Despite needing a new headgasket, bidding remains quite strong for this 1985 Toyota 4Runner with a five-speed manual gearbox. Overall, Japanese SUVs from the 80s are on a tear on the collector car market thanks to their fairly low running costs and respectable off-road abilities, and rust-free examples like this with the cool period graphics still in place will always find favor with bidders as repairing one with known issues is made easier thanks to robust parts support. Find the 4Runner here on eBay with bids to $5,700 and no reserve, and located in Moreno Valley, California.
The seller notes this 4Runner has had one owner since new, but he also explains that it’s been in his possession for the last year – so technically, this is a two-owner vehicle even if the paperwork only has record of one (it drives me nuts when sellers do this.) The 4Runner’s body is in excellent condition aside from some paint fading, and the only deviations from stock condition are the aftermarket wheels and running boards. The 4Runner appears to have an aftermarket attachment connected to the hitch (mountain bike holder?) and wears old-school California blue plates.
I’ve been debating whether the best transmission for an off-road capable rig is a manual or automatic transmission as of late, as I recently picked up a super rare 1989 Isuzu Trooper RS – a one-of-800 short wheelbase example that is equipped with an automatic transmission. Some will say the auto gives you more stability in challenging offroad situations, especially when you need to be concentrating on other tasks besides shifting; others will say the auto’box can break and leave you stranded. Both fair points, but for anything that doesn’t see a lot of off-road use, I’d probably lean towards wanting a manual. The interior is in good shape, save for the armrest that needs recovering.
The seller’s reason for believing the headgasket to have failed is due to loosing coolant and the engine running rough. Normally, overheating is also a symptom, but the seller doesn’t mention that here. The engine bay still looks quite tidy, so perhaps a thermostat failed while the 4Runner was in storage, or a coolant leak wasn’t caught and the truck was run without sufficient fluid. Regardless, parts support is still quite robust, and as this auction shows, bidders are hungry enough for rust-free examples that they won’t be deterred by the need for some time-consuming but straightforward mechanical R&R.
Here we go again, I had very similar truck, except a V6 and automatic. I got it cheap in the summer ( like buying a lawn mower in the winter) Original 2 door 4Runners have sort of a cult following, like the FJ. There’s just a slew of them out here, many just like this, unlike in the Midwest, you never see them because they melted away. This truck has the optional “gauge pak” on the dash, that included, an altimeter, a “tip over” gauge, and I forget the other one, clock, maybe. Mine didn’t have that. I really liked the truck, but problems arose, like the a/c started making a racket, and the trans started doing weird things, so I got rid of it. I think the 4 door ones were more popular, but these sure got the ball rolling for Toyota. Great find.
Timing chain tensioner and timing chain guides wear. When this happens the chain rubs a hole into the aluminum timing chain cover. Behind that is the water jacket for coolant. These usually last around 180,000 miles then it’s time to replace chain / guides. Unless you run it out of water / coolant and overheat it the 22RE don’t usually blow head gaskets if you drive them with brains. Nice and easy engines to work on. I had a 85′ SR5 Xtra cab back in the day. Great truck ? Yes. Bounce my ass off the seat on every bump on concrete freeways ? Yes
I was going to make the same remarks Sparkster made as I worked on a lot of these back in the day! Thanks.
Likewise… The 22RE was a good engine, and the 5 speed manual is a good match for it. I had an ’86 SR5 Pickup. Fun to drive, great gas mileage, and enough power with the 5 speed manual. I have to laugh at the idea that the original decals increase the value. I had the decals removed from mine when it was new. I thought they were a bit “over the top”. I was also concerned that if they ever did come off, that the paint would have variations in fading. To each his own. I prefer this size of vehicle, and manual transmissions especially on this small of displacement.
I had an 86 with the 22fe, changed the timing chain and tensioner twice, once at 110000 and at 220000. You know it’s time because can hear the chain slapping the cover. Great trucks.
You’re playing with Fire if you wait 180k miles before you change the timing chain. I’ve been the original owner on 2 of these, and to be safe replaced the first timing chain (myself. I don’t trust mechanics, lol) at 100k and boy am I glad I did. The consequences of it breaking can be catastrophic. I’d go with Steve on that one.
On another note, I’d go with a standard shift. So much more control. But if you don’t have much experience and proficiency with a stick, then yes, I’d go with an automatic.
Mine was a 5sp. Moved to the northern Rockies and found the 4 banger very anemic, couldn’t get out of its own way going up the Teton Pass.
Sir, you needed a turbo. Easy to say now. Especially since I am not the one writing a check for a turbo kit. The Denso fuel injection on these was a clone of the Bosch systems that were on BMW around the same time. We did plenty of turbos on those.
It was bought new in Miami and used in the Florida Keys for several years, then moved to the Northern Rockies. Ended up keeping it in the valley and only using wife’s car to travel the pass with 10% grades. Turbo would have made it a viable mountain pass vehicle, but by then too many miles on it for that kind of investment