Opinions on this rig?

[JSimmons]

Hi all,

I'd like to get some opinions on a 4Runner that I looked at today. I can post up the photos here, however, I did post a similar thread over at YotaTech.com. I don't mean to redirect traffic away from this site, but I figured it would be easier to just post the link to that thread:

http://www.yotatech.com/f116/intro-advice-202735/#post51348027

If you would like the photos posted here, I can do that as well.

Essentially, it is a grimy old work/hunting truck that has a rock solid and stout drivetrain. It drives well. I took it on the highway and off-road. Everything works real well. It's just infested with rust in the body. The frame checked out fine.

Let me know what you think. Any and all opinions are appreciated.

regards,
Joel

 

[mtnbike28]

Goals?

What do you want the truck to do/be? Around town and quick trail rig? Drive to AK rig?

Can you weld? I assume Ft. Campbell has base auto repair place, are you handy with tools?

The missing parts, odd bolts on the bumper, etc. warn you the PO may not be detailed oriented and could be deeper problems. Does the rear window go up/down with the switch and the key in back?

The front fenders are easy to replace with aftermarket fenders (and least they used to be.) The rockers can be cut out and have square tube welded in. I have seen it done on FJ-60s...

I agree on the Yota post, $1600 may be too high, offer half in cash?
hth

 

[JSimmons]

Howdy Jay,

To start, I would want the truck to be an around town rig, ready to go fishing/hunting in. Eventually, I would like to build it into something able to go on an expedition of some sort. Going to AK is a possibility in my job field.

Fort Campbell does have an auto shop, however, I cannot weld. That's a big stumbling block for me on this rig. I agree that the weird bolts on the bumper raise red flags about other unseen details. The rear window goes up and down with the console switch, but not with the key in the back.

I'm not too concerned about this rig being pretty from the get-go. If the fenders and rockers can be replaced that's fine with me. But, like I said before, that's my one shade-tree mechanic downfall: no welding experience.

The seller definitely seems set on getting around $1500 for it. If this ends up being the best I can find for on the cheap...I might just offer him half and see where he goes from there.

Thank you for your input.

Joel

 

[Wonderland]

Would be a good excuse to get a small welder to practice on that rig.

The nice thing about a beater rig is, you don't have to worry about scratching the paint or dinging it.

I picked up a truck very similar to that for $800, it was fun just to go beat on it. Heck the interior of that one was half torched.

 

[JSimmons]

The nice thing about a beater rig is, you don't have to worry about scratching the paint or dinging it.

Kinda what I was thinking...no reason to be worried about doing something to it that the "hey, keep that thing stock" crowd could get upset about...:smiley_drive:

Joel

 

[Wonderland]

Kinda what I was thinking...no reason to be worried about doing something to it that the "hey, keep that thing stock" crowd could get upset about...:smiley_drive:

Joel

I would offer the guy $900, and see what happens.

Even for $1600, if it blows up, it is only $1600.

The beater I bought, it was a theft recovery, the thieves left a crack pipe or something in the glove box, it caught fire melted half the dash. It smelled kinda bad, but we wheeled the Hell out of it. Put it on its' side a couple times, rolled it back over and joked "yeah, it will buff out":elkgrin:

 

[JSimmons]

The beater I bought, it was a theft recovery, the thieves left a crack pipe or something in the glove box, it caught fire melted half the dash. It smelled kinda bad,:

Excellent! :sombrero::elkgrin::sombrero::elkgrin:

 

[mtnbike28]

Joel,

I can't weld either, but the auto repair place should have the stuff and the helper to guide you.... I agree with the "it's a great truck to learn on" and even at $1500, it would work around town and fishing/hunting.

My thoughts were on who rebuilt the motor?

My last 22-RE went 250K without one, so a well rebuilt one would seem trust-worthy... but you will still have small issues. Look at the problems SWR and LA Outback have had with their first gen 4rnrs....

 

[Wonderland]

Joel,

Look at the problems SWR and LA Outback have had with their first gen 4rnrs....

I had a first generation 4Runner too, I never had any major problems with it. (Other than being grossly under powered) I sold it with 220K miles on the clock. It was still running, I just wanted a pickup.

 

[JSimmons]

Apparently, the current owner bought the rig off of a mechanic that he had been using for some time. He had been purchasing spare parts from the guy as well. One day, he sees this rig parked next to the shop and asks the guy about it. The mechanic says he has been using it as his shop truck and that he rebuilt the engine about 9K miles ago. So, the current owner buys it. He then only put about 1K miles on it in a year and half since he only drives it to take things to the dump, wheel around on his property and/or take the kids/grandparents down the muddy trail to the river to go fishing.

So...I have to put my faith in a mystery mechanic. I started it up cold this morning though. The high idle was a little too high and the current owner put a 165 degree thermostat in it, so it didn't heat up like crazy after a few miles down the road. It has an aftermarket tachometer in it that doesn't register the RPMs until after 1K RPMs. Those are about the only quirks with the engine, I guess.

Joel

Joel,

I can't weld either, but the auto repair place should have the stuff and the helper to guide you.... I agree with the "it's a great truck to learn on" and even at $1500, it would work around town and fishing/hunting.

My thoughts were on who rebuilt the motor?

My last 22-RE went 250K without one, so a well rebuilt one would seem trust-worthy... but you will still have small issues. Look at the problems SWR and LA Outback have had with their first gen 4rnrs....

 

[hillbillyjake]

i paid $1400 for my 89 this summer. the interior was in much better shape than the one you showed but the rusty rockers and fenders were the same. i jsut got done puttin in a timing chain that it needed when i bouhgt it. it had about 220k on the motor. don;t know if it had been rebuilt or not. still runs great.

my opinion. if the mechanicals and the frame are sound, by it. if you are looking for rust free on a 20 year old truck go to arizona or texas, but in the salt belt it will have some rust. good luck

 

[mtnbike28]

not a knock!

I had a first generation 4Runner too, I never had any major problems with it. (Other than being grossly under powered) I sold it with 220K miles on the clock. It was still running, I just wanted a pickup.

I was not knocking either of those member's trucks, or the fist gen 4rnrs, I love them, I was just throwing out, two very active members have had issues to deal with after buying used 20 year old trucks...as would be expected.

Funny thing, my brother gave my daughter a Honda that was a shop car, and we are still chasing all the minor issues. I am not shop cars are repaired for a long life : )

good luck with your decision, it sounds like if you enjoy chasing mechanical issues (even minor ones) and learning, this could be a fun truck...

 

[JSimmons]

Funny thing, my brother gave my daughter a Honda that was a shop car, and we are still chasing all the minor issues. I am not shop cars are repaired for a long life : )

good luck with your decision, it sounds like if you enjoy chasing mechanical issues (even minor ones) and learning, this could be a fun truck...

I don't mind the little things, but I don't want any major repair bills popping up. I can live with it looking like the ugly duckling. I'll get around to the cosmetic stuff eventually. My main concern is functionality and not having to take a car loan, even if it was only a loan for a couple thousand.

If I had the time to go do a nationwide search for a rig I would probably go to the Southwest and find a nice rust-free specimen. However, I have a slim timeline to work with this time around. Gotta have some wheels to get me around.

Joel

 

[Wonderland]

I was not knocking either of those member's trucks, or the fist gen 4rnrs,...

Ohh no worries, I didn't think you were.

They are just machines, they all break (wear out) in the end.

 

[JSimmons]

Decisions, decisions...