the spotted thread -

[Cruisertrash]

I meant South American, but I can listen to stories about South Africa, it’s all good.

 

[unimogguy]

Is "SA" in this context South America rather than South Africa? The hand-ness of the steering wheel being one clue. South Africans, if I'm not mistaken, put their tillers on the wrong side of the cab.

This Mud post seems to imply it may be Venezuelan based on the way the bed looks.

FJ45 pickup bed

Hello. I'm looking for a Fj45 pickup 1980-1984 and I found one but the bed is different of the other trucks. The owner says that it is the original bed. Could somebody knows something about it. My research shows that some fj45 in venezuela has that kind of beds. Could be possible the toyota...

forum.ih8mud.com

I’m personally not a fan of this style of 45 bed. I’d rather have a Aqualu bed. It has better styling. Heck I think I’d rather even have a AUS tray back?!?!

 

[subzali]

Spiderlegs business tour vehicle in Estes Park

 

[Rzeppa]

Spiderlegs business tour vehicle in Estes Park

I'm glad to see they're still in business! I took a picture of one of their rigs in the parking lot of a Mexican restaurant several years ago.

 

[SaintAgatha]

Spotted in Gilpin County

 

[DanS]

@SaintAgatha and I spotted @Rzeppa as he was leaving the 3D printery yesterday evening. Around 6PM. We waved from RBGX.

Dan

 

[Capriblue45]

I did a Park tour on the FJ40 looking tour trucks a few years ago as part of a board retreat. They are widened FJ40 cabs on a second gen Tundra running chassis. Pretty cool looking tour rig.

 

[Rzeppa]

What's RBGX? Oh well, I have been waving to every older Land Cruiser I see, from built 80s to 60s and 100s. The only one who seemed to know what a 250 was, was an 200 I was behind going through Morrison. I saw the guy see me in his side view mirror, grin and give me the thumbs-up.

After I left the "3D printery" yesterday evening I went home and switched to my FJ45, and hauled a half cord of firewood down the hill. On my way up the canyon this morning I was behind this guy, and he pulled over in Kittredge (he OBVIOUSLY knew what an FJ45 looked like) and we chatted for a few minutes. It's a 1981, and he also owns a 1985.

 

[unimogguy]

What's RBGX? Oh well, I have been waving to every older Land Cruiser I see, from built 80s to 60s and 100s. The only one who seemed to know what a 250 was, was an 200 I was behind going through Morrison. I saw the guy see me in his side view mirror, grin and give me the thumbs-up.

After I left the "3D printery" yesterday evening I went home and switched to my FJ45, and hauled a half cord of firewood down the hill. On my way up the canyon this morning I was behind this guy, and he pulled over in Kittredge (he OBVIOUSLY knew what an FJ45 looked like) and we chatted for a few minutes. It's a 1981, and he also owns a 1985.

Looks like a later model 45 (from the windshield wiper location/hood details)?

 

[SaintAgatha]

What's RBGX?

My GX470. It's black. I was waving to you out the passenger window, haha.

 

[Rzeppa]

Looks like a later model 45 (from the windshield wiper location/hood details)?

Yes, 1978 - it's in my sig line. And speaking of which I see RBGX in SaintAgatha's sig line so now I know what Dan was talking about.

 

[Cruisertrash]

@Rzeppa

If I ever got a mini truck it would be that short couple of years after they started offering 4WD, but before the rectangular headlights. Y’all truck with round lights just like that one.

 

[Rzeppa]

@Rzeppa

If I ever got a mini truck it would be that short couple of years after they started offering 4WD, but before the rectangular headlights. Y’all truck with round lights just like that one.

1979 was the first year. Toyota took out full page ads in outdoors oriented magazines (I scanned and posted up one from Backpacker magazine) that touted the new 4WD mini truck as the "Son of a Land Cruiser". 1985 is supposed to be the "best" year, as that was the last year of solid front axles and the first year of fuel injection. I believe that is Greg Luer's @Cheeseman year for his that he bought new off the lot.

 

[Cruisertrash]

1979 was the first year. Toyota took out full page ads in outdoors oriented magazines (I scanned and posted up one from Backpacker magazine) that touted the new 4WD mini truck as the "Son of a Land Cruiser". 1985 is supposed to be the "best" year, as that was the last year of solid front axles and the first year of fuel injection. I believe that is Greg Luer's @Cheeseman year for his that he bought new off the lot.

That’s cool about the “Son of Land Cruiser” ads! I was aware 1985 was the golden year of EFI+solid axle. For me the round headlights just look better than the rectangles. I bet you could swap the grille/bezel/clip though.

 

[nuclearlemon]

That’s cool about the “Son of Land Cruiser” ads! I was aware 1985 was the golden year of EFI+solid axle. For me the round headlights just look better than the rectangles. I bet you could swap the grille/bezel/clip though.

i would argue the efi being golden. maybe i'm the only one, clampy, my carbed mini was bullet proof. started up all the time, ran great and got great mileage. never should've gotten rid of that truck.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

@Rzeppa

If I ever got a mini truck it would be that short couple of years after they started offering 4WD, but before the rectangular headlights. Y’all truck with round lights just like that one.

79-81, 82 they went rectangular.
84 body style changed
85, Fuel injection was an option, but the first year it available.

 

[DaveInDenver]

1985 is said to be "best" but that only because it's the only cross over year of optional EFI and solid axle. IMO the bigger question is that 1985 is the laser block 22R so regardless if you have carb or EFI you can still get important internals that are shared up to 1995. The 1984 and older 22R is no easier to find parts than for a 20R.

Now having time with both a 22R-E (1991) and 22R (1985) and IFS and solid axle I'd use slightly different criteria. I like EFI personally and would have no problem driving an IFS truck over solid axle. But my use is far more pavement-centric and my back just can't take the buckboard ride anymore. And Dean had good lift spring and decent shocks. A factory suspension would, I'm fairly certain, kill me.

Oh, yeah, another thing. The W56 (1991) I like better than the G54 (1985). The steering on IFS is better than the stock solid axle mini truck with the push-pull long drag rod. I can see now why high steer is popular. I've just gone soft and not used to how rough and vague it used to be. Spoiled by the 1GR, cruse control, coil spring IFS and rack-and-pinion!

One thing about the 22R is I think it's easier to keep it running. It doesn't rely so much on sensors and has no ECU, so not as much random weirdness of a sudden low idle or whatever. So from that perspective it's nice. But OTOH having the ECU tell you what's wrong, rudimentary as the DIAG plug is, was handy. But my trips are usually short and the 22R doesn't always get warm enough to reliably step down into normal idle and the way the temperature sensing works in this regard with EFI is more consistent.

 

[nuclearlemon]

87 - last year of the carb, last year of the bench seat, last year of the 4 speed trans.

thankfully, swapping in a forward shift w56 is a bolt in option

 

[Jcbmx]

Nice and shiny! Sliders and product development moves fast! And for having 265/70 r18 it for some reason looks way more than a 32"

 

[bassguyry]

Who dis? Spotted at 72nd and Simms in Arvada about 6:15pm tonight. Clean hundy!