1995: Need Advice: Sell, Part Out, or Scrap?

[One Owner 1995]

This is my first post on the forum, so I hope my post is appropriate.

I have a 1995 FWD 4Runner with 142k that I've owned since new. It has started every time I turned the key for 19 years and still runs strong and shifts effortlessly. I just noticed that my lower control arms look like Swiss cheese (see pic). My uppers are not as bad but will probably need replacing soon as well.

The estimate for repair (uppers & lowers) was $2,600 and even though I thought I'd keep this truck forever, I think it's time to move on to a newer truck.

My question for the forum is how can I best monetize my truck? It runs great, has never been in an accident, interior is very clean (tan cloth), spare tire has never even been down. Is there a market out there for parts (mainly drivetrain, interior - dash is mint, doors, glass, wheels, etc.)? if so, how do I find buyers?

Any and all advice is welcome.

Thank you.

 

[KidVermicious]

Assuming the rest of the truck is sound, you'll get your best money received vs. effort invested ratio by replacing those control arms yourself and then selling the truck. Paying a guy to replace them is silly, that's easy wrenching. You'll get probably in the neighborhood of $300 from a scrapper or junkyard - least effort, least reward. You'll make the most by parting it out, but if you're willing to put in the effort to part it out I don't know why you wouldn't put in the effort to replace the control arms and keep driving it.

 

[junkyardbiker]

ill give you 500 bucks to not part it and drop it my driveway!!!!

 

[One Owner 1995]

Assuming the rest of the truck is sound, you'll get your best money received vs. effort invested ratio by replacing those control arms yourself and then selling the truck. Paying a guy to replace them is silly, that's easy wrenching. You'll get probably in the neighborhood of $300 from a scrapper or junkyard - least effort, least reward. You'll make the most by parting it out, but if you're willing to put in the effort to part it out I don't know why you wouldn't put in the effort to replace the control arms and keep driving it.

Great advice, thank you. I agree that paying that kind of money seems crazy, but I don't think I have the skills / tools to do the job myself. What I was thinking with regards to parting it out was to remove the easy stuff like trailer hitch, wheels, seats, roof rack, spoiler, etc. and then if I found a buyer for larger items like the motor, trans, rear, doors, etc. I would let the buyer remove them. My thought was that if there was a market for this stuff, I'd easily get more than the $300 a scrapper would pay and even after I sold what I could, I could probably still get a few hundred from a scrapper for what was left. I've never done this before, which is why I'm reaching out to the forum. Assuming fixing it is not an option, do you think my plan makes sense and do you think the classifieds in this forum would be a good place to find buyers? Thanks again for your thoughts / guidance.

 

[KidVermicious]

Sure, post up here if you're going to part it out. Post up on Yotatech, IH8MUD, and Pirate4x4, too.

 

[Kenworth]

Man that's an easy fix look around for a better price on repair,hell if you live closer to Lancaster pa I'd help u fix that,you buy beer lol

 

[CAN-03runner]

2600$, that's a stealership price isn't it?

If you have the parts list check amazon for aftermarket control arms from Moog, Raybestos, Mevotech. I have Moog and Mevotech parts on my 4th gen. No complaints so far.

Not a fantastic parmigiano reggiano toyota original part but better than swiss cheese; a nice mozzarella at least.

A non toyota shop will probably use these parts. You might find a shop that will install parts you bring in. And often these come with bushings, and ball joint. For a shop mechanic it will be quick, since he won't have to try and save and parts and he can torch the bolts if needed, and doesn't need to press the bushings or ball joint, wrench off, wrench on.

 

[TOY2G]

The estimate for repair (uppers & lowers) was $2,600 and even though I thought I'd keep this truck forever, I think it's time to move on to a newer truck.

My question for the forum is how can I best monetize my truck? It runs great, has never been in an accident, interior is very clean (tan cloth), spare tire has never even been down. Is there a market out there for parts (mainly drivetrain, interior - dash is mint, doors, glass, wheels, etc.)? if so, how do I find buyers?

Any and all advice is welcome.

Thank you.

I did a quick search on parts for your truck:
Lower Control arms (with bushings and ball joint)- MevOtech $189ea x2
Upper Control Arms (with bushings and ball joint)- Dorman $250ea x2
sway bar end link kit- MasterPro $9ea x2
upper control arm bolt (hard to find) ???
lower control arm bolts $18ea x4
Lower control arm cams $21ea x4
lower control arm nuts $6ea x4
lower shock bolt $12
lower shock nut $2

I say fix it with aftermarket parts (or junk yard) and sell the truck.

of fix it with OEM parts and keep it another 100k miles

 

[junkyardbiker]

However if his control arms look like that and this is a New York truck I wonder what the rest of the frame and such looks like?

 

[MT Tatman]

Keep in mind, if you part it out and let folks remove parts, they may do a hack job and render other parts useless/worthless, also that hunk of stuff could sit in your yard for a long time.
If it were me, i'd fix it, or get another 4runner, and dismantle this one and shelf the parts for yourself.
Get some basic tools and a shop manual. Spare fenders and the like are handy if you have a fender-bender. Easy to unbolt many parts.
I have been using shelved parts from a parts rig for the last 2 years now......priceless!

 

[PeteOB]

However if his control arms look like that and this is a New York truck I wonder what the rest of the frame and such looks like?

Exactly. I have the same problem (Chicago) ...you cant weld rust to rust, unfortunately (mine looks much worse though, truly crumbling before my eyes

 

[PeteOB]

So on a ‘part-out,’ do you charge for the part plus shipping up front and they just PayPal/Venmo first? Or is it mostly local purchases? I don’t think I’ll get many takers here in the upper Midwest. Has anyone had succes shipping parts?

 

[cap10]

I would pull the engine and tranny and sell it local. At the least , post it on C.L. for local pick up only and see what ya get.
I dont know where you live but it looks like maybe someplace where they salt the roads? Do they salt roads anymore? I was born in Ohio and I remember that they did it there..... Great for traction but bad for vehicles .

Good luck

 

[Herblol]

This is a bit off topic as it pertains to my 95 3.0 4runner but just curious if anyone has had experience flooding the engine off roading and trying to get it running again?