This is my body rust, driver side, front of the rear wheel well. i've got to quotes for replacing the rusty parts and painting the bottom half of the entire 4Runner:
$250bz from a really busy body shop
$500bz from a friend/17yr experianced body expert

 

I would say go with your friends service. I realize its about double the price, but he's more likely to do a great job, and you know who he is incase something goes wrong. My suggestion after you get this repair done is after a couple weeks (if your getting those areas painted and clearcoated), throw on the wax and try keep it up at least a few times a year. I have no body work experience , nor am I an expert on paint; but last summer I got some minor body work and a new paint job which cost me $1700 Canadian. Even after all the salt around here, the body still shines great(when I clean it haha) as long as I wax it well before and after salt season. Good luck, and where ever you decide to get it done, take some before and after pics and show us!

 

i most certainly take before & after pics, i'm dying to get it done, i just have to wait on my Aunty cause she is lending me the money to do this, so i hope to get it started monday next week. and it takes 5 days or so to do it.

 

Have you thought about fiberglassing it? It is suppose to be pretty much do-it-yourself. Anyone have any experience fiberglassing bodywork that could pass along some pointers?