20th Aug 2007, 15:14
I have a 87 Toyota pickup with 526,420 miles on it. Put a timing chain on it at 480,000. Everything else other than normal maintenance items are from the factory; alternator, A/C, exhaust etc. Best truck on the road hands down.
24th Apr 2008, 18:52
I am so stoked. We just bought an 87 Toyota pickup from a neighbor for $200! It has 133,000 miles. I wonder if we can get it to 500,000 miles! My husband just can't wait to play with it. Needs some work but that is all I have been hearing about for weeks now. Kool!
4th May 2008, 03:28
First off it's okay if your yato leaks a little oil or power steering fluid; mine doesn't really leak, it just kind of accumulates, which keeps the frame and many other parts in good condition, and without rusting through. A nice layer of dirt and grease has my frame looking as good as the day it left the factory floor, and it still has original paint on frame with no rust or rot. And trust me, this truck is not garaged kept, nor is it driven by an old lady, and the only maintenance I do to it is change the oil once or twice a year.
A head gasket and timing chain must be changed together, and should be changed at the first 100000, though some have gone as far as 200000.
Must keep these engines cool, do not let them over heat and you should always always use straight 30W pennsoil motor oil in it, and always make sure its full of oil. If that oil light has to come on, you've just screwed your engine and I mean that literally. If you wanna know if you're low on oil, listen to the lifters rattle while its idling. If they don't rattle you're good, and if they do rattle you need oil.
Personally I don't use a thermostat in my truck and it stays a lot cooler in the summer.
16th Jun 2008, 11:08
The poster is THE only person I have EVER heard complain about the reliability of a Toyota. Parts are made by machines, and after a while they go out of tolerance and have to be adjusted. He probably just got a lot of parts that were toward the end of that calibration cycle. Just unlucky. American cars are crap that are made in Mexico. I drive cars for a living, and will never ever buy another American car, unless it's a classic.
17th Jun 2008, 06:20
The 22re engine in a 20 year old Toyota truck is by FAR a more reliable engine than anything anyone at GM has yet slapped together.
25th Jun 2008, 22:43
Are the plugs gapped correctly? Just a guess here... maybe play around with that.
26th Jun 2008, 21:25
I am sort of fond of my 1969 SS Camaro 4 speed... 39 years same drivetrain. Want to discuss appreciation? Hang onto your Toyota that long and indicate its minimal value afterwards.
16th Aug 2008, 09:02
I have a 87 Toyota 2wd short bed with 266k miles. The only engine work that has been done was the timing chain, gears & guides were replaced at 240k miles.
Just starting to have brake issues, but not something that can't be fixed for less than $100.
Leaks a little oil, but I would get in it & make a long trip & not worry.
I just bought a 92 Celica that has 223k miles that runs like a new one. It has had some engine work done on it by the dealer, & I would trust it to go anywhere...
You may talk about my ugly truck, but I don't care... Toyotas are the most dependable vehicles on the road today.
27th Oct 2008, 22:56
I have an 87 Toyota truck 4 wheel drive, carburated. I bought for $500 six years ago, it needed the timing chain and front chain cover, guides sprockets etc... along with a head gasket..
The chain was slapping on the cover and coolant was leaking into the oil... overheated and blew the gasket... spent $300 in parts, and in the past 6 years, I've driven it from 220,000 to 280,000 miles... and I 4wheel it quite often... good on snow, mud, hills, goes anywhere.
The gas mileage is kind of crappy around town though, about 16... on the highway it gets about 24...
This is by far the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned... and they're so easy to work on... TRY WORKING ON A NEW V6 FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE... you can barely stick a screw driver in there...
The only problem with my Toyota is that... the rear differential or transmission whines and whirls as I let go of the gas... and also ONCE it warms up, THE IDLE IS KIND OF HIGH... from time to time I'll be fine... but most of the time the idle's kind of high... 1100rpm possibly... Does anybody have that problem with the 22r carburetor?? What fixed it??? Please mail @ newlynamedkid_2000@yahoo.com
19th Jan 2011, 13:26
I drive my '88 Base Model Toy Pickup daily, and probably will for a LONG time. It's rough and ready.
My other toy is a 55 Chevy Belair with a stroked 383 SBC. It's Green and Mean!
I pick up parts for the '55 in my Toyota PU. I won't sell either one...
1st Feb 2007, 23:13
Hey man I've got an 87 Toyota with the 22r and mine was doing that a while back, it turned out that the coil was going bad, you could see blue sparks arcing between the sides of the coil with the center. when I replaced it the problem went away.