Frame has had it

NEKExplorer

NEKExplorer

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The frame on my 97 3.4 has had it- will no longer pass inspection in my state and my state does not allow welds/patch jobs. I live in New England where they use some of the most corrosive road salt in the country, so my hope is to find a rust free (or close to it) frame from out west or down south get it back down clean steel and rust proof the crap out of it.

I don't have the resources to travel around visually inspecting frames so I was wondering if anybody could suggest a trustworthy source that I could contact and tell them I wanted a clean frame they would ship, and then actually receive a frame that is mostly rust free. Is this a pipe dream?

Thanks for any suggestions
 
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I love the NEK!!
But don't love the salt we use here in SNE!!

You might have to buy a whole truck from the south or out west to cure the rust problem.
Maybe swap everything over or just drive the new purchase?

A few years ago a buddy and I flew down to S. Carolina and drove the Tacoma back to CT. Just so he could get a clean frame truck..


Ebay?
Craigslist?
AutoTrader?

I'm sure someone else will have some other ideas?!
 
I have a rolling frame in perfect shape. It's from a 2000 Limited 4WD.

CA vehicle - absolutely zero rust, was a rollover. It flipped and slid on the roof to complete stop.

Only thing is that it's here in California with me. Not sure how to ship a frame that far. I guess it would need to be on a vehicle transporter, but with no engine or anything, I don't know if a typical transport company will even consider shipping it.
 
Having just bought a frame, I feel your pain. It may not be that easy. I went on car-parts.com and there was a frame listed at the local junker I use all the time. I called him up and he had no idea what he had or what shape it was in. He wasn't going to go look, either. So I had to truck over there.

Turned out it had been there four years and the listing was that old. He had no idea where it was. We spent 45 minutes looking for it (after I had looked by myself for half an hour.) I left and three days later they called to say they found it. So I went back. Tt was pretty hard to see because it was on blocks that had set down into the NJ mud and the grass was a foot long. One side was tight against a panel van and you couldn't even go there. What I could see from the other side looked ok, so I bought it subject to refusal when I actually saw it. I put down 50%.

It took them a few days to get the body off it and for them to put it where I could see it. It was surprisingly good for around here. He even started whining the price was too low. Yeah, right. So I got myself a new (to me) frame for $500. It took three trips to get it done.

I think the lack of information on condition is probably pretty typical. You kinda need to be there to get it done. Especially if you want a good deal. There were some listed for over a thousand and they probably had good info, but closer and cheaper worked for me. You can't move those things in a pick-up. Really the only way is a tilting flat-bed with a winch and they ain't cheap.
 
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NEKExplorer said:
The frame on my 97 3.4 has had it- will no longer pass inspection in my state and my state does not allow welds/patch jobs. I live in New England where they use some of the most corrosive road salt in the country, so my hope is to find a rust free (or close to it) frame from out west or down south get it back down clean steel and rust proof the crap out of it.

I don't have the resources to travel around visually inspecting frames so I was wondering if anybody could suggest a trustworthy source that I could contact and tell them I wanted a clean frame they would ship, and then actually receive a frame that is mostly rust free. Is this a pipe dream?

Thanks for any suggestions
Click to expand...

i'm in florida and will be picking up a 2002 parts truck that got sideswiped od driver side, otherwise clean. i am stripping it so body and frame will be available. don't know how you want to work it.
 
TheDurk said:
Having just bought a frame, I feel your pain. It may not be that easy. I went on car-parts.com and there was a frame listed at the local junker I use all the time. I called him up and he had no idea what he had or what shape it was in. He wasn't going to go look, either. So I had to truck over there.

Turned out it had been there four years and the listing was that old. He had no idea where it was. We spent 45 minutes looking for it (after I had looked by myself for half an hour.) I left and three days later they called to say they found it. So I went back. Tt was pretty hard to see because it was on blocks that had set down into the NJ mud and the grass was a foot long. One side was tight against a panel van and you couldn't even go there. What I could see from the other side looked ok, so I bought it subject to refusal when I actually saw it. I put down 50%.

It took them a few days to get the body off it and for them to put it where I could see it. It was surprisingly good for around here. He even started whining the price was too low. Yeah, right. So I got myself a new (to me) frame for $500. It took three trips to get it done.

I think the lack of information on condition is probably pretty typical. You kinda need to be there to get it done. Especially if you want a good deal. There were some listed for over a thousand and they probably had good info, but closer and cheaper worked for me. You can't move those things in a pick-up. Really the only way is a tilting flat-bed with a winch and they ain't cheap.
Click to expand...

Hope your frame swap is going ok. must keep you busy, have not seen you post for a while but obviously this caught your eye
 
ChildrenOfBodom said:
I have a rolling frame in perfect shape. It's from a 2000 Limited 4WD.

CA vehicle - absolutely zero rust, was a rollover. It flipped and slid on the roof to complete stop.

Only thing is that it's here in California with me. Not sure how to ship a frame that far. I guess it would need to be on a vehicle transporter, but with no engine or anything, I don't know if a typical transport company will even consider shipping it.
Click to expand...

I ship printed material on pallets across country all the time. I think any reputable trucking company would ship this. You'd probably have to strap it to pallets so they could lift it with a fork lift.
I'm sure the car carriers/transports have shipped frames before for restoring collectable cars.

The Op will have to start Google searching & making phone calls.
 
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, offers, and input. I may have found something local enough that I can at least look it over in person before I put out any money. It sort of sounds too good to be true, so it probably is. Worst case scenario i suppose is I waste a day and a half going to check it out.

As far as transport- you really can't carry it on the back of a first gen Tacoma somehow? I am sure it is heavy, but if you used some ratchet straps and took it easy maybe?

Thanks again-
 
NEKExplorer said:
Thanks everyone for your suggestions, offers, and input. I may have found something local enough that I can at least look it over in person before I put out any money. It sort of sounds too good to be true, so it probably is. Worst case scenario i suppose is I waste a day and a half going to check it out.

As far as transport- you really can't carry it on the back of a first gen Tacoma somehow? I am sure it is heavy, but if you used some ratchet straps and took it easy maybe?

Thanks again-
Click to expand...

Maybe rent a car trailer and CHAIN it to that? Tow that with the Taco...
 
NEKExplorer said:
What if I use ratchet straps AND bungees?
Click to expand...

Having personally schlepped a frame around of late, I'm gonna give you a good New York "fuhgeddabouddit". They are seriously heavy and longer than I had imagined. I can't imagine how you could get it on a Tacoma without a skyhook or a big forklift and you sure as heck couldn't secure it with straps and bungees. It would extend from the front bumper all the way to the tailgate.

You need a vehicle transporter (tilting flat bed with a winch). Seriously.

Car trailer I could make work if I had a hi-lift and a few jackstands and a lot of patience. Jack up one end, support midway with stands, remove jack, back trailer under, jack up rear, slide it on with two or three guys. Arrive, chain to a tree, and pull trailer out from under.
 
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I am picturing a 3rd gen frame riding on a single trailer axle, Tow vehicle hitch connected to new frame hitch. I bet some clever fabrication expert has transported a frame that way. In a nutshell, temporarily make the new frame into a trailer.
 
Yoder68 said:
I am picturing a 3rd gen frame riding on a single trailer axle, Tow vehicle hitch connected to new frame hitch. I bet some clever fabrication expert has transported a frame that way. In a nutshell, temporarily make the new frame into a trailer.
Click to expand...

You could just put a diff on it. Then hook the front cross-piece on the tow-ball, and secure it somehow. Not legal probably, but doable.
 
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When I had my body shop we would have 6 guys load a frame on a lumber rack, yes we did. I'm too old for that now. I'd use a forklift.
 
So I found a frame semi local, the advertised it as a "Perfect" 3rd gen frame. The pics he sent could be a little clearer but what do you guys think? He says "the color is all surface rust"

I will probably go look at it, but it seems like calling it perfect is a big stretch, and he is asking $1k.

You guys think its worth a look?

Thanks
 

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NEKExplorer said:
So I found a frame semi local, the advertised it as a "Perfect" 3rd gen frame. The pics he sent could be a little clearer but what do you guys think? He says "the color is all surface rust"

I will probably go look at it, but it seems like calling it perfect is a big stretch, and he is asking $1k.

You guys think its worth a look?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I wouldn't pay $100 for that. It might be an ok frame, but that is way too much to pay for it. I paid $1250 for an entire truck with what the owner thought was a bad motor!
 
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