Your expertise please

[kblomquist]

Good:I have the opporunity to buy a 1988 pickup (std. cab 22re, 5 speed) . Body is excellent hardly any scratches and absolutely rust free (spent its entire life in Tucson). Mileage 200K, rebuilt engine 60K ago w/ new clutch, bearing, pressure plate. very well maintained.

Bad: Water in the oil (head gasket?). Oil looks like chocolate milk. Owner states it never heated up. He parked it a year ago.

Ugly: Trying to explain to my wife why I need another vehicle

He is asking $1k.

Worth it?

Thanks in advance for you thoughts and opinions.

KB

YES!!! IT IS 4x4

 

[whatatrout]

If you can afford it, Go for it. I did a head job on my 22re a month or so ago, its not too bad. If that is the only problem you should be in good shape. Try to talk him down a couple hundred dollars then you should do ok.

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

Dude, try this: Put your name and number on a business card-write$500 under your phone number. Go look @ the truck, show the dipstick to the owner and look concerned. Give him the card, then avoid him like he has the plague. In a couple of days you will have a new lawn ornament.

 

[theo]

Oil looks like chocolate milk. Owner states it never heated up. He parked it a year ago.

Water doesn't lubricate so it's possible the main and rod bearings are scored, depending on how long he kept driving it after the "leak".

The labor to remove and replace the head isn't too bad. There's a few bucks in machine work, valves, seats, etc. And if it's cracked you'll need a donor. Complete recondition could run you $300 or so. You'll want a timing set too unless he can prove he already replaced it.

Ugly: Trying to explain to my wife why I need another vehicle

You and me both!

.02

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Yes it's worth it (I'd try to talk him down some as it could need new bearings as well.... posible crank work....) It would probably sell for 1K even if there was no engine in it..... FYI

 

[underthehood]

in my experience with the 22r and the 22re when there is water in the oil it is because the timing chain has worn through the timing cover into a water jacket causing water to enter the crankcase. pressure test the cooling system with the valve cover off to see if it is the cause. if so then you can sneak the timing cover off without taking the head off. its a pretty easy job in my opinion. a new timing gear set, possibly new cover(depends if the old one can be welded at a reasonable price) and some misc. parts. on another note, something is fishy about the story. a timing chain shouldnt be worn out in 60k miles. never overheated???? also the possibility of crank bearing damage is a serious concern. sounds like a big gamble unless you are willing to rule it all out and put a different engine in it. good luck

 

[underthehood]

i just reread your post and it says the truck was sitting for a year. if that is the case then the water probably separated from the oil and the chance of rust in the crank case is highly likely. and the possibility of damage to the bearings is even more likely. big, big gamble. i would not try to revive the existing engine unless you do a thorough inspection of the reason it got water in the oil in the first place and drop the pan to check all the crank bearings along with the connecting rod bearings.

 

[tntoyota]

EFI! and 4wd! for a thou!!! I'd jump on that with both feet!



2wd?...........nah.

 

[tntoyota]

Ugly: Trying to explain to my wife why I need another vehicle

But honey!

1: It will be paid off, "before" it gets off the lot!

2: It will not depreciate

3: Toyota....duh!

4: If at any time, along with no.1, I can choose for it to not continue to cost anything!

5: If you like having a fall back vehicle.

6: You can use it to go "antiquing"

7: At least one should not have payments!

8: Look at the money we will be saving.....kids got to go to collage , collision, down payment, payments...depreciation (BTW since when did we start thinking and talking about cars as investments )

thats all I got for now, ADD break....