kutch

Bear with me, not even sure I'm in the right place..!

Figured this would be the place to ask a question like this, hope someone can provide some good feedback!

Here goes...

A older friend of the family is selling a 1990 SR5 4x4 ext cab. (6-cyl, 5spd)
He is the Original owner, has spared no expense on this little truck throughout its life. In fact he just dropped about $10,000 two years ago to do a frame off...!
Rebuilt axles, transfer case, new clutch, brakes, lines, re-upholstered interior...Even had each and every bulb replaced in the dash...Really particular type of guy...

The thing is just about as spotless as can be expected for a 17 year old truck brought as close to OE...

The ONLY weakness (call it a weakness for know) -I see is that the motor was never touched in the restoration. 200,000 + miles...
Burns about a quart every 2500 miles...
Still pulls fine, starts fine...
Says hes getting about 18MPG in city and 21-23 MPG on highway.

Is it worth KBB or NADA value? ~$4000

I know, I know..."Is it worth it to me..."

I'm just looking for (some / any) advice on these trucks.
Thinking about it as a winter commuter (Upstate NY- snow, sleet, below zero temp., work around house -type of rig.
I ride my dualsport moto in the spring/summer/fall...

thoughts?

Thanks again!

abecedarian

at 200,000+ you're on the back side of the engine life graph. not necessarily a bad thing though if as you say it's been well taken care of. but the engine is pushing the envelope so to speak, and is evident if it's burning a quart of oil every oil change.
if everything was touched (save for the engine) two years ago and repaired/replaced, depending on the quality and competency of the work(ers), 4000 doesn't seem out of the question at all.
I however would question the motives of anyone that has spent 10000 on work and may even consider taking 4000 for it two years later.

Fink

Welcome to YotaTech!

Thanks for posting up!

As for your question, I think $4,000 is reasonable for sure.
As abecedarian said, 200k is definitely on the back 40 for a Yota motor but I have seen some of them go for over 350k.

With it already burning that much oil, it sounds like it's trying to tell you something.
Even with that though, I think $4,000 is a good price. Maybe offer $3,000 and see what he says, start low...way low...if he wants to sell it he'll stick with you until you come to an agreement.

Oh yeah...

Fink

olharleyman

$3,000 and drop a 3.4 into it then you would have a really nice truck for the money if it is as good ashape as you say.

Fink

3.4 swap may not be a bad idea at all...
But for what you need it for it may not be needed.

Fink

abecedarian

7MGTE is the best swap. My opinion though.
What do you want to break today?

mt_goat

Too much if you ask me, with the price of gas now SUV prices have dropped a lot. Offer him much less, I'd guess $2000.

iamsuperbleeder

I picked up my 91 PU, standard cab, 4wd, fresh paint, completely stock, 284k on the 22re! Bought it for $3,000. Sometimes I think I overpaid because of the mileage; the motor had never been touched when I got it execpt for the regular tuneups and timing chain just before I got it (the timing chain was a preventative thing too, it didn't break). When I got it it had a rad leak, H2O pump leak, and the AC hardly worked. I put about another $1,000 into a whole new cooling system (rad, pump, belts, hoses, 180 t-stat, and top dollar antifreeze), then I converted over the AC to R134a, so it blows ice cold now, and replaced the whole breaking system because everything from the fluid to the drums showed major signs of age and wear. The truck's pretty much brand new again eccept for the motor, and all for about $4,000, which is pretty much what you're looking at; $4,000 for a like-new looking and working vehicle, accept for the motor is kind of chancing it and who knows just how much longer it'll last. I'm already in the process of getting a spare motor put together so when this one goes, I wont be stuck high and dry, because this is my daily driver after all. Now with this being a seasonal vehicle, you'll have a backup truck/car you can use on its downtime, but be prepared if you do get it for the motor to envetually go, be cause is it's showing wear like you say it is, it's only a matter of time; getting another motor buildup going wouldn't be a bad idea when purchasing the truck. The motor could go the first time you push 5k RPMs, or it could go another 50k, 60k, or more if you keep it well maintained.

Just my .02

Trav

TORTIS

iTrader: (1)

i gave three grand for mine, but they are rare around here. mine was using a little oil and replaced the pcv nad that helped a bit. mine has 244,000 runs great. 4000 is high, and a motor is in your future, and that will set u back a couple of grand.

algranger

id offer 3k for it and try and work with him a bit. sounds like a nice truck im sure you would be pleased with it. i paid 3k for my 84

kutch

Thanks Guys.!

I'll try and snag a few pics.
Here is a pic of my current mode of transportation///


Yup', He is a funny type, He has the $$$ to blow on whims.
I guess he thought he was going to keep it longer so the 10K was well intentioned. Now hes going for a new yota.

The truck is clean,,,,REALLY clean.

But as everyone is saying, the engine will need attention and should be considered now.

How much would it cost for a rebuild?
(I'd like to keep this as close to stock for now)



Thanks again!
Kutch

abecedarian

I know I'm stretching the envelope a bit, but I usually budget 3000 for an engine rebuild, for a stock rebuild. I hate being caught by surprise for things. Realistically though plan for about 2000... hopefully including labor.

bigt

yeah if you not gonna swap the engine i would keep looking for a 22re or a 3.4 4runner or pickup.... unless you can get it for 2-3k

seriously the 3. slow isnt on of the best yota engines and its amazing that it hasnt blown..
HAS IT HAD THE HEAD GASKET RECALL??? could get a free rebuild!!

Fink

I'd say cap it at $3k and work using that.
You can usually get a feel for how much room you have within about 15 minutes of dealing with a seller...

Fink

kutch

Will do.

Yes it had the gasket recall done.

The guy is a really good friend of my father in law...
But he probably is thinking of all that $$ he spent on it and thinks he wants to recoup some of it...

If it doesn't work out...It was a thought!

Kutch

TOYOTA 1

x2.....

kutch

PS:
If I did do a swap...

22re (22R-E HP 84 (112) at 4600 rpm Torque 192 (142) & 3400 rpm 1985–1995 EFI, single row timing chain

-vs-

7mgte (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_M_engine) which one!!!!

Pro/con?

PCE91V64x4

How much do you drive? If you are doing 5,000 miles per year, you may get another 10 years without a major issue. If you do 25,000 miles per year you might be in rebuild territory in 2 years. Or you may never have one problem with the engine.

There are some 3.0s here with over 300,000 miles, so that truck may have plenty of life. If the body is clean and rust free, even in you need a new engine in a few years, the cost of that engine is still less than a new truck or even a high mileage used truck.

kutch

Well, with the bike running most of the year...Can't beat 64 MPG...

5 days a week - ~80 mile per day commute. Nov-Feb...

Whats that, about 100 days a year?
So about 8000 miles.
+ what ever around the house...Call it an even 9K miles per year...

muddpigg

iTrader: (1)

Welcome.

I didn't read all the response post. did he do anything to the tranny? Mines older and I paid less for it, though maybe too much in hind sight. Mine had 219,000, I replaced motor and tranny, when I called Marlin about my tranny core they explained the problems they'd found. So what I'm getting at is ask your self what do want. For me I really enjoy wrenching my truck, learning about it, and it gives me an excuse to buy in tools. I'll be putting a second engine in soon. So it's worth it to me.