Hello eveybody! Just this year my dad surprised me when he bought a 95 yota pickup(make in oct 94) v6 3.0, standard. I am not a mechanic and I am not automotivly inclined much at all, but I like working a wrench . However I love this truck so much I want to invest some $$ into it. I figured I would ask for opinions on what I should get done to it to "tune" it up. I'm at work right now so I can't post pictures...I will take some shots from underneath to give you a better idea of the condition. I plan to spen around 1000 to 1200 $ CAN on it. I'll get those pics up tonight so you can help. Thanks in advance!


Does the rust on the frame need attention?I just added images:

 

Sorry for double posting..but I just updated this thread with pics.

 

some of the spots look kind of bad, but you should be ok
as for mods

tires, lift, rims, exhaust,... depends on what you want to do with it,

do some research before you buy anything

 

if it runs good, guess what. the first thing i'd do cost <$100. clean the truck up...put it on jackstands, take of the wheels and start with a wire brush underneath...keep cleaning until you've spent $90. (this should take a WHOLE weekend)

 

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

2nd on the wire brush follow up with rubberized undercoating. the rest is all about what you want to do to it.

 

Note that the people concerned about the rust don't live where cars rust. Looks like normal surface rust to me (I bought my runner in Ohio). I would pressure wash it really well underneath (stay away from the bearings!), then hit it with some good ruststop paint (like Rustoleum).

Whenever I bought my 'runner, I put almost $1000 into making sure all the maintenance is up to date (unless you have receipts):
ALL the fluids (engine oil, tranny, transfer case, diffs, power steering (note - it takes ATF, not power steering fluid!!!), brakes, coolant - EVERYTHING)

Repack the wheel bearings

Timing belt

Check the hoses and belts - look even remotely bad, change them

Seafoam (search on here)

Cap, rotor, plugs, wires

Tires, shocks, etc if needed (mine were shot - your tires look good)

That will make sure you're off to a good start!

 

Then, why not add a K&N, a nice muffler and some headers...

Nice truck by the way! I only wish that they existed in europe to...We only have the bloody hilux.Not that its bad but, its reather uggly...
Is this the 3vz-e like in the 4runner? I think that my HG is on its way to heaven...

 

Thanks for your post, ya its the 3vz-e. I just actually learnt how to drive standard about a month ago so I'm trying to keep the RPMs low cause a heard about the head gasket stories and I want my truck to last as long as possible.

 

4 Link it!

 

You're more likely to hurt these engines by lugging them at low RPM's ... that said, you don't need to rev it to the moon either - the engine doesn't make much more power over 4000 RPM or so.

 

Ok thanks for the advice, I'll keep the revs at a happy medium. Thanks.