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1988 Toyota Pickup 4x4 (Hilux)

Location: East Haddam, Connecticut, United States
Condition: Used
Make: Toyota
Model: Pickup
SubModel: Base
Type: Standard Cab Pickup
Trim: 4x4
Year: 1988
Mileage: 124700
VIN: JT4RN63AXJ5045712
Color: White
Engine size: 2.4L Gas I4
Number of cylinders: 4
Fuel: gasoline
Transmission: Manual
Drive type: 4WD
Interior color: Blue
Options: 4-Wheel Drive, Cassette Player
Vehicle Title: Clean

1988 Toyota Pickup 4x4 Description

1988 Toyota Pickup

1988 Toyota4x4pickup(Hilux)5 speed manualwith 124,000 miles.

I got this truck and one otherform the former ownerin exchange for some workhe owed me. This truck was in great solid shape, so I finished the work he did not do. Aftergetting the trucksolidand functioning, itwas usedAnd played with a bit, but sat around too much; I have a few other Toyota’s I was using more.

I personallyhave a “thing” for oldergenerationToyotapickups (toughest, simplest, most reliable)and tend to “save” them -a bit like adopting a stray dog;get it healthy and find a great home for it.

I replaced everything that was needed to bringitback up to“snuff”and ensureitwasrunninggreat and workinggreat to be able to do its job as a4x4Toyotapick up truckshould – new lease on life so to speak. The goal was only this; solid, practical, original,smooth to drive,etc. OriginallyI did not fix it upto resellas agoaland only recently went through, fixing a few things,it to sell. The goal was never to have ashow roomqualityrestored truck. What you have here is just that –solid great runningToyota pickup truck with a near perfect frame,driveline, and solid body and bed.

I’m sellingitnow because I have 6 other of this era Toyota pickup and recently put a lot of effort into a 1990pickup(restoration, diesel conversion, etc) Then it was just sitting around again……

Here is a summary,in bullet points,of what the truck is and whatwas done to it:

•Engine is a 22re solid and runs perfect- no leaks,smoke, oil use,etc. Strongand quiet. 124,700 original miles.•Drives very nice on local roads or on the highway – plenty of power to run 65-80mph on interstate. Tight, no play, no wandering or such.•The frameon this truck is very solid(said to have been from Southwest USA). It hashadno repairs andhas no rot or such– very clean. It’s thereasonI accepted this truck in the first place.•Driveline is solid, leak free, and tight. Both diffs are great and have been inspected and oil changed. Tranny tight.•Clutch is great, with no slippage or throw-out bearing noises•Brakes (new front and rear calipers, new pads front and shoesrear), new master cylinder.•Parking brakecable is stretched and does not engage. Will need to be fixed if its something you want to use, or if this is a truck destined for a frame off rebuild.•Original suspension is fine, tight,and strong with new tie rod ends. I did have it re-aligned.New rear shocks since I took the photos- one was leaking oil.•Power steering works fine, but the pump does make more noise than it should andneeds replacing as you can hear the bearings are not great. It is finefor now and maybe a long timeand does not leak, but the typical tired sounds are coming from it.•4wd engages fine, both diffs work as they should, manual hubs lock and unlock as they should.•Fuel tank was full of old fuel and shellac, etc. Fuel pump and sending unit were spent. Replaced tank witha newlarger 19.5 gal tank with new pump and sending unit.•Truck bed is a JDM bed(rumored to be better steal than USA beds)from a 2wd(I think)truck – purchased inSouth Carolina. On deliveryI saw thebottom portionof the bedwas bent by a fool with a fork liftduring shippingI fixed the damagebut only to myarmature-likeability- serviceable but not perfect. However the bedis very solid and rust free. Bed had very little rust and rust that was there wascut out, patched steel welded in, smoothed,filled, and primed white (patch is on a seam and about 7 x 2 inches– see pix).•Front and rear bumpers are new non-OEM from an online auto parts place or eBay (I cant recall), they are fine, but I’m not a fan of the flimsy feeling so I would get real stuff if I were keeping it. Live and learn. We had ARB front bumpers, rock sliders, andcustom steel “off road”rear bumper on it up until about a month or so ago.•Both front doors arenot original (originals must have been to far gone and former owner found better ones), butare rot free, straight and clean. Bothhavesomesurface rust on the bottom seambut it is not inner rust/rot at all(see pix).•Both front fenders are solid,clean, and rust free.•The floor on driver’s side (corner near kick panel) hadthrough rust (i.e. floor and inner fender wheel of wheel). This was cut out and new steel welded in. (see pix).•Passengers inner fender had one rust through about 2 inches in diameter – again rust was cut out and patched. Rest of inner fender is rust free and strong.•Hood is original and is solid with no rot and only some surface rust.(Hood update: On further examination I think the front seam of the hood needs some metal work and is more than surface. This is limited to the bottom of the seam and not the top surface of the seam– see pix.)•Passengers side lower sill had one rust through spotabout 3x6 inchestowards back of cab corner (typical place) – replaced, patched, filled, smoothed, and primed white.•16” stock Toyota wheels with½ tread life left Cooper tires (245/75-16).•Interior is all originalblue –truck was blue originally – you can see this in pix of the engine bay. There is onehole in the drives seat cloth. One crack (sun bake) on dash. Also the door latchesand lock are from a tan interior truck (see pix) while the surrounds are the blue original. Former owner did not switch and I have not gotten to it either.•All gauges work as they should.•Radio works, but its not factory OEM– some buttonS missing and not sure if cassette deck works (don’t have any more 1988 cassette to test with).•Carpetis a 7 or 8 out of 10. The floor pad ondriver’sside has come off, but I still have it (see pix).•Body condition(cosmetics): the body is solid and strong, but does show,esp.in bed, former non-professional dent tweaks. As stated above bed had some rust but has beenrepaired. In general the body is all there, solid,straight but not perfect cosmetically. It could be of course, but my goal was function over looks and it is that; solid and clean of rust.•Paint: I sanded andre-sprayedthe body white aboutfouryears ago. It was a cheappracticaljob to make the truck functional and acceptable looking – by no means arestoration inany shape or form. . The body was originally blue, but the fender and doors must have come off a light tan truck -doorjamswerepainted poorly and still show some blue and the inner doors show the original off white/tan paint.I like to say the truck’s body and paint show good patina ;-)

•Note on pictures. You will notice dirt and old clay on the undercarriage. Many of you will see where the power washer hit the clay and where it didn’t. I hope you can see what is stubborn Carolina clay vs. what might look like rust. There is no rust on the frame or drive line and I have taken pix of what rust there is on the under body itself. Please let me know if you want any particular pix.

So there you have it. This is a solidvery low rust truck that works great and is instockun-bastardized or modifiedcondition. It isshows its history well, and holds up when examined.It is not a low mile all original straight barn find, nor is it a overly-shinny frame up restoration. It’s honest, verysolid, tough, simple, mechanicallyvery sound, and great to dive. Do some professional body work, original bed (if thatS important) and you have a beautiful restored truck….. orjust get in it and driveher as is.