1978 Toyota SR5- One for Dad

[legopnuematic]

It is about time my dad got something for himself, and this is what we picked up. A 1978 Toyota SR5, short bed, 2wd, 5 speed. 109xxx miles. Been parked in the same spot in the street for about 10 years. Previous owner was 99 and passed earlier this year. He had purchased it in 1986 we were told.

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Interior needs some love but is not too bad.

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This is the worst spot of the frame, I can fix that no problem.

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[legopnuematic]

Got it home.

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Just a quick hit with some polish. I believe it will clean up pretty good.

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[legopnuematic]

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Seats need covers on the bottoms but the backs look pretty good.

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This color is very similar to my 79 Big Ten in cardinal red.

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Pulled the spark plugs, squirt some oil in the holes, checked and it had spark, put plugs back in, squirt some car cleaner down the carb and it popped right off.

Sweet.

 

[idahovette]

Tell your Dad congrats from the Old Guy in Idaho @legopnuematic

 

[legopnuematic]

Thank you Perry, I sure will tell him. @idahovette

 

[legopnuematic]

So I’ll give some backstory on why this. My grandfather had purchased a 1980 SR5, 2wd in yellow brand new in 1980 to replace his 1972 Cheyenne (worn out and grandma had overheated it, tail end of fuel crunch etc).

He had a GT spoiler camper shell on it, when he got it they had the rear tires removed and installed two snow/mud/truck tires, kept the two new takeoffs in the basement. I am told they ended up curling up bad and were not useable.

My grandfather worked at the journal in Jennings off of 367, about 20 miles from where they lived in Harvester. In 1982 when the blizzard hit, my grandfather with five sand filled pickle buckets in the bed, made the 20 mile trek to work just to find out no one else showed up to work.

My uncle had started it in the garage one time and didn’t take it out of gear or push the clutch in, it took off and went straight into the fireplace (shares the front wall of the garage with).

Grandpa would take my dad and uncle on the weekends down greens bottom road and drive along as they collected bottles and cans on the sides of the road to recycle.

The demise of the 1980 was my dad and uncle (driving) along with two friends, one up front and the neighbor Brad riding in the bed, I do not know how but lost control and rolled it. Everyone was ok. My grandfather was apparently pretty upset, partly because of the truck, but also that he was the one that had gotten from work, and gave them the tickets to the concert they had attended and were returning home from.

So this isn’t a to be just like my grandpas truck, but rather more of a in the spirit of type thing as the 78 and 80 are different styled trucks to begin with.

 

[legopnuematic]

The basic plan for this truck is, get it running, moving, and stopping for as little as possible, reliably. Sort of an exercise of how much we can stretch a nickel so to speak. A basic clean up. It needs a windshield.

My buddy has a set of four chrome modular style wheels from the boat trailer, 14” 5x4.5 bolt pattern, not sure about the center hole of the Toyota vs mopar, ford, or those boat trailer wheels. Something a little wider I think would look good.

Going to give it a good wash and scrub, comet/bar keeper friend on the surface rust, I think with a buff the paint will really come around.

 

[squaredeal91]

This is so cool. Besides my 66 c20, i had a 1978 toyota Sr5 just like this in yellow had the hi lux 21R-U engine in it and it would wind up tight!! . I loved it so much after I got rid of it I bought 3 more to restore one lol. Never happened but I still have 2 of these kicking around. There fun to drive and work on.

 

[legopnuematic]

Google street view confirms that it has stayed in that spot.
Starting in 2013

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2022

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2023

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2024

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Honestly does not look much better or worse than than it did 12 years ago.

 

[Hunter79764]

I love the old Toyotas, my family had a 78 Corolla that refused to die, then I had a 91 Cressida (obviously newer, but still the old mindset) that I absolutely loved but had to get rid of a few years ago. Dad has some newer toyotas, including an 86 4x4 that I'd love to go through and get back on the road...
Looks like a fun truck and a fun project!

 

[squaredeal91]

I know being 78 it should have electronic ignition. But by chance is it points?

 

[legopnuematic]

I know being 78 it should have electronic ignition. But by chance is it points?

It is electronic ignition, I was curious about that too and popped the cap at the sellers house.

 

[squaredeal91]

My 76 was points and those are cool. Some but not all of them had an advance adjustment that was adjustable from outside I believe while running. It was a clear cylinder shape tube sticking out somewhere.
The electronic ignition setup works good but hard to get replacement igniter. Ive seen guys retrofit a GM hei module in place of it and it works good.

 

[legopnuematic]

GM hei module

That is/was exactly my thoughts if it needed attention. I have my dart setup for hei, used a normal 4 pin module, module/coil bracket and coil from a 90s truck, and factory Chrysler electronic distributor.

 

[squaredeal91]

That is/was exactly my thoughts if it needed attention. I have my dart setup for hei, used a normal 4 pin module, module/coil bracket and coil from a 90s truck, and factory Chrysler electronic distributor.

That's the ticket!