What's your opinion buying a damaged 4Runner?

[silver4est]

I have the exact same truck in silver as this one I found, trying to set aside the time to go check it out. Not sure what exactly I'll be looking for other than over all condition of the whole rig. He said there is no frame damage and it is not rotted , I'll be the judge of that when I see it
I really like the white 4runners and kinda want to fix this one and sell mine, but looking for advice before I get excited or see it in person.
https://nmi.craigslist.org/cto/5820422116.html

 

[JBurt]

I'd read some posts on people who've repaired LBJ failures. I'm not sure how an lower control arm could bend. I've never seen that. I do however want what he's smoking if he thinks those wheels are sought after.

You could possibly need cv shaft, steering knuckle, upper and lower ball joints, steering rack, itre, otre, etc. With 208k miles a whole front end rebuild probably isn't unwarranted and this seems like a good reason to do it.

I'd definitely see if I could get his price down though. Make sure you check for rust by the rear lower control arms.

 

[silver4est]

I figure scrap yard will give him 4-450, I was thinking if it's not rotted out I'd offer 700. Have a friend who is a tech at local dealer so parts come at cost, figured I'd have to replace everything under that fender and do the pass side as well, then a small lift. I think my truck at 160k is in need of some of that stuff anyway.
Didn't think about steering rack, good call. Must have been a massive pothole.
Needs a driver door also, a Ford F-150 backed into it at work he said

 

[JBurt]

Wouldn't have to be that big of a pot hole. Lower ball joint failure is pretty common unfortunately, and at 208k miles it's really a gamble. If you do get it make sure you replace the LBJ on the other side as well. It would suck to do all that work and have the same thing happen to the other side.

https://www.google.com/search?sourc...1GIWA_enUS687US687&aqs=chrome..69i57.6679j0j7

Make sure you look at some of the images too.

 

[Collkid]

I use to buy beat up XJ's.

If you know what you're doing, have parts on hand, have space, knowledge, and time, you can make a couple bucks doing it!

 

[MN4runnerman]

My 98 hit a median last winter and it took a lot of hours to make it look decent. Would I buy one that has frame damage and a lot of bending again..... never. But I would be taking a look at this one very closely and would definitely try to buy it. All it needs is a front end rebuild and a new door, that's not too hard. BTW I highly doubt a salvage yard would offer $400. The price of steel is so low right it's ridiculous. I took in about 500lbs of steel in and got $8. My friend just took in a 86 F250 with everything on it besides the gas tank and he got $110

 

[silver4est]

If frame is not rotted with holes (Michigan) and is straight (he says it is) what's a fair offer on it?

Thinking if I can get it for 700 I can have it all done for around 2500 at end of the day?
I'll go look at it soon as I can and report back the condition.

Absolutely would rebuild full front suspension

 

[TheDurk]

If frame is not rotted with holes (Michigan) and is straight (he says it is) what's a fair offer on it?

Thinking if I can get it for 700 I can have it all done for around 2500 at end of the day?
I'll go look at it soon as I can and report back the condition.

Absolutely would rebuild full front suspension

I bought my bare frame, no holes, just surface rust in spots for $500. I saw quotes as high as $1000 for the same thing or worse. (This was cash, no paperwork.) This is NJ/PA/NY.

It actually came with front and rear upper and lower control arms, which was nice. They were in better shape than the ones on the truck I was fixing. So a whole truck for a grand seems like a steal to me, IF frame is good.

 

[Sean K.]

Is the owner sure about the year? Grill looks like a 99 model.

 

[Sean K.]

I'd be leery of just how long it's been sitting like that....and make sure the engine runs, though you could find the trans/tcase or axles are garbage....since you can't really test drive it in its current condition.

 

[JBurt]

Is the owner sure about the year? Grill looks like a 99 model.

I also don't think those "highly sought after" wheels came stock in 01, but I could be wrong.

 

[MN4runnerman]

I also don't think those "highly sought after" wheels came stock in 01, but I could be wrong.

They came stock on my 02 SR5 that was wrecked by an idiot(not me)

 

[JBurt]

They came stock on my 02 SR5 that was wrecked by an idiot(not me)

I sit corrected.

 

[silver4est]

I'd be leery of just how long it's been sitting like that....and make sure the engine runs, though you could find the trans/tcase or axles are garbage....since you can't really test drive it in its current condition.

It's been sitting for about a month, seller said he decided to go with a newer low mileage car

 

[Mark_BC]

I also don't think those "highly sought after" wheels came stock in 01, but I could be wrong.

When you suggest these rims are not sought after, would you go so far to say they are frowned upon? I don't mind them, it's just the corrosion which looks bad.

I have a couple sets. The first set looked unbelievably bad from the spider corrosion slinking along under the clearcoat, I'll have to post some photos, it was so bad it was funny. I dissolved that off with aircraft stripper as well as the silver paint in the recessed areas and sandblasted them last weekend with the tires on. Then painted them with Rust-Oleum self etching primer and silver rim paint. They have been sitting for a few days now, I'll give them another week to cure before I put them on. They look great.

 

[JBurt]

They're not my favorite. If you upgrade to tundra brakes you have to run spacers. They're definitely fine for 99 percent of people, but by no means are they rare or sought after. They do look good when cleaned up. I need to paint mine.