify.

Instead, the OP has performed what we would call a light restoration, returning this 1984 Toyota pickup back to similar form to when it was new. The result is a great looking, classic pickup that could soon be available for purchase.

1984 Toyota Comes Home

When the OP first introduced us to his new-to-him 1984 Toyota pickup, he had already picked the truck up and started his project. He bought the truck with one direction in mind, but he changed that path.

Put the Tundra to work last week and towed this gem home.

The history and originality of this one owner 84 Xtra cab was too good to pass. The engine is currently being rebuilt. It was running strong but I figured i might as well do a good once-over. No plans to molest it. I’m going to get a good detailer to restore the paint, redo the interior to factory spec and throw some OEM-ish 15s with 31’s on her and call it a day. The original plan was to build a BTTTF replica, but this truck is to O.G. to mess with. I’ll probably flip it and hand her off to someone who is really looking for an ALL ORIGINAL truck. I’ll work on another truck that’s already been tinkered on.

The initial post also included a ton of cool pictures of his 1982 Toyota with his modified Tundra, paperwork from when this truck was new and even an original for-sale ad from the newspaper. That is stuff that any collector would love to have.

The Project Begins

The first bits of information following the introduction of this 1984 Toyota pickup showed the truck in the shop, with the engine out for a refresh. The OP provided us with a better idea of his plans, showing us the wheels that he was considering. We also got a great look at the truck up in the air with the engine out, showing how clean this old Toyota is from top to bottom.

The engine is scheduled to get put back into the truck this coming week. I’ve got tons of stuff currently on order and even more waiting to be purchased in several shopping carts. I’m still on the fence about really modding this all original truck, so I’m going to hold off for a bit on the big stuff. As of right now I purchased a set of US Modular 94 wheels in 15×7 and will be wrapping them in some 31×15 Wranglers. There’s a slight crease on the passenger side so I’m going to have a shop fix that and pay for a good detailer to try and wax the sine back into her. I also bought some OEM style body graphics that will be a game-time decision. They actually are for the 86 pickup, but I like them. After all that is done, I’m gonna hang tight on bumpers, possibly a roll bar and the interior until I fully commit to keeping it. I really like the old fashioned tube-style bumpers and from what Iearned theyre pretty hard to come by now since Smittybiltdoesn’t make them for Toyotas anymore. I’ve seen the rear for sale for around 500 bucks new, but the front is slim pickin’s. ARB makes a nice bumper for like a grand for the 84-85 deluxe, but I’m not all sold on that look just yet. Guess I’ll just keep hunting in the meantime since I’m kinda 50/50 on selling it to someone who will appreciate the originality of this truck more them me. I feel like every single foreign thing I modify the truck with is a cardinal sin at this point. Anybody have suggestions on whether I should just stop and sell or keep at it? So far the engine rebuild and the wheels and tires are the only things I’m really into it for.

A short while later, the OP went into more detail on his plans, which might include keeping the classic Toyota pickup.

The engine rebuild is just about done. Taking the truck to Smog tomorrow. I’m still unsure if I’m going to keep this thing just because I’d feel so guilty molesting such a well-kept gem. I’m at the cusp of stopping and selling her to someone who will really appreciate what it is right now, or dumping some serious money into it, which involves a paint job. (Probably a color change and a ton of upholstery and audio work) . I ended up finding the front and rear Smittybilt tube bumpers and buying some original graphics. In the meantime, I think I’m just gonna slap on some 31’s and see what Kind of offers I’ll get.

On the Road Again

The most recent update shows this 1984 Toyota pickup on the road with its rebuilt engine. The OP removed the cap, spruced-up the interior with new speakers and added black wheels with new BFGoodrich rubber.

At this point, it looks like the OP will be holding onto this 1984 Toyota for a while, but it could come up for sale in the future. In the meantime, this project has resulted in a remarkably clean classic Toyota pickup that has maintained the original look and character.

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Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

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