About me: Bought a 1990 Toyota Pickup on Tuesday. Farm vehicle. I don't know if they are all this way, but what the heck. 4 speed, 4 cylinder, 2wd regular cab. 52,000 miles, bought it for $2,400. Good truck. Definately fun to drive, I'd much rather have a stick than an auto. I personally think I picked up the stick fast. Dad drove home, and on the way I asked if I could drive it in a parking lot. So, in those 5 minutes I stalled it once and only once (not the first time either). Then on Thursday mom asks if I want to drive to the store to get another key cut for it. The Impala and Buick roadmaster have recent problems with overheating (Dex Cool issues) so I drove my truck. On tuesday I did have one problem: Shifting into third gear. I always moved the stick too far to the right because I didn't want to accidentally shift into first. On thursday I got third the first time, and everytime. NICE!! So now I love it almost as much as motocross. Enough of that, here is the truck.

(IMG:http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r39/Honda125_1218/truck002.jpg)

(IMG:http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r39/Honda125_1218/truck001.jpg)

Dad wants to work on some of the spots for bodywork, which is fine. He thinks the exhaust may have a leak.

Some questions:

How can I tell what kind of engine I have (22R or 22RE?)?

The bed is unpainted. We were going to use hercules brush on bed liner, but read that it tends to tack up in hot weather, so forget that. Any tips for what we can do to protect the bed? I was thinking about buying some POR-15 or good commercial rustoleum and painting it, haven't asked dad yet.

One of my hobbies is motocross. Any special tips for tying the bike down? Are the hooks in the corners in the bed strong enough? (note: we currently haul the bike in a trailer behind the chevy impala, so tying down is nothing new, just never done it in a truck).

Are there any commom problems with this truck?

Any tips in general?

I'll apologize in advance. I'm not the smartest person with cars. Dad is alot better with them, I have more knowledge on MX bikes than cars.

Incase anyone is interested, there is the bike.

(IMG:http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r39/Honda125_1218/heatcycle002.jpg)

Okay, I looked at the engine, its a 22R

Nice truck and bike.

I have not driven a stick 22R, but on my 3vz 5 speed, you have to about force it to go into the wrong gear. I suggest going to an empty parking lot for a few hours, and just get the feel going in and out of every gear. Try to go from 2nd to 1st and see what it does. If you have to force it, something is wrong. I can shift mine with one finger. Just give it some time to get the feel of it. I can't stand an auto transmission. It takes all the fun out of it.

Isnt that a 22R-E? The 22R and 22re are the same engine except with a different cylinder head because the 22R is carb. and the 22RE is fuel injected. Against the firewall there's usually a tag that will say the engine and engine size. (144 cubic inch 2.4 liter for both 22R and 22RE)

also toyotas are known for blowin head gaskets so careful during summer you dont over heat the engine, and maybe install a second cooling fan if you wanna stay on the safe side

Okay, getting into 3rd gear is no longer a problem.
the tag on the engine says 22R. Dad says its fuel injected....uh-oh, I hope it doesn't have carbureation.....

Now, here is my worry. I looked in the radiator. I see red. CRAP. With all the problems we are having with dex-cool, I want that out of there NOW. Any problems with switching to green antifreeze?

get that dex-cool **** out of there. the green anti-freeze is the only way to go. Isnt dex-cool the GM coolant?