I've currently got an 89 v6 ext cab pickup with 109k miles. Mechanically sound, but rust is starting to consume it. I was jacking the back end earlier today with the jack under the frame (right where the frame flattens out just ahead of the spring mount in the rear) and the frame started to deform a bit where the jack was <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Obviously its not so bad that I can never drive it again but its starting to get me worried. There may be other spots just as bad.

Here's the deal: I took a ride over to my favorite junkyard today to see if there was anything good. I found a 92 4runner that seems to be in pretty good condition (very little rust at all). I think it had somewhere around 120k miles on it. Engine didn't look too good, but was complete. The owner there said I could have it the whole thing for $400. I told him he could keep the engine/auto tranny/transfer case and I'd give him $300. He said he could do that. So now my question is should I jump on this? I would swap my drivetrain over from my pickup and anything else I would need, and hopefully treat the frame (POR 15?) before I do any work at all.

Appreciate any advice <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

If the engine matches yours why not keep it for spare parts? Even $400 sounds like a good deal compared to prices around here.

Your frame is on the way out, fast. I personally wouldnt' drive it the way it is. But I think that I'd take the entire 4Runner for $400 and later part the engine/tranny/tcase for more $$ to pay for your upgrade.

I second that. Also the frames rust from the inside out and thats what can kill you. I'l look at the body for bondo and don't forget your getting a truck that is about 1000lbs heavier then your current so your gonna feel that.

Alright so the consensus is that I should go for it (I'll look it over again more closely and make sure it is as good as I think it is).

Now I have 3 questions:

1. What would be the best way to tow this back up to school with me? There is a student garage I will be doing all the work in. I am home for break and 150 miles from school. I go to Clarkson University.

2. What kind of process will I need to go thru to get this legal for the road? The owner of the junkyard says theres no paperwork with it (in New York)

3. How should I convince my parents this is a good idea? They don't know about the frame problem, yet. (Nor do they know about the MIG welder I bought or the D44 front and D60 rear axles I have up at school. Those may have to get sold <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> ).

You Can flat tow it but DO NOT tow it with your truck! That's my personal opinion but if your frame is as bad as it sounds this could potentially be harmful or even fatal. Unless it's getting loaded on a flatbed don't forget to take both driveshafts out.


I can't really help you with this besides telling you to check your local laws. Some states are much easier to get a title than others. Although it may or may not be legal you might be able to use your current truck VIN and registration.



Personally I'd find a different way of payment instead of selling your welder and axles off. Have you ever considered prostitution? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Just tell your parents about the frame problem and its potential hazards. They may be understanding enough to help you buy the 4Runner and let you pay them back with the $$$ you'll get from selling the drivetrain items alone.

Hope that helps a little,

~R

Whoa, I said it can be done and that your frame *may* have internal rust in your current frame and the one that you are looking at. Personally I wouldn't do it. I don't hate the 3.0 as some do but I personally wouldn't go out of my way and invest a lot of time into making a project out of it either. I would also deffinately say that any time a 3.0 is out of a vehicle an overhaul should be done (HG and up) and have the heads cleaned and done whether or not you have an immediate need. Finally before you put it back in please remove the factory exhaust and put headers on this will not only help to gain more power but also extend the life of the engine substaincialy.

Think about this as well if the chasis and frame check out then thats all your getting. You have no way to be sure if the front and rear axles are any good. So be prepaired to change over a lot of parts and know that there is a lot of time and work involved and your current ride will be down while you do all that work. YOu will have to modify the interior for the 5spd as well.

My final comment is that the runner body is as I stated earlier is very heavy and you will notice it Don't expect the same performance as your getting in the truck some people are really disapointed with the performance of the 2nd gern runner cause of its weight. You will likely want to level out the rear suspension as well cause it will likely have sagged.

Now I have 3 questions:


Gonna have to have it towed or trailered so that may not be cheep


That could be a very bad thing. Here some vehicles are written off and can't ever go back on the road. Make sure its not a stolen vehicle just to be safe.



Parents can be very tricky, I've basicly given up on this sort of thing with mine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

Short story long, yes it can be done. Be prepaired to spend more $ then you think and more time as well. Make sure your gonna be really happy with it when your done. IF it were me I'd maybe get the runner less the engine/trannt/t-case and find a powertrain from a 3.4 and swap that in. Might be cheeper depending on what you can get for your truck after you slap some bondo on it and you'll be way happier with it, or at least I would <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />.

Maybe I jumped the gun a little bit in saying it was agreed upon that I should go for it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I guess the major determining factor is whether or not this vehicle can ever be registered again. I may stop back over there on Saturday and get the VIN to see what its current status is. Obviously it would be stupid to buy it and not be able to put it on the road.

When I looked at it today, there seemed to be virtually no outside frame rust. Granted, that doesn't say anything about inside, but the odds of it being solid are probably pretty good. I almost wonder if it was a southern vehicle just because everything outside seemed to be rather clean and rust free?


a little bit of a backstory:

I guess my first mistake was buying the truck to begin with. I bought it over the summer because I wanted 4wd and a V6 (had a 4cyl s10 before). I knew there was alot of body rust, but didn't think the frame was too bad. I guess now I see I should have at least passed this one up.

Once realizing that it wasn't going to be worth keeping any longer than next summer, I planned on trying to find an 88/89 4runner with a blown engine for cheap (those years for the removable top), but I was going to wait til spring to do so. I was planning on swapping my current drivetrain over to that one. Any new parts that I was putting on the pickup would all be swapped over to the 4runner. I really have no problem with the 3.0, its been a good engine to me so far. I'm not really concerned with the performance of it in a heavier vehicle, since I've been driving around with probably 500lbs worth of crap + a rather large stereo system since I got the truck. I like to go fast, but I don't care how long it takes me to get there

In short, I had planned to do this project but not so soon. At least if I do this now, I really won't need a vehicle once I'm back up at school since I can bum a ride off friends if need be. Just as long as I can get everything running again <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

blah, blah, blah I'm done rambling. I thank you for your responses (its better than consulting my parents currently!)

James

just a quick note on re-registering a vehicle coming from a scrap yard, You may have a tough time with getting that vehicle back on the road due to NY's "Awesome" standards and testings.
You'll have to call Albany DMV I beleive and they have a "Safety Check List" you must pass before the vehicle can be re-registered as street legal and safe. Not only is the haul to albany crappy but so is the wait to have the vehicle totally checked over :-/. I was gonna do a kit car of a 32 ford and once I found all that out...dumped it lol. If you can some how produce a title for that truck from the salvage yard, that would save you Major headaches.

Im unsure of how expensive all that is, I'd imagine it's not that terrible...just a pita lol. But if you do go this route best of luck to ya and hope everything goes smoothly for ya. Reminds me to check my frame <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I didn't look into the truck, just the fact that it was 4cyl and 4x4 and home I went lol