84 Toyota Dolphin

wow! I want it! that is awesome!

Another based on the Ford Ranger

tamaratrav,

Our originally equipped Toyota/Mirage had very serious handling problems of which were resolved this way. If you experience serious handling troubles, consider what we had done.

- Replaced the rear axle with true dual rear. You have that update already.
- Installed heavy duty Bilstein RV shock absorbers.
- Installed rear air bags with an on-board compressor and controls by the driver. The air bags each had a 5000 pound rating. On my website, you can see the compressor by the battery compartment, and the controls by the driver's left knee.

It would have been great if a front and rear stabilizer bar was available, especially a heavy duty version, but none was available for our 1st generation chassis. I suggest you look into that along with the other upgrades we had done.

About the air lift kit. Not just to lift the rear higher, but doing so also stabilized the rear end. The motor home handled like a drunken sailor until after all our upgrades were implemented. Don't try to live with a mess. Fix it right away to benefit all throughout your ownership.

About your replacement rear axle with heavy duty rear drum brakes. I advise to perform this test. Drive your rig in your neighborhood and hit your brakes real hard while in a turn at an intersection. If the front tires lock up quickly causing the rig to slide forward instead of go into the turn, you need to get your rear drum brakes adjusted.

We were in the mountains before I adjusted the rear drum brakes. While going down winding mountain byways in the turns, what saved our lives was down-shifting. Otherwise the rig would have gone right over a cliff. After I adjusted the rear drum brakes at home, the 4 rear tires woke up with braking power, a night and day difference with control and stopping distance.

The brakes need to be adjusted so that there is a slight drag after the brakes are pumped. It took me 18 adjustment cycles per rear drum before I got the slight drag and it was absolutely awesome afterward. I placed the rear axle up on huge wooden blocks, laid on my back with the adjustment tool, had my wife in the driver seat to pump the brake when needed, and our son spinning the dual rear tire-pair. I would adjust until there was shoe contact to the drum, then called to my wife to pump the brake which centered the shoes which made the tires spin freely again, then repeated until there was a drag after she pumped the brake pedal. I think taking 18 adjustment cycles to get them right meant the rear drum brakes were originally not functioning at all. Being a heavy duty setup back there, getting them working efficiently is surely worth the effort or money spent.

Wow - now THOSE are very fascinating - too bad they're right hand drive, would love to have one here. almost worth it just to take an Aussie vacation and buy one for awhile to hit the outback in style. are there a lot of 4WD roads in mountains in Australia you need 4WD for? Here in Oregon and also Colorado where I grew up, definitely best to have, but am of course doing without it currently. probably safer, since I like to push it. really just need a little Jeep or 70's Landcruiser. Or an FJCruisr. we almost bought one of those a couple weeks before we saw this 84 Dolphin. 

Yes there are

There was a guy looking for one a couple weeks back, dont know if he ever found it? Anyhow there is one for sale here locally, have seen it on sundays when going to church. Never really paid it much mind so dont know anything about it. However, if someone is looking for one I can stop and see what its all about. Just drop a line.

Hank

RobertRyan wrote:

ron.dittmer wrote:
Our 1984 Toyota Mirage SEEN HERE was built on a 1983 Toyota C&C chassis. I believe your 1984 chassis has the same 2.4L engine, but with multi-port fuel injection which is so much better. Not just 19 more horse power compared to our California emissions carbureted engine, but today's fuel with 10% ethanol was so hard on a cold start diaphragm on the side of the carb. I had to replace it every-other year due it getting stiff and ineffective. It was dang hard to get and later very expensive to purchase.

It looks like your rig also has the updated rear axle with true duel rear wheels. You are all set with that.

Our little Toyota had a stick shift 4-speed and it was great. We bought it brand new in the fall of 1983 and sold it 23 years later with 107K miles for $4625 less than we paid brand new. It was one of our best investments in life.

We drove a slow and steady 57 mph on the open road, let everyone pass us by, and it served us well. Our trip average fuel economy was often just over 20 mpg, but that rig weight only 3500 pounds plus what we added into it.

Be very slow indeed.They are making modern versions of these in Australia with 4x2 or 4x4 Drive. They keep up with the traffic going up hills , Diesel Toyota Powered

Wow - now THOSE are very fascinating - too bad they're right hand drive, would love to have one here. almost worth it just to take an Aussie vacation and buy one for awhile to hit the outback in style. are there a lot of 4WD roads in mountains in Australia you need 4WD for? Here in Oregon and also Colorado where I grew up, definitely best to have, but am of course doing without it currently. probably safer, since I like to push it. really just need a little Jeep or 70's Landcruiser. Or an FJCruisr. we almost bought one of those a couple weeks before we saw this 84 Dolphin.

Chum lee wrote:

garyemunson wrote:
Those are great little units. One issue I'd worry about is lack of parts. Anything that old is REALLY scarce in junkyards as very few keep older stuff around long anymore. Even simple parts, while still available are no longer kept on the shelf in many parts houses.

In 1984, the Toyota Pickup truck was without question, the most popular small pickup truck in the US, bar none. (probably around the world too) Finding parts, both new and used shouldn't be a problem for the foreseeable future. If you gotta have an older small truck, that would be my choice. That platform would even be a good candidate for a 4wd conversion. Just don't plan on carrying much or towing anything.

Chum lee

agreed on 80's Toyos. nope, gonna leave this unit as-is. for the $8K we spent on it, and the condition, not gonna mess with it.

ron.dittmer wrote:
Our 1984 Toyota Mirage SEEN HERE was built on a 1983 Toyota C&C chassis. I believe your 1984 chassis has the same 2.4L engine, but with multi-port fuel injection which is so much better. Not just 19 more horse power compared to our California emissions carbureted engine, but today's fuel with 10% ethanol was so hard on a cold start diaphragm on the side of the carb. I had to replace it every-other year due it getting stiff and ineffective. It was dang hard to get and later very expensive to purchase.

It looks like your rig also has the updated rear axle with true duel rear wheels. You are all set with that.

Our little Toyota had a stick shift 4-speed and it was great. We bought it brand new in the fall of 1983 and sold it 23 years later with 107K miles for $4625 less than we paid brand new. It was one of our best investments in life.

We drove a slow and steady 57 mph on the open road, let everyone pass us by, and it served us well. Our trip average fuel economy was often just over 20 mpg, but that rig weight only 3500 pounds plus what we added into it.

oh, yes, it;'s got the 6 bolt wheels on the back. whew. I didn't know enough to research that when we bought it....

ron.dittmer wrote:
Our 1984 Toyota Mirage SEEN HERE was built on a 1983 Toyota C&C chassis. I believe your 1984 chassis has the same 2.4L engine, but with multi-port fuel injection which is so much better. Not just 19 more horse power compared to our California emissions carbureted engine, but today's fuel with 10% ethanol was so hard on a cold start diaphragm on the side of the carb. I had to replace it every-other year due it getting stiff and ineffective. It was dang hard to get and later very expensive to purchase.

It looks like your rig also has the updated rear axle with true duel rear wheels. You are all set with that.

Our little Toyota had a stick shift 4-speed and it was great. We bought it brand new in the fall of 1983 and sold it 23 years later with 107K miles for $4625 less than we paid brand new. It was one of our best investments in life.

We drove a slow and steady 57 mph on the open road, let everyone pass us by, and it served us well. Our trip average fuel economy was often just over 20 mpg, but that rig weight only 3500 pounds plus what we added into it.

your Mirage looked really cool and tight. thanks!'

chast wrote:
Congratulations! She is a beauty! We have owned three Toyota micro-minis over the years and loved each one. I hope yours has the R22 engine—bulletproof! I hope you enjoy it and have many happy miles and adventures ahead of you.

yes, the 22R, runs good so far!