Opinion on rust levels on this 3rd gen?

[Runner-Wannabe]

Guys, what do you think of this one? 200k (kms, not miles) new timing belt.

I haven’t seen or driven this one yet. It’s a hike for me (they all are really) so I’m hoping to get your thoughts before hand.

Timing belt was changed 2-3 years ago is all I know from a maintenance standpoint. (It’s at corner lot used car dealer - yes, wary)

This frame doesn’t look the greatest. Do you guys think this could be OK with some minor repairs and annual oiling from here on in? Or do you think I’m going to find bigger holes under the scale?

 

[Nobody Special]

What are they asking?

 

[brillo_76]

Not bad for the rot belt. Check the frame around the the rear lower control arms. The arches and inside sections in the middle as well.

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[tgreenwood75]

First glance I would expect to see holes developing on the control arm mount with that amount of scale on the visible portions. If possible ask for pictures of the mounts and rear axle housing before traveling to see it. Will require some serious tidying up even if those are solid but certainly viable with some cleanup. All depends on the price as 200k km isn't bad even if it needs some grinding or patches but don't pay top $$ with that much rust.

 

[Malcolm99]

It doesn't look good IMO, nice low milage though!, price makes a big difference, it is hard to tell because of the chosen pictures, but is that a hole on the driver front lower frame rail, if so you will have a hard time putting it on the road as is, and that rear driver frame rail doesn't look like it has much life left in it either.
There are all kinds of things you can do to preserve it if you can get it on the road, but you will be fighting that rust and it will be a losing battle until all rust and bad sections are removed replaced and painted, or the frame is replaced. It took me 2 years to find a rust free 3rd gen, and that was 8 years ago, so I can imagine they are even harder to find now, especially a Canadian Car.

 

[T4R2014]

I'm pretty sure I spy a pinhole just forward of the rear LCA mount.

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

Thanks guys, it doesn’t look too healthy. The rear LCA mount looks really rough.
If I go, I’m going to take a screw driver and poke around.

They are asking $4k CDN. Not sure if that’s in keeping for the low k market around here

 

[T4R2014]

Thanks guys, it doesn’t look too healthy. The rear LCA mount looks really rough.
If I go, I’m going to take a screw driver and poke around.

They are asking $4k CDN. Not sure if that’s in keeping for the low k market around here

About $3100 USD, which would be very fair if the frame wasn't so far decayed. I think they are aware of the issue. This is a dealer so I would expect them to ask way more if the frame was in better condition. Judging by the fresh Michelins, this may have been well maintained despite the rust.

There is potential at the right price.

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

Thanks guys, I’m going to check it out and see if they will let me take it to a mechanic for a full assessment.

I know they sell rebuild sections for these frames, or I can make my own. But if its bad in more than a few easy to reach areas (laughable comment, I know), I will pass. I like the low-ish kms but I’m not in for a full, body off resto/frame swap

 

[Zingvs]

That looks like a lot of rust, but I'm biased being from Arizona.

If you do choose to buy it do not pay more than 5 grand.:typing:

 

[Vermin5]

From Alaska here, I feel your pain on the frame rust issue. Upside is you can get cheap parts rigs with bad frames and good everything else. Do you have any welding experience/equipment to fix the worst of it?

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

From Alaska here, I feel your pain on the frame rust issue. Upside is you can get cheap parts rigs with bad frames and good everything else. Do you have any welding experience/equipment to fix the worst of it?

Thanks, I do. However, I do know from previously restoring a gm truck that rust is usually 5x worse than it appears.

Frame sections in open areas is not a problem, but not in around areas congested with mechanicals and suspension attachments. I am not signing up for a frame off resto.

Im going to look at this one, but I’m having serious doubts.

 

[MoarRunner]

Keep us posted. I'm sort of in the same boat as you (and also in Ontario) - but the one I'm looking at has more KM, and by the looks of it, more body rust. So far I just took a quick look at it, but I'll likely get a shop to check it out before I decide.

 

[gamefreakgc]

It's getting tough to find good ones in some areas. Each year these 4Runners age, the rust gets worse, and worse, and worse. The alternatives are to pay over the market average for one that's been cared for and coated or to shop outside of your geographic area (and most likely out of the country) which poses another set of challenges and costs.

Eventually we'll get to the point where rust will claim most 3rd Gen 4Runners in a given area. 4th Gens are getting pretty cheap and would be newer and less time for rust to eat it up, food for thought.

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

Keep us posted. I'm sort of in the same boat as you (and also in Ontario) - but the one I'm looking at has more KM, and by the looks of it, more body rust. So far I just took a quick look at it, but I'll likely get a shop to check it out before I decide.

I didn’t see it today due to the storm. Where are you located?

There’s a 3rd gen listed in s.ont that’s out here from BC. Clean underneath. 350ish kms

Out of my price range. What he wants I’d rather put into a 4th gen instead, but if you love 3rds....it’s lifted too

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

It's getting tough to find good ones in some areas. Each year these 4Runners age, the rust gets worse, and worse, and worse. The alternatives are to pay over the market average for one that's been cared for and coated or to shop outside of your geographic area (and most likely out of the country) which poses another set of challenges and costs.

Eventually we'll get to the point where rust will claim most 3rd Gen 4Runners in a given area. 4th Gens are getting pretty cheap and would be newer and less time for rust to eat it up, food for thought.

I see a lot of parts trucks, shot frames etc on the 3rds, and early 4ths. I’m torn between where do I draw the line. If I can find a clean 3rd for reasonable I’ll take it, but a lot are still demanding a high price. To the point of saying to myself, “why would I pay north of $6-8kfor a clean high miler when I can save up and get a late 4th or early 5th instead?

Dilemma

 

[MoarRunner]

I didn’t see it today due to the storm. Where are you located?

There’s a 3rd gen listed in s.ont that’s out here from BC. Clean underneath. 350ish kms

Out of my price range. What he wants I’d rather put into a 4th gen instead, but if you love 3rds....it’s lifted too

Hamilton area. Where's the truck listed? Although 350K is pretty high. The one I'm looking at is 260...but more rust...
I agree with you. Might start looking at 4th gens....

 

[Drew76]

No pics of the rear section behind the tires, that is usually worse than than everything else, from the pics it's obviously a 96-98, sometimes the km don't matter if it just sat around and rusted. Any pics showing the door jambs and rockers? A lot of people just top wash their vehicles without ever getting the frame treated or at least spray it off. Always see a few for sale here in Ontario where someone recently bought one for cheap that looked good on top but when they went to get it certified and put it on the road it had frame problems that weren't worth the money to them to fix, then they try and re-sell it for an inflated price because they basically overpaid for a parts truck. Basically with all of these trucks up here or probably everywhere at this age if you can't do the maintenance or repairs yourself it's not worth buying, luckily most people who own these and are on this forum are mechanically inclined and almost all problems/repairs at this point have been documented

 

[Runner-Wannabe]

Hamilton area. Where's the truck listed? Although 350K is pretty high. The one I'm looking at is 260...but more rust...
I agree with you. Might start looking at 4th gens....

Oakville. Body looks nice in pics. Feel free too look at it. I think I’m just going to continue socking cash aside and wait for better

1996 Toyota 4Runner Limited/TIMING BELT REPLACED BY TOYOTA ON 2017 | Cars & Trucks | Oakville / Halton Region | Kijiji

 

[MoarRunner]

Oakville. Body looks nice in pics. Feel free too look at it. I think I’m just going to continue socking cash aside and wait for better

1996 Toyota 4Runner Limited/TIMING BELT REPLACED BY TOYOTA ON 2017 | Cars & Trucks | Oakville / Halton Region | Kijiji

Ah, I actually did see that ad before. The rust holes frighten me though.
Seems there is quite a bit of V8s available in this area. Might take a look at those. Do you know if those engines are as reliable at the V6?