Since 1980, a lot has changed. While many things have improved, numerous issues still affect both Americans and all other people. We might wax lyrical about what is better and worse about the world, but we are realists. We’re not here to preach about geopolitics to you. Instead, while atop a Four Wheeler Network soapbox, let’s discuss how Toyota trucks have changed since 1980. Thanks to our friend and Overland Adventure 2020 member Ryan Kennelly and his 1980 Toyota Hilux, we can do this with language, thoughts, andmore importantlyvisually. This truck is representative of all Toyota 4×4 vehicles marketed in the United States in 1980. It has a ladder frame, solid front and rear axles, a bench seat, a bed, a cab, a 2.2L four-cyl (20R) engine with carburetion, a four-speed transmission, a two-speed transfer case, and more. We have a 2020 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4×4 SR as a point of reference. It has a ladder frame, IFS, a solid rear axle, a 3.5L Direct injected V-6 (2GR-FKS), six-speed automatic transmission, two-speed transfer case, five seats, a bed, a cab, and more. It has a remarkable number of options for a base model, some of which most people would consider upgrades. While some things have changed, there are a few that we, at least, wish Toyota had kept the same. Look into it.
In This Article...
What was the name of Toyota trucks in the 1980s?
Toyota and Nissan pickups were on sale in the 1980s and early 1990s, but they had no names at all. They were referred either as the Toyota truck or the Nissan trucklower case featured in automotive periodicals and buying guides.
What horsepower does a Toyota pickup from 1980 have?
Hey dude, you get bored occasionally. We punch up random cities from Craigslist and look for pre-1988 4×4 autos. Some folks knit, others jog. It’s just what we do. Our haphazard vehicle safari produced the first search result on the website, which was for a really cool 1980 Toyota 4×4 in factory lemon yellow with factory “graphics package” and a spotless black inside.
The Chapman, Kansas, advertisement said: “$6,000 obo. 4×4 truck, 4-speed manual transmission, interior overhaul, new seat, new bed mat, new carburetor, working 4×4, new oil, radiator cleansed, and new fluids. Got it begun, and it is now ready for completion.”
These tiny trucks were typically rugged workhorses with minimal frills. This was the final year for Toyota’s dependable 20R engine, which produced 122 lb-ft of torque at 2,400 rpm and 90 horsepower at 4,800 rpm. Although an overdrive fifth gear wasn’t yet widespread, the four-speed manual transmission and gear-drive transfer case were both strong. Although the front sheetmetal axle housings were prone to bending where the inner C is welded to the knuckle with larger tires and severe use, the front axles under these trucks were capable of handling the responsibilities required of them.
Overall, the third-generation Hilux pickup trucks were admirably austere representations of what a tiny pickup vehicle ought to be. Although it has significant surface rust and is far from being in ideal exterior condition, the interior at least appears to have been recently updated. We’re not sure if we’d spend $6,000 for one, but they aren’t making any more of them. Did we mention that they are no longer being produced?
Toyota began manufacturing trucks when?
The first Toyota truck was introduced fifty years ago in November. Many people are unaware that Toyota sold its earliest vehicles as trucks, and that trucks were crucial to Japan’s post-war economic recovery. Even while Toyota is likely more well-known for its passenger cars today, making trucks is still a crucial part of its overall company.
The G1, which debuted in November 1935, was the first Toyota vehicle. This truck was proudly unveiled by Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, Ltd. It included a 3.4-liter 6-cylinder Type A engine with 65 horsepower. The G1 was Toyota’s first production vehicle and had the distinction of having a 1.5 ton load capacity. The G1 truck was the first Toyota vehicle to actually be put on the market, despite the fact that the A1 Passenger Car prototype had been unveiled in 1935. The G1 was developed before Toyota Motor Co., which was established as a distinct company from Toyoda Automatic Loom Works only in 1937.
With the introduction of the upgraded GA Truck in 1936 and the 2-ton GB Truck in 1938, the Toyota truck lineup was expanded in the years leading up to World War II. Due to a lack of materials, various strange versions were created during the conflict. The most fascinating of them was the KC, also known as the “one-eyed truck” because to its lone headlamp.
Following the war, truck production was capped at 1,500 units per month by the Occupation Forces, and car production was outlawed in Japan until 1947. Public transportation and trucks were vital throughout this period of reconstruction.
The BM Truck, a 4-ton vehicle that began into production in 1947 and later evolved into the better BX Truck, was one of the first modern Toyota trucks produced after the war. The 5-ton capacity FA-5 Truck was also produced in response to the demand for larger-load trucks.
The 1947 introduction of the SB Truck represented a significant innovation. The design of this truck allows for flexible use as either a compact truck or a passenger automobile. This was partially caused by the rules that first limited the production of passenger cars following the war. The New Toyopet Truck SG, a 1-ton truck with a newly developed Type S engine, was later improved upon in 1952 from the original SB. The “people’s truck,” the Toyopet Light Truck SKB, came next in 1954.
Through the 1950s, both the Toyota truck lineup and the Japanese economy grew. To meet the expanding market demand, the odd-looking tri-wheel trucks were gradually phased out and replaced with new models. In 1954, Toyota unveiled the Toyo-Ace cab-over truck. This was a ground-breaking innovation, and in 1956 a new marketing avenue was opened to promote it. The first truck with the name Dyna was used in 1959 and had a 1.5-ton higher load capacity after that.
The 0.75-ton Toyopet Masterline Pickup and the 0.5-ton Toyopet Masterline Light Van, both of which utilised the Toyopet Master, Toyota’s taxi at the time, as their chassis, also made their debuts in the middle of the 1950s. These goods created a brand-new, quickly expanding market for “business automobiles.”
The expressway road system was established in Japan in the 1960s, and this new period called for a more diverse range of trucks with improved performance. Toyota started working on an automobile for the average person, and in 1966 the company unveiled the Corolla, paving the path for the company’s spectacular success as a manufacturer of passenger cars.
On the commercial vehicle front, numerous notable events occurred in the 1960s, such as the launch of the 15-person Toyopet Micro-bus in 1959. With a 25-person capacity, the Toyota Light Bus was introduced in 1963.
The two “oil shocks” and the tendency toward demand diversification were the two main characteristics of the 1970s. The “oil shocks” sparked concerns about fuel-efficiency and a move towards diesel engines, while customers started to demand a wider selection of speedier, special-use trucks with greater load capacity.
Toyota trucks started to be seen on more roads around the world in the second half of the 1970s. Along with the rapid expansion of product lines, many lines added “Just-low” versions, which had low-bed configurations. The Town-Ace wagon and van were first presented in 1976. In particular, the Town-Ace Wagon received interior comfort and operating performance on par with passenger cars. The Town-Ace pioneered the cab-over wagon market, which it virtually monopolized before rivals flocked to the area to follow Toyota’s avant-garde lead.
Toyota trucks gained popularity in export markets at this time thanks to their superior performance and broad range of models. The Land Cruiser in particular became quite well known throughout the world as a workhorse and a recreational vehicle. The Hi-lux, a multifunctional light truck, gained popularity in the United States as both a commercial and leisure vehicle. With sales of 95,000 units, the Hi-lux was the most popular import truck in the United States in 1978. Toyota created the BUV (Basic Utility Vehicle) in Asia as their “Asia Car,” with a focus on affordability and regional manufacturing. In 1976, BUV production started in the Philippines, and the following year, in Indonesia.
The 1980s saw the small-truck industry mature and the rise in popularity of 4WD vehicles for recreational purposes. Toyota has introduced new 4WD models such the Hi-lux 4WD, the Blizzard, Town-Ace, Master-Ace Surf, and Lite-Ace to keep up with these new trends. New models have been released, such as the van-style Hi-lux Surf, while the Land Cruiser has undergone a complete makeover.
The 50-year history of Toyota trucks demonstrates how TMC has successfully met consumer demand while quickly adapting to a variety of challenging situations, including supply constraints and regulations in the 1940s, market expansion in the 1950s and 1960s, “oil shocks” in the 1970s, and market diversification in the 1980s.
Is the Toyota 22R a reliable motor?
I owned three trucks with both the 22R and RE engines, and I never had an issue. They are without a doubt the most dependable engines Toyota has ever produced. They were all well over 200,000 kilometers old. My 92 had more than 350,000 miles on it before I sold it. The only change I made was to the back end by adding 4.56 gears.
Toyota stopped utilizing the 22R engine when?
The initial output was 174 Nm (128 lbft) at 2,800 rpm and 72 kW (97 horsepower; 98 PS) at 4,800 rpm.
By 1990, the 22R was producing 187 Nm (138 lbft) at 3,400 rpm and 81 kW (109 horsepower; 110 PS) at 5,000 rpm.
These engines typically have output ratings of 185 Nm (136 lbft) at 2,800 rpm and 78 kW (105 horsepower; 106 PS) at 4,800 rpm.
After undergoing considerable reworking in 1985, the engine’s power reached 84 kW (113 hp; 114 PS) at 4,800 rpm and 190 Nm (140 lbft) at 3,600 rpm. Many components from the more recent 22R/R-E engine are incompatible with the older pre-1985 engine. The cylinder head, block, pistons, and numerous more components including the timing chain and cover, as well as water and oil pumps, are examples of the parts that are incompatible (although the oil pump internals are the same).
Since the 22R was likewise impacted by these changes, one might think of the 8595 22R-E as a fuel-injected variant of the 8590 22R with few, if any, significant variations.
Toyota switched to a single-row timing chain with plastic guides in 1983, replacing the dual-row timing chain used in previous engines. The new technique decreased engine drag but created a new upkeep issue. The chain may extend to the point that the hydraulically powered chain tensioner can no longer pick up the slack after operating for approximately 100,000 miles (160,934 km) of chain. When the timing chain strikes the plastic driver’s side chain guide, it quickly breaks and emits an audible chattering sound from the front of the engine, especially when the engine is cold. The chain will shake significantly on the driver’s side and quickly extend if the engine is run without the guiding restraint. Any of various failure mechanisms can be the outcome.
First, a slack chain will lessen ignition timing precision, which typically results in performance that is notably harsh. Second, it can completely break or leap a tooth on the drive sprocket, which almost always causes major harm to an interference engine. Third, severe harm to the cooling and oil systems may result from the stretched chain slapping against the timing cover’s side and wearing through the metal into the coolant tube beneath the water pump (sometimes mis-diagnosed as a head gasket failure). After such an incident, the damaged aluminum timing cover is usually replaced because it is difficult to repair properly. Once the first chain stretching has taken place, aftermarket timing-chain kits for the 22R/R-E often incorporate steel-backed guides that do not easily break, allowing the chain to operate safely past the 100,000 mile (160,934 km) barrier. Nevertheless, some Toyota specialists would advise against using plastic guides since they will crack when the timing chain is stretched. When the guides crack, the timing chain makes a perceptible chattering noise as it slaps against the cover, alerting the driver to a worn timing chain.
The 22R-TE turbocharged (sold from late 1985 to 1988) produced 234 Nm (173 lbft) at 2,800 rpm and 101 kW (135 horsepower; 137 PS) at 4,800 rpm.
These engines are renowned for their long lifespans, respectable fuel efficiency, and strong low to midrange torque.
High-end power is its weakness, though. The 22R features a sizable displacement and a sturdy block, but its employment in high revving applications is constrained by its relatively lengthy stroke and constrictive head. Toyota’s 4-cylinder 18R-G, 2T-G, 4A-GE, and 3S-GE engines are therefore better suited for performance applications.
Using a 20R head on an early 22R is a common alteration. The 20R head does not, contrary to popular belief, have smaller combustion chambers. The error started when the 22R was released; one of its benefits was a better compression ratio, therefore when a 20R block was replaced with a 22R, the compression level increased. Since the 20R head’s ports are straight, it can flow more effectively than the 22R head, enhancing high RPM power. The 20R head is a straightforward bolt-on upgrade for pre-1985 blocks, but it also needs the 20R intake manifold, making it nearly hard to use with the 22R-E EFI system (a lot of matching is required). [21] It is necessary to make additional adjustments for blocks 1985 and later. [22]
Are dated Toyota trucks trustworthy?
Our Jalopnik friends have provided evidence to support the claim that Toyota trucks from the 1980s are possibly the most dependable pickups ever produced, citing a well-used 1988 model with nearly 250,000 miles on the odometer and no significant mechanical issues during its more than two decades of use.
This assertion appears to be supported by more instances, such as Top Gear’s rumored attempt to destroy a vintage Hilux diesel engine.
In other words, is the Toyota pickup from the mid-80s the most dependable pickup ever produced, or is there domestic iron that has been hauling since the 20th century that makes this modest Toyota look like the tailgate on a 2007 Tundra?