Thoughts on this purchase?
- Thread starter eastsideride
- Start date
eastsideride
Member
Yea the 01 and the 98 both look GREAT from the outside. I will contact the seller and see if he can get me some pics to save me from driving to IL. Hate driving near Chicago. Honestly such a pain...
But I appreciate everyone's insight on these vehicles!
I may search as far as a 10hour radius
But I appreciate everyone's insight on these vehicles!
I may search as far as a 10hour radius
Hepar
New member
Don't be scared to expand it further. 10hr radius from you is still right in the middle of rust central.
I bought mine from Cali. Flew down for $100 and had a great drive back. 100% worth it. That was 8 years ago and I could still sell mine here for more that what I paid for it considering how crazy the PNW market is.
eastsideride
Member
I wouldnt mind that at all. I just dont want to drive 20hours right not, but for the right deal, I could make this happen.... Found two forum users posts on CL, one in St. Louis, MO and another in NC. Love the idea of a manual but the auto is fine as long as the coolant fluids are regularly changed
Pro408
New member
Wow this is a good deal actually!
eastsideride
Member
He sent me photos of the underbody, just light surface rust so really not bad at all! Timing belt was last changed at 64k so that is definitely going to be needed first and foremost
Boognish_Forever
Member
I bought a 99 4Runner limited w e/locker in February 2017 for $6500 with 67,000 miles in Shorewood (Milwaukee) WI. I had my uncle look at it being I live in Portland Oregon and told him to look up and down for rust, even though the guy said there was no rust on the ad. Also the previous owner told me it lived in Florida half the time since they owned it which was true in the CarFax.
Long story short, don’t buy a 3rd gen 4runner in the salt belt states without doing a fine comb on the frame and suspension for serious rust and rot. I have frame rust on mine, but nothing like that black 4runner. So far I’ve had to replace/repair some minor stuff due to rust like the ebrake was frozen causing the rear brakes to not work properly and the muffler had a leak. My rear diff pumpkin is flakey, but doesn’t leak. That rear pumpkin on the Black 4runner looks like he put a half gallon of JB Weld on it. I hope to god being I live in the NW and not around salt my 4runner won’t rust anymore. So far my t4r has been rock soild and doesn’t make a single noise. But when I look at those front rusty upper and lower control arms I know I’m going to have to find some used ones in a junkyard once the ball joints or cv axle boot rips. Luckily there’s a ton of 3rd gen 4runners around here, but probably only one with 80,000 miles.
Long story short, don’t buy a 3rd gen 4runner in the salt belt states without doing a fine comb on the frame and suspension for serious rust and rot. I have frame rust on mine, but nothing like that black 4runner. So far I’ve had to replace/repair some minor stuff due to rust like the ebrake was frozen causing the rear brakes to not work properly and the muffler had a leak. My rear diff pumpkin is flakey, but doesn’t leak. That rear pumpkin on the Black 4runner looks like he put a half gallon of JB Weld on it. I hope to god being I live in the NW and not around salt my 4runner won’t rust anymore. So far my t4r has been rock soild and doesn’t make a single noise. But when I look at those front rusty upper and lower control arms I know I’m going to have to find some used ones in a junkyard once the ball joints or cv axle boot rips. Luckily there’s a ton of 3rd gen 4runners around here, but probably only one with 80,000 miles.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Yeah that rear diff is scary stuff! It doesn't even have a fill plug! Who knows if there's even oil in there anymore...
Pass on the $3500 2000. It may have had a slew of parts replaced, but if those ball joints are aftermarket they are much more likely to fail than by just keeping the old OEM's. Plus the CEL is on, which is always a red flag. If it's a simple issue why didn't they fix it? 'Cause it's not.
The 1998 needs a new suspension, the rear looks very low. That 2001 is super clean, with very low miles, that'd be the winner for me.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Wow, how did he get suckered into changing a timing belt at 64k lol! Someone at a shop got him good for easy money. Timing belts last 100k+, the water pumps fail way before the belts do. We have a non-interference engine so it doesn't hurt anything if the belt ever snaps, other than the whole stranded part.
eastsideride
Member
IM AN IDIOT :shrug:
That was actually the 2001 4Runner not the 99.... hahahahaha. Mixed the phone numbers up.
For that 2001, these are the under side photos. Much better for being local. And it's a good price.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/uEi3GpiGepJrJhNAA
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gamefreakgc
Elite Member
It looks like the rust has been painted at one point but agree, it looks much better and appears to only be surface rust.
Hepar
New member
I agree. There’s still quite a bit of flaking going on there that’s covered up. And being that it’s covered up, it makes it harder to see in pictures. But I bet if you looked at it in person, you’d see the extent of it. But I do agree that it’s better than the other one.
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eastsideride
Member
Looks like I will checking out that one tomorrow! Thanks for the suggestions!
eastsideride
Member
Hey guys, checked out that 01 in Illinois just now. Interior is perfect. Body is not to bad, still glossy everywhere. Drive great and transmission feels smooth. Also fluids look good and plugs looked good (yea I pull those out).
As for that rust. Pretty minor in terms of midwest vehicles. Pleasantly surprised it was well kept and looks like the first owner tried to keep it clean. There are spots that are flaking. But I bet I can slow it down if I spray the underside.
Owner works at a dealer and owned for a year off an older lady who traded it in. He knew his stuff on it too. Managed to work the price down to $4250. Pretty freaking good! So I may be picking this thing up next week.
As for that rust. Pretty minor in terms of midwest vehicles. Pleasantly surprised it was well kept and looks like the first owner tried to keep it clean. There are spots that are flaking. But I bet I can slow it down if I spray the underside.
Owner works at a dealer and owned for a year off an older lady who traded it in. He knew his stuff on it too. Managed to work the price down to $4250. Pretty freaking good! So I may be picking this thing up next week.
JRZEE2000TR4LTD
Senior Member
Sometimes you can tell the level of rust is in the frame rail by how bad the holes in the frame rails are rusting. If the rims of the holes are flaking rust then the inside of the frame may be in not so good shape. If it's just starting to come out of the hole and is on the edge only, it's probably in good shape. This is how mine was. I cleaned the frame internally, painted it with the eastwood internal paint, then loaded it up with Fluid Film.
Someone posted a $40 borescope for smart phones. I'm think this would be a pretty handy tool to have. I have a borescope at work we use on all the plant equipment which I borrowed to scope my frame but that thing cost about $7000. Even the cheaper ones you can get at home depot like the Milwaukee ones are hundreds of dollars.
eastsideride
Member
I didnt even think about looking internally as we have a boroscope at work we use for checking carbon fiber tubing. Not sure if I'll be allowed to loan it or not when or if I come down to get the runner next week.
The rust didnt look bad though. I tried to feel the areas I couldn't see and view the insides where the arms are attached and didnt see anything actually. Minimal rust in the bay which almost leads me to believe this thing saw little winter.
Too bad non of you live in Chicago! I appreciate the knowledge either way though.
The rust didnt look bad though. I tried to feel the areas I couldn't see and view the insides where the arms are attached and didnt see anything actually. Minimal rust in the bay which almost leads me to believe this thing saw little winter.
Too bad non of you live in Chicago! I appreciate the knowledge either way though.
theriddler
New member
Run away, run away fast! It's a $2500 vehicle if that. Nothing is more frustrating to work on than a rusty vehicle. Best thing about that one is the newer tranny.
