3RD gen to 2nd gen?

[Alabamaguy]

Looking for popular opinion here. I've got a 99 sr5 (pretty much bare bones, small brakes, no flares, 3.90s) with a 3" lift and 33s and 250k miles on her. I bought the truck a year and a half ago and I still owe about 2800 on it. Browsing craigslist the other day I came across a 93 with a 1uz swap for basically a steal because the ecu crapped out on the guy. The swap motor only had about 70k on it and the chassis has 168k. It already has a marlin crawler tcase and 4.88s and a good set of all terrains, 5" procomp lift, front bumper, etc. I feel like i can buy this one and sell my 3rd gen and not have a car payment. My only concern is if I'm going to like the second gen. Do you think it would be a big step backwards? I spend a lot of time in my truck and I want it to be as comfortable as my 99

 

[KidVermicious]

I'd be nervous about coming into somebody else's project. That's a lot of work to put into a truck and then dump it because of a busted ECU.

 

[Alabamaguy]

I'd be nervous about coming into somebody else's project. That's a lot of work to put into a truck and then dump it because of a busted ECU.

Well, the story is that he was selling it anyway because he's 19 and just had a kid and needs the money. It isn't a project, the swap was done by a shop and he had been daily driving it for a while before the ecu took a dump. I'm confident mechanically its alright.

 

[fourwd1]

1) what are the chances of you finding a new ECU ?
B) will it pass safety and emissions tests in your state? (assuming you want to put tags on it)

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Sounds fishy. I'd be wary. Inspect the hell out of it.

Otherwise, I'd supercharge the 99 and call it a day.

 

[T4R2014]

I would keep the 1999. Do you really want a modified truck with an unknown history? It's not even the "bolt-on" type of modified, it's full on custom fab type modified. You don't even know if the UZ was swapped in by a reputable shop.

IMO, the only way I would buy a vehicle with that kind of work is if it was documented like COB's 4WD conversion or Singtoe's 2UZ swap.

 

[JohnsD90]

Seems strange that he would go through all the trouble of getting a swap done and then getting rid of it because the ECU went. I would always be wary of a motor swapped into a truck unless i did it or i knew who did it and have seen their work before.