Rust Belt has left me at a crossroads w the 4runner

[zoombyu86]

Bought my 4Runner 4 or so years ago and the frame and everything had minimal surface rust. It accelerated quickly, now there is a small patch on my rocker near the rear fender, I was able to tap out par tof the mount for the rear body mount, and my axle has a pinhole leak from rust. I have a locker ready to go in but at this point the frame seems unfixable, I'd be delaying the inevitable and throwing money away.

hlw easy is it to come by trucks in the south with blown engines? I don't want to leave the 4Runner family but this seems like the most reasonable approach and being able to start fresh with a solid body and frame and take care of it how it needs in the belt.

 

[Ifirefight]

I see them quite often down here in South Florida. However almost all are 2WD down here.

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[3rdGen4WD]

I don’t know about the area you’re in but I just got myself a 4runner with a burnt engine for $600 here in NorCal.

 

[zoombyu86]

Located in Ohio.

 

[spartacus]

there are some good deals here in colorado from time to time. here is one . it's high mileage but but seems well taken care of.if you can drive down the price closer to 2k. depending on how much time an effort you want to put in you can also go thedurk route.


https://boulder.craigslist.org/cto/d/1998-toyota-4runner-3rd-gen/6554826314.html

thedurk frame swap
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/223884-frame-rot-end.html

 

[thegipper]

Post some pictures of the frame where you think its compromised.

Repairing the frame, assuming it doesn't look like swiss cheese will be a lot less work then swapping frames. And I mean A LOT less work....

The leak in the axle can be repaired also by a good welder, it's not that uncommon for those of us who live in the rust belt.

 

[dogtail]

Bought my 4Runner 4 or so years ago and the frame and everything had minimal surface rust. It accelerated quickly, now there is a small patch on my rocker near the rear fender, I was able to tap out par tof the mount for the rear body mount, and my axle has a pinhole leak from rust. I have a locker ready to go in but at this point the frame seems unfixable, I'd be delaying the inevitable and throwing money away.

hlw easy is it to come by trucks in the south with blown engines? I don't want to leave the 4Runner family but this seems like the most reasonable approach and being able to start fresh with a solid body and frame and take care of it how it needs in the belt.

Rust in the salt belt is as easy to avoid as changing your oil. Next one you get just maintain it. Been there myself, not happening again. I think most of us have to experience the horror before doing something about though.

 

[JohnOfTheJungle]

Rust in the salt belt is as easy to avoid as changing your oil. Next one you get just maintain it. Been there myself, not happening again. I think most of us have to experience the horror before doing something about though.

Easy to avoid how? Just wondering, I got mine last year and did a heavy dosing of Fluid Film all under it and still got new rust this winter.

I think it’s possible to fight with work during the warm months, like grinding + Eastwood/por15. Not difficult but time consuming.


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[dogtail]

Easy to avoid how? Just wondering, I got mine last year and did a heavy dosing of Fluid Film all under it and still got new rust this winter.

I think it’s possible to fight with work during the warm months, like grinding + Eastwood/por15. Not difficult but time consuming.


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Heavy dose of Fluid Film I would think should have stopped any NEW rust. A good rust preventative should stop any progression. I'm in heavily salted MA and all is good on my 99 driving a ton of miles without even a winter wash. But I've been using only wd-40. Whatever you use as a rust barrier is as it is and should not allow progression, even over existing rust. So if you got new rust maybe there is an issue of washing. Are you running through a car wash with high pressure under spray? Maybe you are blasting off the coating. Gotta be careful on washing I'm thinking. There are tests that back up that theory.

 

[Ifirefight]

Another one, original owner for a 96!! That’s impressive. Again, a 2WD, 95 percent of them here are 2WD autos.


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