Hey guys!

Wanted to introduce myself. Picked up an '81 SR5 single Cab Long bed 2wd with 105K miles on her.

She's had a rough past 6 months from what I can tell. Was purchased at auction from a lien sale, sold to a dealer, then to another dealer, then to a dealer in Mexico, then to a private party, then to me. Picked her up for $1200

Everything is clean, some surface rust, a few dings, but nothing major. A pretty solid truck for the price.

She is running well, had a new carb put on her, but needs some tuning as it's idling high and diesels after a decent drive.

Has a funky shift in the rear axle only noticable when I let off or get on the gas on the freeway. Hoping it's just a loose ubolt.

Going to be going through front and rear suspension (front is so low I can't make a uturn without rubbing), selling the god awful 18" rims (either going stock 14' steelies or baby moons), give her a tune up, and pick up either a yakima rack system for the bed or a hawaiian lumber rack.

Gonna be used as my DD around town, I run a Stand Up Paddle Board company and with gas going up, my 4x4 trucks are killing me driving 80+ miles a day.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Thanks!!!

 

Thanks for the intro and photo of your truck. The '79-'83 trucks will always be my favorite. I had my eye on a Copper Brown Metallic SR5 shortbed in the showroom of our local Toyota dealer in the Summer of 1981. School started and my friend pulls up in this brand new SR5 truck which happens to be the exact one I have my eye on. Anyways 3 months later in Nov, I got my '82 SR5 shortbed.

Feel free to ask us any questions!!!

Rick

 

Congrats on the new truck and welcome you're going to love it. Start replacing the parts you need to with new ones and before you know you will have practicly have a brand new truck. The 79/83 body style is my favorite as well, I also have an 82, like Rick's

I don't need them personally but if you are going to sell your 18's, I think you should be able to sell them pretty easy here.

 

Between here and craigslist, I think they will sell pretty quick. I've gotten a few hits on them already and I did a cheesy post on craigslist last night.

Thanks for all the support. I figure a good tune up, and going through the hack job lowering, she'll be good to go for a while.

 

Welcome!

I've got the same truck as yours. I drive +100 miles round trip daily with it and LOVE every mile of it. BTW, does your user name mean Imperial Beach? Just curious...

 

That it does. Born and raised lifer.

 

Nice!

I grew up off of Palm Ave and for a short while, I rented a house off of 3rd and Date. IB is OK. (still looking for that old sticker)

 

Ib is OK, Love that sticker. How about the yellow whale sticker with IB inside it?? Ever see that one?

I lived on 5th by the high school, bounced around houses near the beach after high school. Live by the bay now.

 

Never seen the yellow one.

Nice. IB... The most southwestern city in the U.S.

I failed to mention that your truck IS CLEAN!!! Keep it up!

 

Yours is clean! Mine has a long way to go. It's got some surface rust and being close to the water isn't gonna help. Gotta tackle reliability before I get to aesthetics.

Picking up 14" steelies today, going to tackle the suspension this weekend and do a tune up and figure out the carb issues.

I'll post pics after the steelies and tires go on and bring up the front.

 

After a month of back and forth from a carb shop, junk yards, smog shop, and the parts store, it's finally smogged and legal.

Lifted the front end, tightened up the ubolts in rear(needs to be replaced), vacuum lines gone through, emissions parts replaced, new cat, new muffler, radiator, thermostat, water pump, belts, and hoses.

Past with flying colors, runs great, gets good mileage.

Found some Tacoma Steelies so those will be put on, selling the 18s.

Next is the rear suspension, gettig beefed taco blocks and bolts, alignment in the front, then my ghetto sound system: an amp and some boxed 6x9s with an iPod hookup. Also a Hawaiian lumber rack for the boards.

Looking for a new dash face to replace the hack job stereo install.

Stoked to be driving the truck daily, get complements and thumbs up all the time.

 

"Looking for a new dash face to replace the hack job stereo install."

Only the '82-'83 finish panel is available these days. There are minor differences, but it will still work in your '81. You can either buy brand new from Toyota (there's about 5 left in the country), purchase the one on e-Bay, or keep you eyes open while shopping in the wrecking yards.

p/n: 55405-89151

Rick

 

Saw the one on eBay but it's got the wood grain to it. I've been keeping my eye out on junkyards and passed out my business card to known Toyota truck buyers to keep an eye out for one and that I'd pay "top dollar" for it.

 

[Wanted to introduce myself. Picked up an '81 SR5 single Cab Long bed 2wd with 105K miles on her.]

During your introduction, you specified the above^^^ info. All SR5's have the wood grain finish panels. Unless, they were replaced with the panels from a standard or deluxe model.

I have a contact on e-Bay whom I done business with in the past. He might have one. He may be selling both sides together...so are you still interested?

Rick

 

I'd be interested, keep me posted!

Thanks

 

10-4! I just messaged him and let's await for an answer.

 

Non-wood grain panel:

1982-1983 Toyota HiLux Hi Lux Pickup Pick Up Truck Radio Bezel Surround Trim | eBay

 

$130 for a used, broken trim panel?? They've got some good weed in Colorado...

 

Have you tried the mini truck junkyard in oceanside?

Sorry, I dont remember the name but its off of the 76 near the 5. The last time I had went there, there was about 7 pickups (of our model) sitting there. PLENTY of parts for all toyotas too. Hope that helps

 

Good looking out! I'm near the California mini trucks yard here in LA right now, tons of parts, but priced like gold. Wanted $80 a piece for stock rims for our era....