Whats up guys, like the title says Im looking for a 4th or 5th gen hilux. Ive been watching craigslist for the past few months here but would just like some more info on what I should be looking for and what I should stay away from before I get to serious. Right now Ive been emailing someone with an '87 4x4 with 180k asking $1500 that needs a starter. Im waiting on a response of whether its the 4cyl or the 6cyl, manual or auto. I also asked when the last time the timing chain was done. My question to yall is what else should I be looking for? Common problems or any suggestions to what else I should ask/look at would be appreciated. My plan is try and pick one up for around $1000 and would be more than happy to put $1000-$3000 into it to get it back to good health. Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

-John

*edit: My use for this truck is going to be to get around town mostly but I will also be taking it from Montana to Minnesota a few times a year to visit family. Along with taking it wheeling but nothing crazy, I do not plan on beating the sh!t out of it but plan on doing a mild lift and somewhat meaty tires.

 

Welcome to TM! Where you located at so people can keep an eye out?

 

If I was you I would get a 78-85 4x4 with the soils axles. The best yr would be the 85, cuz it was the last yr or the soiled axle and the frist yr of EFI. Or get a 89 to 94 and put a axles under it. The soild axle is just way stronger then the ifs 4wd trucks.

 

Thank you! Im located in Missoula.

So you're saying the '87 I was looking at on craigslist would be fuel injected (good) but it would have the weaker axle and be torsion bars vs. spring shock (bad)? Are the IFS axles prone to failure? I assume its a pretty common swap, do most people just get a parts truck when they do it or can you buy the axles from somewhere else? Also should I have a bias towards the later models with the V6 or is the I4 bulletproof?

*edit: Found an '85. what do you think loLux? Im not sure how I feel about his custom bumpers and Id pick up a diferent set of wheels but it looks prety clean. 85 toyota lifted 4x4