1990 Toyota Pickup. Opinions?

My buddy is looking at a 1990 Toyota Pickup that is in excellent shape mechanically. 152,000 miles. 22RE 4 banger with 5 speed manual. Working 4x4. Owner is a mechanic. Frame resto, engine has been gone through completely new timing chain, plugs, water pump, head gasket, and much more. Some scratches and cosmetic damage but overall good shape.

Guys asking $7,500. NADA blue book is like $3,500 ish average and $4,500 high. Would you pay $7,500? Worth it or nah?

 

On the west coast that truck would have another 200k more to go before it was junk. My 22res usually get a headgasket and timing kit every 100k, so the fact that they have been done isnt a issue, BUT I would want to know what brand HG, did he replace headbolts, did he use metal backed timing guides and what brand tensioner. And I would hope he had the head professionally flattened and new stem seals.

 

Also ask to see it cold, and pop the rad cap and see if system hisses(pressurized) and the fluid is to the top of the neck. Then start it and turn heater on and listen for rushing water sound.

If there is an issue with either of those then the HG job was bad, bad seal, or he didnt bleed it properly.

 

Thanks man! Im no mechanic so I wouldnt have thought about any of that. You're saying those things are indicators of it functioning properly? Or the opposite?

 

As much as I loved my 91 I don't think I would pay 7500 for it today and mine was an Sr5 with the bucket seats and v6... I know Toyotas have great resale value but don't let the heart overpower the brain..

 

I'd rather have a 95.5+ Tacoma and rust.

The lack of HP from the 22RE combined with the stupid torsion bars really puts me off those generations. I've owned 2 and wouldn't again.

 

Hell no.

 

Does it have air-conditioning?

 

Lol that's pretty much what I said. Guy wouldnt accept $5,300. My buddy originally said before we saw it that he would pay up to $5,500 if it's in good shape, which it is. Hes now considering offering $6,000 but I dont think I'd even pay that much

 

Yep working AC

 

There's a reason he painted the lower half of the truck. Take a flimsy magnet and look for bondo.

The only real reason to buy a 3rd gen Toyota is your heart is set on it, sentimental or your gonna do a straight axle conversion.
Mine was sentimental and is sas.
But tacos are so much nicer in pretty much every way.

 

Yep he said that there was rust on the rocker panels. He had the body work professionally done. Guy made a joke about "that's why it looks so good... because I didnt do it". Pretty sure he did the mechanical work and had a body shop do the rest
SAS would be pretty awesome on one of those trucks though

 

No, I wouldn't buy a truck with fresh paint on the frame and rockers.

Back in 2005 my friend paid $7000 for a clean '91 SR5 Ext. cab 3.0L 4wd with 115k on it. That was an average price for an 89-94 back then.

 

I'd pass dude.
Just because a body shop did it doesn't mean it was done rite.
Ask him what shop. Then go to that shop and ask if they remember the truck and what they did.
$2500 spends pretty quick at a body shop. Did that guy poney up for good work? Or hey slap some bondo on gonna sell this thing.?

 

Yeah good point. Not worth all that for a beater truck imo lol. I dont think hes gonna end up buying it. I get a feeling that the guy is asking way more than it's worth cuz hes put a lot of time and money into it but that's not really how that works lol The trucks value is what is is no matter how much time you've spend maintaining and "restoring" it.

 

Nice truck btw! I love the flat bed

 

I had to cut out all the rust and replace a door before I did the repaint.. full fiberglass bedsides and fenders...
but modifying the torsion bar suspension was a B**ch back in the old days they did have a extended travel suspension from a company called Baja concepts..
I loved the buckets in it they had adjustable side bolsters.. a feature I wish my taco had..

 

Haha thanks.
Flat beds are ether handier then a pocket on a shirt or terrible. Depending on what your doing that day.

 

If the seller can show receipts for all the engine parts, etc., I might offer $4750, but no more. The truck is 29 years old, regardless of maintenance and refurb.