95 taco. Bent frame??

[ray6]

So I might pick this taco up. It's a 95 with the 3.4 v6 and 4wd regular cab with 160k. Cel on and has passed ca smog yet. Body's a little beat, but whatever, want it as a work truck primarily. Anyways, do you guys thing the frame is bent in these pics? It's not super apparent when under the truck, but it definitely has a swagger along the bed and cab.

If so, what should I offer for it?

Thanks!

 

[ray6]

no opinions from anyone? I'm just looking to relieve the 80 from carry garbage around in it.

 

[Mr Chuck Norris]

You posted while we were sleeping... give us some time!

With that hit in the bed from a rear-ender I'd assume the frame is bent. I'd keep looking. For garbage duty, I'd just pick up a 2wd 4cyl Tacoma to keep the cost down. Then you can eventually build a prerunner out of it.

 

[ray6]

Sorry. Was just trying to move on this quickly. Picked it up anyways for super duper cheap. Drives down the road fine and well, it was super super cheap.

Still have a low miles 80 that I can now focus on having as a expo rig. Thanks for the input

 

[jynx]

Is it the frame or is the bed bent and pushed up against the cab giving the illusion of a bent frame? Check the bed mounts for bends or damage. Also, that shell may be shifted around adding to the illusion. Since you already got it, I would just pull some measurements between the bed and cab on each side. Also, have someone else drive it and get behind them and watch how it drives down the road. That is the best way to see if it is crab-walking on you.

 

[ray6]

thanks for the advise about the crab walking. I'll check it out this week and see if its doing it. Even so, I'm only gonna focus on this things mechanical reliability rather than its structure (cooling system, fluids etc...)

 

[ray6]

Everything rides pretty straight. Took it for a spin to la and back to sf. It Flew down hwy 5 and through the grapevine. Not a single hiccup.
Straightened the bed out by shimming the rear up. Now it looks more normal.

 

[ray6]

random update:

Got it all baselined and sorted for now. Had no history what so ever and rad will filled with rustyness. Had a little toruble passing smog, but did it's 3rd oil change in 5k miles, and quickly went to smog and it passed. Gotta say Im real happy with this thing so far. I'm gonna for sure need to dive into the timing belt during the winter because I have no clue when and if its even been done.

I took a peep at it by taking the cover off and its at least not super cracked and dry, but I know that doesn't mean a thing.

 

[SteveH]

Sounds like you're making good progress!

 

[ray6]

I'm impressed with this little thing. Its definitely light weight compared to the 80's I've been working on but it seems to just keep going. I gotta say its a notch simpler than the 1fz's too. Way fewer vacuum lines running around and the engine bay is just much cleaner.