Yo. Need some wisdom on this matter. My 4runner has some pretty bad cancer. Trying to make a long term decision on whether to 1) cut it out completely (not repair but obviously reseal the body) and leave the wheel wells large and open or 2) move on to a cleaner yota (probs either a gen 1 runner, another gen 2 runner, or an FJ60). I've already 3.4 and manual swapped this thing. It's been a great first truck to learn things on but want to avoid putting work into something that just needs to go. What would you do? Photos of the situation:
Opinions Wanted -- Rusty 4runner (7 Viewers)
- Thread starter The Toad
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how is the chassis? If rusty, nurse the truck to the grave with as much preventative spraying as you can. If body only perhaps do some body work. I would not dump much into that. Buy a better specimen for the price it will take to fix. Migrate drive train goodies to new set up
dohcdelsol93
snoogans
Someone from Pittsburgh would call that surface rust. If the frame is good cut it out, weld in new metal. Spray bedline the skirt of the cab as rust is likely to pop up in other areas. It also helps cover imperfections on less than perfect body work.
Be prepared to cut out nearly twice as much as what you see.
Once done access as much as possible from the inside to clean/coat with POR.
For areas you can't access fluid film.
Rust never sleeps.
2nd gens have gone up in price like every other desirable Toyota 4x4
Be prepared to cut out nearly twice as much as what you see.
Once done access as much as possible from the inside to clean/coat with POR.
For areas you can't access fluid film.
Rust never sleeps.
2nd gens have gone up in price like every other desirable Toyota 4x4
With the 3.4 and that 2nd gen Hilux chassis you've got a superior vehicle to a 1st gen 4runner or an FJ60 IMO. So yeah, X2 on the above. Keep and fix and/ or get another 2nd gen...
3.4 in a 1st gen rips
I always hate to see a good truck die. I vote try and fix it.
This.
However, I'd think Colorado would have much better access to non-rusted trucks from the southwest so I'd be more inclined to move on in your situation.
I'm spoiled after living in the desert so I would find another 2nd gen and build one good truck. FWIW, the desert trucks don't have rust but the sun DESTROYS the interior, anything plastic and paint so you have a lot of parts we wish we had.
If you want a keeper haul something back from TX, AZ or Nm. Swapping parts is easier than patching rust. If it's a beater run it. Just my opinion of course.
If you want a keeper haul something back from TX, AZ or Nm. Swapping parts is easier than patching rust. If it's a beater run it. Just my opinion of course.
- Thread starter
- #10
Chassis is near mint. Very minor surface rust in a few places.
Heard and same here.
Thank you all very much for the replies. Will take all points into consideration. Leaning towards cutting it out but if a clean specimen comes along for a good price, parts will just get swapped. @dohcdelsol93 is speaking truth though, even kinda clapped out 2nd/1st gens are tough to find for "reasonable" prices rn. This truck definitely is not getting babied @ferg and @aztoyman; hitting trails and carry lots of stuff on a semi-regular basis. I'd like a 2 door 2nd gen but those things are extremely hard to find... wishful thinking.
I have a clean 92 down here in texas id sell you. It has a bad 3.0 with an automatic, 4wd. No rust though. Im keeping the 4.88s out of the rear axle for my Trekker build, but the rest im trying to part out. Would sell it cheap. Its missing a few interior parts, ie front seats, AC dash parts, some under hood parts, but the body is all there and has a sunroof. Missing front bumper now. $750 for a mud member.
this is quite the proposition. Will send you a DM later today 
