Remote Inspection Help - '99 Gulf Coast Imperial Jade Mica with light rust?

My search for the right '98 - '01 pre-Toyota Nav system continues... I like Atlantis Blue, Imperial Jade Mica, River Rock Green Mica, and White (with Grey interior preferred). So this is a contender.

This has 182 miles, Gulf Coast fenders/pin-stripping, and Gold emblems, and the owner is asking $20K with 5 new BFG KOs). It is unlifted/unmodded, has Toyota rear locker, and interior is original (including faux wood bits) but no tears in leather yet.

I stumbled upon this one in Imperial Jade about 300 miles from me and the owner did a great job of taking pictures of the under carriage and bits I asked him about. I am hoping the experts here can take a look at the under carriage and help me determine that this is an acceptable level of rust/oxidation before flying out to look at it. To me, yes (especially compared to northeast LCs).

I would also want to remove the Gulf Coast fenders/pinstrippingand have read that it is hit and miss about what be found underneath and level of shadowing and scratching.

The timing belt sticker says it was done at about 115K miles, but in 2010 -so needs to be done. Radiator also looks original, so also should be done. I am guessing brakes/rotors, maybe axles/wheel bearing too. But that is what these 25 year old trucks need.

If this were at $12K-$14.5K, I'd say fly out and probably buy it. But hoping to get the collective input of others here.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Oh and here is a picture of the 99 LC and the engine bay associated with the above post.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Looks good.

Inner CV boot looks to be slinging grease.

Radiator looks to be original and potentially on it's last legs. (Yellowing of top)

The undercarriage is not bad at all.

Like you alluded to, $20K is a bit heavy.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Looks good.

Inner CV boot looks to be slinging grease.

Radiator looks to be original and potentially on it's last legs. (Yellowing of top)

The undercarriage is not bad at all.

Like you alluded to, $20K is a bit heavy.

Yes. Part of it is that he just put 5 new BFG KOs on it (which reflects about $2K ih his pricing). Which, I mostly don't have a problem with, other than he did 275s on it and I would have done 285s. I'd rather have old tires that I cold replace, but the timing belt/water pump/radiator done.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Why did my post get moved? I am not selling this vehicle, but looking for advice about its wear and suitability for a potential purchase, and advice about how to, and if I should delete the Gulf State fenders?

 

[98100series]

Removing the flairs will certainly require reconditioning (possible paint work) the rubber tends to rub through the clear/paint. I removed mine and had to put them back on because it looked terrible, I didn’t want to commit to repainting etc. I used BORA spacers and 285s to fill up the wells a bit.

Looks like the brake fluid is pretty dark too. The ABS pumps are pricey to replace (cheaper than before but still pricy)

 

[98100series]

This is my 01 with bora spacers and 285s with flairs. I did remove the pin stripe.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Removing the flairs will certainly require reconditioning (possible paint work) the rubber tends to rub through the clear/paint. I removed mine and had to put them back on because it looked terrible, I didn’t want to commit to repainting etc. I used BORA spacers and 285s to fill up the wells a bit.

Looks like the brake fluid is pretty dark too. The ABS pumps are pricey to replace (cheaper than before but still pricy)

It's weird, but I am most worried about the flares. I pretty much have to buy the LC and try to remove them to see what's going on. If it's a mess (and likely after 24 years), then I really won't get the look I am going for.

 

[CameraCruiser]

View attachment 3607419
This is my 01 with bora spacers and 285s with flairs. I did remove the pin stripe.

Looks great. The flares look good on white!

 

[98100series]

It's weird, but I am most worried about the flares. I pretty much have to buy the LC and try to remove them to see what's going on. If it's a mess (and likely after 24 years), then I really won't get the look I am going for.

I’d pass then. I only purchased mine because Jan 2020 I paid 10k with 145k miles. I can live with the flairs, actually learned to like them, get a lot of compliments as well. I removed running boards and added the OEM front mud guards which helped too.

 

[98100series]

If you do get it I would buy the flairs from you. Be nice to have a back up set.

 

[CameraCruiser]

I’d pass then. I only purchased mine because Jan 2020 I paid 10k with 145k miles. I can live with the flairs, actually learned to like them, get a lot of compliments as well. I removed running boards and added the OEM front mud guards which helped too.

Thanks. I will delete the running board on any LC I get. Yours looks great with the flares and no boards (Very 80 series - in the best possible way). But I am tossing it around.

 

[98100series]

Thanks, I really like the look. It’s pretty refreshing seeing rather stock 80s/100s/200s in a sea of modified rigs. Nice to see stock 5th gen 4Runners, just stock with and all terrain tire. In San Diego it’s a rare sight seeing a stock 4runner. Getting a bit long in the tooth if you ask me.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Why did my post get moved? I am not selling this vehicle, but looking for advice about its wear and suitability for a potential purchase, and advice about how to, and if I should delete the Gulf State fenders?

I think it's just organizational...since there's a WTB option here and it's about a specific vehicle.
It has been that way for a fair amount of time.

 

[2000UZJ]

It appears to have A/M CV Axles, so budget ~$1,000 for new CV's and flanges if it has a vibration. It looks to have heavy spray off the driveshaft onto the tank skid, something is strange about that but I guess if you've never degreased that area before...

 

[Eliot]

Looks awesome, $20k is heavy as alluded to given it needs a timing belt and a radiator.

Do you know if it's garage kept? Reason I ask is I have the same paint color on my '99 LX and have had clear coat issues all over the truck. I bought it at 250k and the paint just wasn't maintained and it sat in the South Carolina sun all day.

Paint looks really good in these pictures, but Toyota had a few paint colors in the late 90s/early 2000s that seem to have a limited life of the paint/clear coat bond.

For the leaky CV boot just keep a "reusable" Walmart bag in your truck. I'm running on 30k+ miles with a "reusable" Walmart bag as my inner CV boot. I have no idea how it's still holding, but yea you read that right it's a walmart bag.

 

[CameraCruiser]

Looks awesome, $20k is heavy as alluded to given it needs a timing belt and a radiator.

Do you know if it's garage kept? Reason I ask is I have the same paint color on my '99 LX and have had clear coat issues all over the truck. I bought it at 250k and the paint just wasn't maintained and it sat in the South Carolina sun all day.

Paint looks really good in these pictures, but Toyota had a few paint colors in the late 90s/early 2000s that seem to have a limited life of the paint/clear coat bond.

For the leaky CV boot just keep a "reusable" Walmart bag in your truck. I'm running on 30k+ miles with a "reusable" Walmart bag as my inner CV boot. I have no idea how it's still holding, but yea you read that right it's a walmart bag.

The current owner says that he has kept it in the garage, but there is no way of knowing what the first two owners did. I only have the pictures to go by at this point, since it requires a short flight to see it.

My issue (and not at all for others) is the Gulf Coast flares and pinstripes. If I remove them, and it is a mess, then I have to put them back on (and one is partially broken), and live with it, or sell it and continue looking. It is obvious that I can keep looking too without getting involved.

Nothing is perfect after 25 years. I'd pull the trigger if he would drop the price down to $16K or so to account for the basic remedial work.