by "BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
Published 05/07/2017 at 20:21
by "BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
Published 05/07/2017 at 20:21
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STARS: 3
Thoughts on cheap, reliable, 2wd, 90s mini trucks? Opinions on superiority between say, a 90s Toyota vs an Isuzu pup vs the Mitsu Mighty Max vs Mazda B____? Seem like they’re plentiful on CL and could be fun to toss around yet reliable enough to drive into the ground. Do some offer performance/aftermarket value over others? Have an favorites?
"TheHondaBro" (wwaveform)
05/07/2017 at 20:27, STARS: 0
"Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer" (smallbear94)
05/07/2017 at 20:33, STARS: 0
"awmaster10" (awmaster10)
05/07/2017 at 21:03, STARS: 1
hardbody
"leicester" (leicester)
05/07/2017 at 21:20, STARS: 0
I had an ‘89 hardbody, and two b-series. Can’t go wrong there, although the b-series are relatively underpowered. I think the Isuzus are underrated. The Troopers of that period are bulletproof
"HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles" (hondasfordsvolvo)
05/07/2017 at 21:59, STARS: 2
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
05/07/2017 at 22:13, STARS: 0
I had an ‘83 B-2000. It was way under-powered and it was tiny. It left me wanting something bigger since I always needed just a little more room.
So, in ‘96 I bought a ‘94 B-3000 and drove for 18 years. It was just about perfect for a single guy who didn’t need to go fast on the street. It’s a lot bigger than the original “mini” trucks, but it wasn’t so great once I got married and had kids. I always needed just a little more room.
I just inherited a 1990 Nissan hardbody pickup. It’s a lot like my old B-2000, but it has a little more room and a lot more horsepower. It’s a lot of fun to drive, but I know that it will leave me wanting, so it’s going on the auction block.
Between the Nissan and the Mazda, the Mazda is a lot nicer. The Nissan is a basic truck. It has just the things it needs to get the job done. The Mazda has more cab space and power everything. Being bigger, it also has more payload and towing capacity. All around, it’s just nicer. The Nissan is perfect as a basic truck for getting small jobs done. The Mazda is a much better daily driver and is better for bigger jobs.
Both are just about bulletproof. My Mazda has 269,000 miles and the Nissan has 180,000.
I have no idea about the aftermarket for the hardbodies, but there was a good market for the Mazda which was essentially a Ranger. The Ranger had a, uh, range of engines from a 2.something liter four, a 3.0 liter six, a 4.0 six, and there are aftermarket kits for dropping in the 5.0 from an Explorer or a Mustang. You can get something for every engine from intake to exhaust.
"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
05/07/2017 at 22:14, STARS: 0
KA 2WD Hardbody. 240SX turbo kit, Belltech suspension drop, hydro e, clutch, seats, welded diff. Have fun.
"Highlander-Datsuns are Forever" (jamesbowland)
05/07/2017 at 23:40, STARS: 0
I have the Isuzu with the 2.6L. It is nicer than a Nissan or Toyota of similar age in 2 door trim. The extended cabs are called the space cab. I think the Isuzu engine has more grunt than the others. There still seems to be a good parts supply but there is no aftermarket for Isuzu.
"RallyWrench" (rndlitebmw)
05/08/2017 at 00:22, STARS: 0
Toyota 22RE singlecab all the way. I had one with a utility rack, the odometer broke at 325k and it ran like a top. I cornered the thing on its doorhandles constantly. Torquey, a good shifter, lots of fun. I used to know a guy who autocrossed one, he repurposed a bunch of off-road parts.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
05/08/2017 at 06:42, STARS: 0
8)
"Lokiparts" (lokiparts)
05/08/2017 at 08:37, STARS: 0
My vote would be for an S-10/S-15. Although I may be slightly biased since I have owned many of them. Depending on what you want, the iron duke 4cyl ones are pretty much bulletproof, and the 4.3L V6's were one of the most powerful mini truck engines avaliable in the 80's and 90's and are very tunable. I’d stay away from the 2.8 V6s though, they had the reliability of the 4.3s with all the power of the 4 bangers.
"Sovande" (sovande)
05/08/2017 at 10:01, STARS: 0
Mine are the best... 1987 El Camino and a 1985 Nissan 720.
