I bought this truck on May 17th to fix and sell to finish up my 86 Runner. I was driving some backroads and seen it on a farm on January 13th this year and just made note of where it was at and then I went to see if it was still sitting. I could tell it hadnt moved in the past 6 months so I left a note in the owners mailbox asking if he was intrested in selling it. He called that nite saying he would sell it for $700. He said the front shafts were out, it would only start with the Clutch Start Switch, it needed a windshield and hadnt been started in 2 years.

The next day while the kids were in school, The wife and I went to get it. When she saw it, she asked if I was really going to get that piece of junk. Which I said "Yeah!!!" While I was loading it on the trailer, she was talking to the owner and he was asking if I was going to make a rock crawler out of it. She said no, this is his 6th truck that he will be restoring.

My flatbed is the first yota that I halfway restored as I orgianlly bought it for gas mileage. I bought it and didnt know about the frames being bad and had to do a frame swap out of desperation. I have always been into complete tear downs and then after that I have done a few others and helped others on frame swaps. That got the fire going for me. Before that I was into domestics and after getting them paid off they seemed to need traded in for something more dependable. I was getting tired of carpayments and bought an 01 Runner. Never have to work on it. Just do maintenance as scheduled and drive.

Having done the flatbed, I found a 89 standard cab in bad shape and did the motor and body, sold it and had a 91 extended cab that needed bodywork, interior work, and motor work. After getting it done I found Yotatech and was glad to find other enthusiast just like myself. I have found most of my information on here and and on a few othersites and some I have just came up with on my own.

I was looking for another project and came across a 88 Runner and wanted it for myself. It was advertised as a parts truck or a rock crawler. I have it nearly completed. Just need to get the seats. When I brought it home, the wife thought more junk. That was until I got it painted and running nice and she took it over from me. That set off to find me another runner. I found a 86 runner that had been used for parts and I used it for parts myself for the 88.

Got the 88 done and the 86 was such a solid truck, I just couldnt let it go. If you check out my 86 thread, it looks like it is still has a ways to go but I am just needing to get the funds to get it painted, windshield, tires and legal and it is done. I will be replacing the interior at a later time.

I bought this 88 pickup to fix and sell to fund my 4Runner as I really like the 1st gen runner and trucks for that matter. After getting the pick up it had alot of metal stored in the back and rusted out the floor. I found the Downey bed on ebay a few years back while overseas. I was scanning Toyota items for the 89 standard cab and seen the bed. No one bid on it and I didnt tink I would have a chance of getting it. The bid expired and I emailed the owner if he still had it for sale. He said yes. I got to talk to him and it turned out to be Jim Sickles of Downey Off Road. He had just closed his business and this was on his company truck.

The bed was on a 94 truck and I bought it for the 89 that I had. Wound up selling the 89 as it was the same color as his 94 and wanted to make it back to what it was. The family out grew the 89 so I sold it and the bed has been sitting just waiting for a project to come along. I orgianlly wasnt going to keep this 88 truck, other then the bed the truck is really solid. Solid as for projects that I like to work on. This will be the easiest project I will have done so far.

After getting good fuel in it and flowing again, fixing the ignition switch, the truck seems to run great. Got to do some front end work. I am going to sell my flatbed and finish this and my 86 Runner. I also have a 79/83 truck that is going to a new home that I was wanting to finish up, ti is going to another Yotatech member on here, but my heart is in the Runner and with this bed I will have something a little different out there. I will be down the these 2 trucks.

The 88 Runner is mostly completed and I have tried to make its thread useful for a newbie on these as I once was and put any info I find on its build thread. I am constanly updating it. On the first post, I have listed page and post number of where I fixed a problem that I have ran into. I will be posting more info as I am sure things will come along on this truck.

I wouldnt suggest selling a good running truck, but these 4 cylinder 5 speeds are really easy to work on if you know a few little tricks and have time and patience and do the work yourself. You can build a nice dependable truck for alot less then a used truck or car that may have alot of hidden problems.

Here it is at the preious owner getting bought.



One hour after getting it home.



How dirty the carpet was not counting what I vacuumed off.


Old bed floor rusted out. On with new bed.



Where it is at now. ( Ron Howard wont be hiring me for videos anytime soon).

 

Hi Terry, I'm glad you decided to keep this truck and start a build thread on it, I've been following your progress and look forward to seeing more!

 

Other trucks I have done. All were in worse shape then this one.

Wifes truck.

3rd truck I did. Motor, SR5 guage, seats, paint.


2nd truck. Was abused and beaten. Motor and body work


Did the body work for a friend. It was rough.


1st truck. Frame swap, motor and SR5 guage


My other project that is nearing completion.Body work, interior, paint and motor work.


Jasons Truck that I helped on. https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f199...l#post51987044


This is not my 85 but is a friends 86 that I am working on. Doing bodywork at this time.


This is the truck I was building for myself until I found my 85 extra cab. Mostly body work and interior work. My brother bought it from me and it is further along then what it is showing.

 

Thanks Ed.. I am really looking forward to this build. It should be quick and easy and think it will turn out really nice. Just as son as my flatbed sells, it will move quick. I got alot of the fenders straight today and depending on how today goes, I might get the cab in primer except for the hood.

 

Here is one reason I swapped beds. The floor is rusted out, but also in front of the wheel well it was rusted. The interior panels just unbolt and and there is a collection of mud built up an just sits on the metal and rots it out. Good maintenace to just unbolt and clean in that area.

 

Man you've done some really nice work restoring your trucks! I really like the paint job on your wife's 4runner! I also like that white first Gen pickup, I have a soft spot for those, (I've owned two 83's) but the 4 runner fits the faimly alot better, LOL. Anyway can't wait to see what you have instore for your latest build! Any ideas on what color your going to paint this one?

 

Hello Ed... Two of the trucks the family out grew and I would of liked to have kept them 3rd gen trucks. I had them looking good and running great. They all started in bad shape. I still see the 83 and it was in bad shape. I found it for my friend and he bought it. That is also how I wound up with the 79/ 83 as I found that truck for him also. Just like you runners fit the family better.

Both of the trucks will be done in nice stock condition and then have some upgrades done to them. I like the runners better, but since my truck is a little different, I am really liking this one the more I use it around the house and the more I work on it.

Still havent worked on the color just yet. I am going to see if a woman here in town can duplicate the tailgate graphics as the bed needs repainted. I swore off a color change, but there is noway around it and a truck is easier to change colors then a runner. Right now a dark metallic green is the front runner. Still open to ideas though. Just a fresh and complete paint job will make a world of difference.

Hoping to have the runner and pickup painted within a month. Then maybe doing my brothers short wide Chevy and possibly one other truck, Chevy I think.

 

Spent early this morning and alot of the day trying to get the cab ready for primer. Did get the fenders and doors done. It is furhter then what the pictures show but the slow down is getting the old paint off. It is like some times I start sanding off glue. Never ran into that before.

The roof has alot of dents in it which has always been the case for me when I do these trucks. Dont know what happens to them but every one except my runner has dented roof.??

The kiddos seen me shooting some primer so I gave them a shot at it. The oldest actually did alright. But afterwards he was gone. My yougest did help out quite a bit. He worked on getting a lot of the old paint off while I worked on dents.

Oldest one getting after it.


Youngest one doing his part.

 

That first post made my noggin hurt

:wabbit2:

 

glad to see your doin another one. i always enjoy your builds/restorations and am excited to see what comes!
good work man and i enjoy the family aspect!!!

 

WOOT! Go lil man! lol.... NO, not you, hahaha. Gotta keep up with your thread count... WOW! lol. You're a "dynamo of restorations", homie! hahaha

 

That's a slight understatement ........

 

Thanks Wabbit..Got a kick out of "noggin" that is a term well used here.lol.. Hopefully things will get better.

Hello Mdumaw... I appreciate it. I try to spend time with the kids while I am smarter then they are. I still have a little time before things change. One day mom and dad wont be their top priority, so hoping time spent now pays off later.

Most of my build threads look like how to tear down a truck, but am hoping in a month both of my builds will get painted and in one piece for the last time.

Hello Mark... My 79/83 is getting a new home soon. I am making the 88 truck and 4Runner my two keepers and both will be nice when done. One will be a nice daily driver and the other will be nice with some upgrades. Just havent decided which one will get all the add ons. The one with the best gas mileage is going to be the determining factor.

I hope the truck gets the best mileage and that way I can make the runner a little more offroad capable. I am leaving it to the wife to upgrade and make her 88 nicer when she gets to it.

Thanks Kitty.. I have had new cars and 10 minutes later off of the lot there are 30 more just like it. I like things a little different. I like the old hot rods but there is nothing cheap about them any more. These trucks can be done reasonable and dependable.

I like it when someone comes up and says "My dad, or when I was youger, we had one like this or similar"". Brings back alot of memories for them. My white runner, at a gas station one time, a guy came up and spent alot of time just looking at from one end to the next. He had a blast, as he hadnt seen one in as good condition.

I still show the PO of my 88 and he would like to have it back but was glad I got it to where it is now. He is really happy that I got it and take care of it.

 

I have been spending alot of time just trying to get the old paint off. Alot of sand paper too. The hood has been the worst. Got alot of the rear frame cleaner and still more to go. It was dirty under there. Got the Spare tire carrier soaking in oil,gas,?? and who knows what else, trying to get it cleaned working again. Let it soak a few days to get the rust and dirt off and then will soak in PB Blaster or Marvel Mysteryt oil. I have had some bad ones and got them working. Just takes some soaking time.

I thought I would try and put some useful info on here. On a truck there is a little tab in the back of the rocker panel. You can pull it and then pull your door sills and using a air hose and covering one with your hand ( to force air on down and out of cab) will get the dirt out and also by blowing from the bottom side at the "V" in the bottom will clear your drain holes. Most probably dont know about those drains and the amount of dirt that gets in there and destroys the rocker panel.

On a runner I use a air hose an vacuum cleaner to catch the dirt. Havent found a plug to remove to clear the dirt out.

Cleaning back end. Alot better then it was. Really solid, the last crossmember is the worse but will clean up with some effort.


Remove door sill and use a air hose to blow to the rear. I use a cardboard to keep some dirt out of interior. You should be able to look through the slots and see the "V" drain holes are clear.


The picture isnt nowhere close to showing the amount of dirt coming out. My shop floor is a mess now.

 

terry you amaze me I camt get one progect moveing and you got how many ????? keep at it buddy.

 

Terry: your post are always full of great information

 

what the? I just found this.

you take "POO SHINING" to a whole new level.

and yes, my noggin hurt too after reading that 1st post.

subscribed to another one!

 

Hello Jason.. I am soon going to be down to the 88 Truck and the 86 Runner. I am leaving the wifes truck for her to finish the she would like. I get to the maintainace and what she wants done is things that will need to be bought later on. The flatbed and 1st gen truck are gong to be getting new homes soon.

Thanks dsal_86Yota..Some of this I just stumble into, I like restoring but dont care for going back and redoing things. Keeping the rockers clean saves alot in repairs later. That is one I just stumbled into.

Hello Jerry.. That was just a test to see if anything gets read on this. lol... Hope there is some good info in there somewhere. Thanks for subscribing. Both projects I am hoping to get into the paint booth within a month.

 

Just about have the cab finished. Finally got the hood all done, just got to get it into primer. It took alot of work to get the old paint they had on removed. Just got the top of the cab left and it will take some work.

Did pull some parts off to clean up on the motor and have a bunch of dirtdobber nest under there. Still has alot of orginal Toyota parts on it like shocks and such. Truck was neglected but not abused.

Really starting to like this 22R. Two pumps of the gas pedal and it starts real quick. Got that figured out now.

 

Turned my head for a lil while and plans changed quick. Nice find on that 88. Can't wait to see the end product.