1985 22re Rusty Frame: is it worthwhile to fix?

[aldavis]

I just bought a 1985 22re 4runner for very cheap, mostly because the body is crappy and the frame is rusty. The engine seems to work great and has only 285,000 km on it, so she's just a baby. I bought this because I want to have a 22re 4runner to keep for a while and fix up a bit, I just want to know if the quote I got to fix the frame is worth the money. The frame welder I found seems legit and he's willing to rebuild and strengthen the back end shown in the pictures for 1800$, I've seen pictures of his work and it looks really nice, he's done a lot of this before. Since I only paid 1000$ for the truck it seems like 2800$ total for an '85 22re 4runner with 285,000km, with the back end of the frame rebuilt, is a pretty reasonable deal. What do you guys think? Cheers.

 

[aldavis]

The rusty photos are drivers side back of leaf springs above (and upside down) and passenger side back of leaf springs below.

 

[MT Tatman]

Personally, I'd ditch that in the woods somewhere......

 

[KidVermicious]

I think that's a horrible idea. If it's that rusty there, it'll be that rusty elsewhere.

If you want to save it, get yourself a donor with a better chassis and do a swap. You could do a frame up resto in the process. More work, MUCH better truck when you're done.

 

[slacker]

I think that's a horrible idea. If it's that rusty there, it'll be that rusty elsewhere.

If you want to save it, get yourself a donor with a better chassis and do a swap. You could do a frame up resto in the process. More work, MUCH better truck when you're done.

^^ I second that !!


.

 

[itgogitrev]

Wow, that frame looks pretty spent.

I would salvage all usable parts, sell what you don't need, and scrap the rest. Put all those funds and usable parts into a cleaner example.

It might seem heartless, but it's better than getting over your head in a project (financially or technically) and ending up with nothing except for lost time and money.

 

[junkyardbiker]

Or take this opportunity to do a chevy leaf swap with some awesome frenched hangers??

 

[Hyde802]

It doesnt look tooo bad...

1800 doesnt sound too bad either, depends on how through he is and how much he is replacing, my guess would be that most of that cost is labor.

Whats the frame look like up by the front of the rear spring? And the rest of the frame for that matter. Got pics of this guys work?

 

[aldavis]

That's what I thought, especially since I only spent 1000 on the truck. The frame actually looks much better everywhere else and the welder I found will fabricate the new pieces to weld on and he is a certified (by ICBC) structural truck frame welder/fabricator.

 

[aldavis]

For pics of his work facebook Espinoza Thewelder

 

[junkyardbiker]

I would put in the effort to save it and love on it but Im a big softy for the first gens. I just followed a guy home to talk to him about his! Creeper status!

 

[Red Leader]

My thoughts don't count for much, but I'd base my decision largely on what your plans are for the truck and if it is your DD. If you've got a window of time where you can drive something else and this can be your 'fun' and a 'project', then I would try to hit up a junkyard (possible in BC?) for a clean frame on slightly rolled truck (or something with no frame damage). Like KidV said above, more work, but you'd know your vehicle inside and out, learn a ton, and have much better bones to start from.

I'd run that one until if fell apart and use that time to hunt down a clean frame/chassis. It's so sad...we have 1st gens out here in the pull n pay yards with most likely solid frames and no obvious damage w/ the cost being probably <$200. Just a matter of distance...


Taking a trip to the states any time soon?:shrug: