I need some advice on how to deal with my 95 4Runner (Limited V6 4x4). It has 170k miles on it. It is running like total crap, and has been diagnosed with exhaust fumes in the coolant system. According to my mechanic, that means the heads need to come off. I am the original owner, and this vehicle has already had the heads off twice. The last time it was done by a friend, about 25000 miles ago, which I guess means he didn't do such a good job. Oh well.
I'm not about to drop 1500-2000 on this truck again. I called a wrecker and he said he'd give me 600 bucks for it. My mechanic says they might be willing to buy it for up to 1000, but they would be buying it to fix it, and with the SMOG laws in California, I don't know what happens if they aren't eventually able to get it smogged.
Am I being offered fair value here? Outside of needing a head rebuild, the truck is in fairly good condition. All I am interested in at this point is unloading it with little/no more hassle for the most amount of money possible.

2 words: shoot it...

rent a private land. then sell tickets to shoot the car to pieces.

raise money for charity...

location?

Pics?

Put it up for sale if it's nice; perfect candidate for a 3.4...

I bought a 1995 4x4 5 speed limited with a blown motor and paid $3500.00 for it a year ago. Its body was straight and clean. The interior was good although the leather was getting brittle. The tailgate had rust. Kenwood stereo. Had 160,000 miles on it.

I paid 1500 for mine but the body was in good condition.

Part it out. If you have the grey cloth front bucket seats I would be very interested in them? I have done better parting out sometimes than trying to sell a non running vehicle, especially if it is a 4x4.

If you're dead-set on getting rid of it then I 2nd parting it out. There's no other way to gain more money than parting out a vehicle if there's any major problems with it (ie. blown motor, major body damage, etc).
The drivetrain and interior alone would get you more than $1000 IMO. Chances are you could still sell it to the scrap yard for the same price after that. They're only concerned with how much scrap steel they'll get out of it.

If you don't want the hassle of spending the time parting it out perhaps you may have a friend that would do it for a small fee or percentage.

Like others have said as well- this could be a perfect opportunity to do an engine swap if you like your Runner. You may be sick of it, but with a 3.4 it would be like having a completely different vehicle.

Either way, I hate to see the 2nd gens going to waste when there's a lot of parts people are searching for that are no longer made.

And to end my soapbox rant, I hate hearing of people having to drop up to 2 grand just to have the heads redone. You could put a reman engine in there for the same price.
Just a thought

Whatever you choose, good luck!

~R