Toyota Gurus out there?

[baja200merk]

i now drive my grandfathers 1987 4cyl 5spd 2 door toyota. it was my fathers firist he put 31x9.5in tires on it and they are still on it. its got 47000 miles on it and because of the salt air around here it has been eaten alive!
http://putfile.com/pic.php?pic=8/23018553371.jpg
but runs awsome and i drive it all over the beach up dunes, pulls out excursions like it is its job ect. i love it so i want one of my own.
im looking for a v6 1989-1995 5 SDP ext cab 4x4 was wondering if any one knew;
1. any known problems with these motors/ trucks (besides rust )???

2. i see most trucks for sale have over 175000 miles on them so i want to know how many miles is too many miles?

thanks!
kevin
oh yea any one want a 78 pontiac grand prix?

[stokernick]

Kevin,I have a 98 Rav4,131000 miles,and other than two sets of tires and a couple sensors[$240],it's been bullet proof.The V6 definitely has more grunt,but my little 4 cyl has served its purpose.I dragged my Stoker to upstate N.Y. from Michigan and tow it where ever!!I've had no rust issues and still have the original battery[with -30* weather].I think you'll be happy.

[baja200merk]

oh yea i belive you they are awsome trucks... i have been looking around for 2 weeks and everything i saw had 200000 miles on it! the lowest beeing 98000 i was like thats really high! now after seeing all the 200000 mile trucks im like 140000 thats new lol

kevin

[Pro300x24LD]

the v6's run pretty good, the drivetrains will last forever, is it a stick or an auto? the transfer case behind the autos was not as desireable as the transfer behind the manual. The 4 cylinders last longer but need timing chains ever 100-150,000 miles. I can't remember how often on the 3.0

The 6's have no power, even compared to the 4's. Toyota trucks do NOT like to be revv'd Keep it under 5500 rpm and it should last a lifetime. I have rebuilt a couple, amazing how close to factory specs they still maintain with 100's of thousands of miles on em

[baja200merk]

how much more power is the 6 than the 4?

its a 5 spd!

kevin

[Ted Stryker]

I used to deliver automotive parts in a 1993 Toyota 5-speed/4 cyl.... It had 360,000 miles on it and had been a delivery truck ( ALL IN TOWN )for 6 years back then in 2000... Driven by every youngster delivery driver that tried to over rev it to chirp every gear change time and time again... The oil got changed --- uummmm whenever..?? I drove it to the scrap yard one time with a bed full of junk heads.. In case your wondering, it was a payload of 2100+ lbs... That was the only time that I drove it when it was loaded that way, but the truck had done it many times... Toyota don't screw around when it come to durability and reliability... There not indestructable, but that Toyota was still notably tighter than the other delivery truck that was a 185,000 Ford Ranger that got used under the same conditions... Brakes, steering, doors, clutch, mechanical noise etc...

[baja200merk]

this is the truck im looking at. it had some rust above the fenders but that was fixed and there are some dings in the tail gate but im going to be kickin the truck around off road, towing people out of the sand and stuff so im not worried bout it.. but i do have to take it 3 hrs up state some times so i am debating...

http://autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ca...g=&cardist=185

kevin

[baja200merk]

i have found a truck thats 2 mins from my house. its got a 5spd 4cyl 2.7 its a 98 and has 230000 mi on it. the motor is re done 30000 ago but im wondering if i will run into bigger problems tranny? transfercase? axels? down the road?
what goes next?

too many miles?
kevin

[Ron V]

I think the timing chain is only on certain motors now. The maintenance schedule is out in my glove box but the 2.7 VVT-i in my '05 Tacoma is not listed as needing the chain replaced at any time. There are one or two motors on the new ones that do (I think they are in the SUV's). The older ones might have been different.

All I can say is I love the '05 Tacoma with the 2.7 four-banger. It is a torquer, like a miniature diesel or an old Chevy six. The newer ones like mine have the variable intake valve timing (hence the VVT-i designation), and that lowered the torque curve a little bit. As for the revs, it'll go if you wind it out, but in everyday driving you never have to get it over about 2 grand with the four speed automatic anyway. The older Toyotas are what built them their reputation, aside from the rust I think you're looking at a great truck. I see a lot more old Toyotas (I'm talking from the 80s) on the road than I see Chevys or Fords from that era, and I live where they salt the roads! Nothing in this world is perfect, but Toyota didn't get to where they are by building junk. All you have to do is look under the hood at the layout, even things like the way the hose clamps are installed, and you can tell it was put together by a company and workforce that actually gives a crap.

I just pulled my Rapid Craft (~2000 lbs. boat, motor, trailer) to southern Illinois and back and averaged 20 mpgs for the trip, with the bed loaded with tools and camping gear. 23-24 back and forth to work, haven't had it on the highway empty with the gate off yet, but I'd place money on 26-27....

[gfinch]

I've been a Toyota mechanic since 1972. Worked in dealerships till 1985. Opened my own shop. I work on 99.9% Toyota / Lexus. So I can say I've worked on a few in my life time.

Stay far away from the early V6 in the trucks, 3.0 . 3VZE

The head gasket has gone thru many, many design changes, to attempt to stop them from blowing on #6 and #1 cylinders. In my opinion it is a design flaw in the block, uneven clamping force due to the block design.
If a customer calls to have a check over before purchase and they say a 3.0 V6 my answer is NO you do not want this engine. The smart ones listen, the others .........

They should have used a zipper instead of head bolts!!!!!!!!!

The 22R / 22RE have been very good , but there all elderly now. Engine family change when the tacoma came out.
The 5VZE is OK but I have seen the heads crack between the valve seats on a few. The Tacoma 4 cyl. engine is also in the Previa laid over on its side. Ive seen a couple of thesewith cracked heads also. All these motors are good, just a very few have showed up with cracks.

Hope this helps, In my opinion a car/truck with a 1/4 million miles is USED UP.

Gary

the old grease monkey

[baja200merk]

ok will stay away from the 6... but will have to go with the rebuilt 250000mile 98 tacoma...

thanks
kevin

[OntarioStreamin]

I have two Toyotas sitting in my driveway!
1- A 1985 4runner 4x4 with 530,000KM, 5spd, 4cyl.

2- A 1989 sr5 pick-up 3.0 6cyl ext cab, raised 4" with 33" off road tires and 200,000kms.

I have to get rid of them because I have a new truck and there isn't enough room for 3 trucks and a boat.

I've been asking $2500CAN for both!

[gfinch]

To clarify my statement " At 250,000 miles it is used up." The cars and trucks will go much further but at more $$$. I'm stupid in this business because I tell my customers to get new cars before spending $$$ for large repairs on old cars.

I also don't like to hear them whining.

"But I just had the headgasket replaced, if I would have known the transmission was going to go out I would have bought a new/newer car."

I use this story. "You are 80 years old. You have a bad heart, you get the heart from an 8 year old. My question to you is, how old are you."

I'm not saying not to, but, realize it's not going to be maintanance, it's going to be maintanance and repair.

Also in my state California, "the land of fruits and nuts", To register a car, every other year it will have to pass a smog test.

Take all this with a grain of salt, from an old grease monkey.

Gary
33 years and counting Toyota experance.

p.s. on a lighter note. In the car biz there are many sayings.
One is: Theres an ass for every seat.

[baja200merk]

repair... i am not really worried about it, its got a new motor... even if i have to put 2 new trannys in it id still be ahead of the game! a 92 just sold on ebay for 3440 and it had antifreeze in the catilitic conveter!!!

kevin

[JW]

The 3.0 in the truck was weak and a gas hog. If you can find a newer one with the 3.4, then you've got a little powerhouse with decent gas mileage. The 4 cylinders are all good, but you have to get the speed up before climbing a hill on a highway if you're towing a boat.

4 cylinder: Get the 5-speed
3.4 V6: Get the automatic