Thoughts on this purchase?

eastsideride

eastsideride

Member
Hey t4r,

Looking at picking up a 3rd gen for my second car and first 4Runner. Wondering if there is anything I should pay attention to on this vehicle when I go to check it out. Looking to get a loan out for it and have it for my winter and fun vehicle. If the frame isn't too bad, I'll have the underside completely coated to help with my winter driving here in Wisconsin. Let me know what you think. Hopefully I'll check it out soon.

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1999-toyota-4runner-5000-obo/6669151918.html
 
Register to hide this ad
Not a good sign that the rockers are rusting. Have you already gotten the loan? Many times there are stipulations on age and mileage of the vehicle.
 
Hepar said:
Not a good sign that the rockers are rusting. Have you already gotten the loan? Many times there are stipulations on age and mileage of the vehicle.
Click to expand...

Yea that seems like the only thing that is not so great. But I feel like they could be cut out and replaced. I read up on some aftermarket rockers that people have used for their replacement rockers. As for the loan, that should be set.
 
You probably know this but have a mechanic take a look. There are not a lot of trouble spots on 4Runners but rust is one of them. Trailing arms may have been replaced because of this. No idea why transmission was replaced. In any case climb under it with a camera and show us the frame.
 
eastsideride said:
Yea that seems like the only thing that is not so great. But I feel like they could be cut out and replaced. I read up on some aftermarket rockers that people have used for their replacement rockers. As for the loan, that should be set.
Click to expand...
Pics look good overall. It's difficult to keep rust off a 20-year-old vehicle on the salty Midwest winter roads. But as suggested, do look over the frame. As for mechanicals, mine has 100k more miles and running fine. Not lifted, though - I have no idea how much toll a lift takes on the suspension/drivetrain.
 
[MENTION=176393]eastsideride[/MENTION] Want me to go check it out for you? I'll be driving through in a few days- only live a couple hours away. I think it's a very adequate price for the mileage- once you find something under 200 without a ton of rust here in the Midwest, prices skyrocket. For most of the front end rebuilt and a new reman tranny, I'd say mechanically it sounds nice. Be interesting to see what kind of 3.5" lift is on it though...
 
Fellow Wisconsinite here.

Definitely check over the frame really well, especially around the rear control arm mounts. Bring a long screw driver and/or a small mallet. The frames generally rot from the inside out.

If the frame is solid, I'd say go for it. On face value, it looks pretty good.
 
You don't see many black '99 Highlanders! And with leather? Wonder if it has a locker too. Nice rig.
The 3.5" lift is gonna ride pretty shitty- I would drop it down an inch or so if it were mine.
The rockers can be replaced, but if they're rotten, the frame likely is too.
If the frame was in good shape, and the interior was in good shape, I'd say $4500 would be plenty fair- considering the rocker rust.
 
You guys are honestly the best! Really appreciate everyone's insight and the helpful information. Taking a look at it this morning so I'll get lots of pics and deets to pass on.

That one in Chicago looks good too! I just love that this is a freaking highlander so I hope she's clean with just a few spots!
[MENTION=125326]apohl17[/MENTION] if your passing through, that would be super nice of you!
 
eastsideride said:
Yea that seems like the only thing that is not so great. But I feel like they could be cut out and replaced. I read up on some aftermarket rockers that people have used for their replacement rockers. As for the loan, that should be set.
Click to expand...

Yes, they definitely can be replace. But my point was more that if the rockers are showing rust, then the level of rust elsewhere is probably pretty extensive.
 
eastsideride said:
You guys are honestly the best! Really appreciate everyone's insight and the helpful information. Taking a look at it this morning so I'll get lots of pics and deets to pass on.

That one in Chicago looks good too! I just love that this is a freaking highlander so I hope she's clean with just a few spots!
[MENTION=125326]apohl17[/MENTION] if your passing through, that would be super nice of you!
Click to expand...
I'll shoot you a pm and we can go from there man. I'd be more than happy to get a set of eyes (and a camera lens) on the underside for ya!
 
Hey guys,

Just got back from checking out the 4Runner. I live in Sun Prairie so I got to see it today. Runs and drives great. Motor sounds smooth, transmission feels brand new and he even has all the paperwork for it. It was done by a reputable transmission shop. With the motor, there is a extremely slow oil leak from the valve cover gasket but he used an oil additive to help it but likely it will need replaced.

A few other things I noticed:
  • hood latch cable not springing back
  • antenna broken
    • interior wood trim pretty chipped and damaged
    • paint faded on top of rear hatch
    • gas tank shield completely rusted
    • small chip in bumper from tire rub
    • spot rust on the inside of doors

    Now about the frame. It had a fair amount of surface rust that was flaking off. Not shocked. But those rockers are not just split and rusty at the rear. But they are starting to break by the front as I felt like I could poke a screw driver through it. Current owner sprayed a liner along the rockers and bottom of the doors to help prevent more rust.

    Check out all the photos I took here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uMnGFKtG871C9CE96
 
Nice to see some pics. What concerns me the most are two things, pictures 3 and 7. First, that is not an OEM weld on the middle crossmember. If you look closely on top, it's actually a welded patch for that section of frame rail in the middle. This is normally not a common spot for rusting through, its normally further back... And in pic 7, your rear diff- that is most definitely a surface patch from it rusting through as well.

In terms of the lift, KYB monomax struts with big +3.5 spacers- not necessarily the best on those poor CV boots. At least they put in a rear parking brake lift bracket.

All in all, the rear diff patch job is the most worrisome IMO. The valve cover leak isn't too bad, but I personally would not pay half of what the seller is asking. I have seen similar ones go for the 2-3 range in the same or better condition. Hope this helps.
 
I wouldn't bother with a car that rusted. Come out West an buy one that is rust free.....imagine wrenching on a car without soaking it in penetrating oil for 3 days prior.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/2000-toyota-4runner-limited/6670230894.html

this guy is probably on here and I can check this car out as I'm in SCV
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/1998-4runner-limited-4x4/6669790237.html
upon further review this guy is a block away from my house, I recognize the school across the street in the front view LOL
 
Last edited:
There is way too much rust on this vehicle to keep driving it without a frame swap, yeah maybe you can drive it for a year or two but the amount of work to combat that much rust is not worth it. Save your self the hassle and trouble and pay the same or less for twice the better 4runner.
 
Yeah I would definitely take a HUGE pass on that...who knows what other kind of patch jobs have been done.
First one I ever looked at they were asking $3500 little did I know their was a huge rust hold through the frame on the passenger side. Looks like this one is headed down the same path. Good luck with your find!
 
Taking a HARD pass on this one guys. As noted by @apolh17, that diff is scary. I didn't even bother asking about it, but glad I went to check it!

Looks like I will be back to checking out some more 4Runners. Found some others not to far away I want to take a look at. Even found some nice ones in the Classifieds here that are pretty tasteful but higher mileage.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/2001-toyota-4runner-limited/6673428039.html

https://madison.craigslist.org/cto/d/1998/6677513537.html

And found this one but the bay makes me wonder about the undercarriage... https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/cto/d/2000-toyota-4runner-limited/6678201648.html
 
I can say that without looking at the pics if the rockers are rusted out the frame is already gone.

Edit! Holy Diff debacle Batman!! Run away!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 176 (members: 1, guests: 175)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,306
Messages
3,554,045
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top