Rust review...

[n55luvr]

Been on the hunt for a nice LC or LX. Found a 2004 LX with 1 owner, lady driven, 133k miles and 18 pages of service records. Been serviced religiously at same dealer since bought new. Pictures show a really nice truck with minimal wear and tear. Body panels look perfect.

All good right? Well here's the bad. It lived in the rust belt. I really want to avoid rust as I too live in the rust belt and my current truck is being eaten from the inside out by rust. Sent seller an email asking for some pix from underneath. Here is what he sent. Pretty sure I'm crossing this rig off my list based on this picture alone. Thoughts? Would be crazy not to run away form this right?

 

[OGBeno]

Run. Every time you put a wrench on that thing, the hardware will break/shear/strip. You will be cursing Land Cruiser ownership till the day you die because of a truck like the above one.

Keep looking.

 

[n55luvr]

Yeah, pretty much my thoughts as well. Was definitely disheartening seeing that image. i had my hopes up for this one!

 

[Muddy Bean]

Annnnndd this is why I cross the border once a year into Canada and pay Krown to lube me up. My truck: born in Florida, residing in Texas, occasional trips up north, but oiled and rust proofed.

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

Wow! That is very rusty! Too rusty

 

[stonepa]

Doesn't look any worse than my 1998 and I owned that for 16 years in the north. 331k miles and it never let me down.

Go buy one from some salt free area and it will look like this in no time.

Where is this one located?

 

[ranma21]

Owned 2 rust belt vehicles, I will run as well!!

 

[RND1]

How much is it? If you like it and the price is right, you can always have a shop give you an estimate to needle scale the rust, paint it with a rust inhibitor paint, and finally coat everything with fluid film or Krown.

Or get on a plane and drive a rust free one home, but that creates it's own share of headaches and added expense.

 

[n55luvr]

Truck is in Cleveland. $17k, but it's been listed for several months so I am sure there is wiggle room.

I have an '02 Tahoe that has lived outside it's entire life here in Ohio and that LX makes my truck look brand new underneath. I can't even imagine how this one got so rusty. I could certainly live with some rust but this one just looked like it was dipped in rust promoter and thrown in the ocean for a year.

I really do see myself flying out one way and driving something home.

 

[jhanley]

Roll out.

 

[OGBeno]

Cleveland=Bottom Of Ocean

 

[LEX]

I really do see myself flying out one way and driving something home.

Best idea and treat the undercarriage with Fluid Film or Amsoil MPHD

 

[Muddy Bean]

^ good advice. Heed it.

 

[options2]

Anyone have any thoughts on Known Rust proofing for your under carriage? Sadly I live in the salt belt, and its absolutely terrible. I agree with beno, as I a cursing the rust everyday. Although I understand this is not my TLCs fault. I am doing the best I can to manage it, but its like cancer and never sleeps.

 

[LEX]

Anyone have any thoughts on Known Rust proofing for your under carriage? Sadly I live in the salt belt, and its absolutely terrible. I agree with beno, as I a cursing the rust everyday. Although I understand this is not my TLCs fault. I am doing the best I can to manage it, but its like cancer and never sleeps.

The products I mentioned above work well. I read quite a bit about each on Tacoma World. Fluid film attracts dust and Amsoil MPHD does not as it drys to a candle wax type finish. Neither will harm bushings. I'd recommend getting under there and clean up as much rust off as you can before applying them.

 

[options2]

The products I mentioned above work well. I read quite a bit about each on Tacoma World. Fluid film attracts dust and Amsoil MPHD does not as it drys to a candle wax type finish. Neither will harm bushings. I'd recommend getting under there and clean up as much rust off as you can before applying them.

Noted, thank you very much.

 

[n55luvr]

Alright guys, have another lead that seems promising. Problem is it has lived in MI and OH it's whole life. Compared to the one I listed above this one seems somewhat acceptable. They said it's been garaged it's entire life. The white stuff in the pictures is most likely salt / brine accumulation that will rinse off.

I do see a good amount of rust but again, it's not as widespread as I've seen on some. Am I trying too hard to talk myself into this rig? Another maintenance nightmare? I'd classify this as less rust than my 2002 Tahoe which lived outside for 12 years. Some things I notice are brake lines that seem to be very clean, bolt heads on frond of rad shroud are all in decent shape (both these items I've seen corroded and very rusty on some of the other rust belt rigs I've checked out)

Also, sorry for them all being upside down. I have flipped them locally and saved that way but no matter what I try they always show upside down when I attach to this thread.

 

[LEX]

Looks better than the first and probably easier to clean up.

 

[stonepa]

Looks better than my 98 100 has looked since 2001.

 

[RND1]

About as good as you'll find in the salt belt. Was this the rig 700 miles away? If you're going to have to board a plane, you might as well get one rust free?