Well guys, some may think I'm crazy but I ended up getting the 90 4Runner for $2,000. Decided to take it to Toyota dealer to check out and have the timing belt changed. The reason is is "salvage" is only because of body damage which has been repaired by the private dealer selling the vehicle. Toyota checked out all the under carriage, frame etc and all is fine. The former owner said due to age and miles on the vehicle, insurance totalled it instead of repairing it. This is typical in older vehicles.
Inside needed a good cleaning but now looks like new again. Mostly dust. Just shampooed carpet, seats and door pannels and what a difference.
Outside damage was front passenger fender which was repaired but not painted, only primered. And the radio antenna doesn't work. Everything else does. All power windows work perfectly. I took off door pannels and lubed everything. Seats don't even have wear marks. Manual trans has no "play" in the shift pattern. 4x4 engages and works. Right now, I can't see any problems except the parking brakes need adjustment. Rear brakes are new. Oh, the other things, I don't have the tool to lower the spare tire. Gota find one of those.
$2000,00 may be more than some are willing to pay but we looked and looked and even older models with more miles and not everything working are priced higher. Sometimes it's a matter of supply and demand. Here is Oregon, everyone who does offroading has a Toyota. The $2000.00 is 1/4th of what my ATV cost and I can drive it to work, and use it for hunting, fishing, and offroading without the worry of damaging anything too expensive such as my $40,000 F-250 and new 06 4Runner.
So please don't bash me too much. And here in Oregon, registration is only $60 a year.
Come to find out, the noise we hear in the engine is actually one of the injectors. How long will these things last when they start "tapping" or "ticking". Dealer said engine is fine other than that noise.
