Topic: What Do You Think?

[1Bad4Runner]

I found this truck for $2000 CAD. Its a 1998 Toyota 4Runner, Auto, 160,000 Km, and new tires. BUT, it needs some work. It was rolled over, I don't know the whole story though.
If I get it, here are the plans. Possibly a W56 5 speed, 33" tires, E-locker rear, new interior, paint job. Not a mall crawler, but a daily driver instead of my other Toy.

Here are some pics, Let me know if it is worth buying!

This is the good.




This is the bad

[AaronB]

as long as the frame is straight and you can get the body fixed its not too bad.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

I looked at the frame and it looks fine, but is there any other way to tell?

[Rocksurfer]

Buckles in the roof are tell-tale signs of a tweaked frame though if only slightly bent it may not buckle the roof since it is not a unibody.

[CTENG in KS]

For $2000, even if you decided later it was too much work you could part it out and make money on the deal.  On the frame, look for creases and measure points of the frame diagonally...if the diagonal measurements are very close to equal the frame is probably straight.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Hey rocksurfer, the roof is in mint shape other than one dent over the windshield because of the rollover. I think the hardest thing to fix would be the back door and quarter.

CTENG, I will have to get the measuring tape out and check it out... I really need a DD so I hope it can be fixed, it needs all new interior though. I will end up stripping the interior and replacing it sometime down the road since the truck will still drive fine with none.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Well, I checked it all out and the frame is good. Whatever it hit went right over the frame and hit the rad support.
I bought it about a week ago and I already gutted the interior and cleaned everything. Its all back together now and I am starting the bodywork now I'll have to get some pictures up of how it looks now... some of the interior is crappy because I think the guy who owned it locked their dog in it so some of the locks and other stuff are chewed up.

[Plowking]

If I get it, here are the plans. Possibly a W56 5 speed,

From what I was told to put an manual trans on a auto trans equiped toy motor you will need to swap out the crankshaft, for it has no knock out for the pilot bearing.

Good luck

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Yes, you are right... but that is for the 3.4L V6, not the 3RZ. All that I need to change for the 3RZ is the computer and I need a W59 bellhousing.

[854RUN]

Nice, I think a 3rz conversion on your other runner would be cool and at $2000 thats cheep.  

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

I was thinking of that, but it would be to much of a job because I have the 3.0 in my 89 and I kinda want a newer truck for the road.

[854RUN]

Sounds good, Brake out the body hammers  and filler

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Thats pretty much what I'm doing. I'm trying to use as little filler as possible though.
So far I have the hood fixed and I am starting on my door and tailgate, they're just small dents. I'm leaving the biggest dent until last.

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Ok, I have an update. Its not all that spectacular, but it is progress.

Heres what I have so far.
New front fenders
Used grill
New headlights
New blinkers
New marker lights
New bumper
New Rad support
New rad
New windsheild (tomorrow)
Also I cleaned all of the interior, so it looks much better.

Let me know what you guys/girls think!

ENJOY!

[DTB]

slowly but surely.....getting there. looks better than it did 

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Thanks man. I've spent so much time on it and it doesn't seem like enough progress, but my money only goes so far and I am crappy at bodywork.

[yotadork83]

how total have you put into it so far.

[Cheesemaker]

How big is that radiator?  That thing looks really long! 

[1Bad4Runner [OP]]

Yota, I have about $3,667 CAD of receipts right now. I still have to get a rear quarter window (they want $500 new), rear driver side door ($350), and the front valence... I'm not to concerned about that because it still drives fine without it.
I have already talk to a friend of mine and he said he would re-do all of my interior except the carpet for around $1700. I think that will be next on the list after it gets paint.
I'd say all in all, I will have approximately $6,000 CAD into it when it is totally finished.