Trying to get a feel for what to do. Possible salvage lx450 for sale.

[andystrwake]

I recently bought a second 96lx450 from my friends brother. I will be picking it up this weekend. My plan for the vehicle was/is to swap out a few parts, pull the motor, and start parting out.

Vehicle History:

1996 lx450 non-locker with around 200,000 miles. Salvaged title. Info on salvage: my friends brother bought the truck not knowing what he was buying (sick offroad vehicle). We got him into a bit off 4 wheeling and he was hooked. Vehicle currently has 2.5 ome lift on it also. Well, what do inexperienced off roaders do best, he put it on its side(more of a lean over) on a trail. This was almost 3 years ago and he has been driving truck weekly.

Due to loosing his job at this time of (lean over) he thought it would be a better idea to have the insurance money.

My problem is, I feel bad pulling a motor on a vehicle that can be used as a daily driver. I want to have a motor as back up but wish it would come from a dead fj80 not one that has life in it.

My options are:

#1 Pull motor and swap out any other parts from his to mine. Then start trying to part it out.

#2 Try to sell it to someone that wants a lx450 and does not mind a little bit of dents on one side, and then start the search for a motor again. I am thinking around 3,000.00

#3 Keep it, build it up, fill the garage and driveway up with more Toyota parts and keep making the wife mad I spend more time on this website and on my Toyota's then with her. OK maybe there is really no option #3!

I will post some picks this weekend when I get her home. She will be making a 200+ mile trip with no problems.

What does the great forum think?

Thanks

 

[BELMONT148]

By it and drive it. Keep looking for body parts and learn how to do body work. Nothing wrong a salvage driver. My brother bought his TJ with a salvage title and drives it. A guy in NC just sold a salvage title 2001 Tacoma for about $10k.

Buy it, and use it. Don't dismantle this vehicle. It has too many possibilities.

Jeremy

 

[the gimpey one]

Option #2 if it makes u any $$. Unless the engine u have is on its last leg.

 

[andystrwake]

Option #2 if it makes u any $$. Unless the engine u have is on its last leg.

Not sure if my engine is on its last leg. It leaks oil from the main rear pretty good (whose doesn't right) and has 204,000 miles. I use it as my daily driver.

But if I can break even parting it out and get a running motor out of it???? But again, it hurts to pull this car apart when someone could put it to good use.

 

[BELMONT148]

I wouldn't do a motor swap for the same mileage engine just to fix a rear leak. Do the rear main leak and keep running your rig. I think a rear main is pretty easy, and a shop shouldn't charge more than about $750.

Jeremy

 

[charlestonfj60]

I would be interested in the lift if you part-out.

 

[andystrwake]

I wouldn't do a motor swap for the same mileage engine just to fix a rear leak. Do the rear main leak and keep running your rig. I think a rear main is pretty easy, and a shop shouldn't charge more than about $750.

Jeremy

Not going to do the swap right away. I would keep the motor on a stand in garage and wait for something to go wrong with mine. When it does, and hopefully never does, I could put this one in and replace all gaskets or possible rebuild before it goes in. But depending on the price I got it for I might be able to end up with a free motor after the hopefully great part out!