YotaTech Forums - Should I buy this Truck?

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Should I buy this Truck?

My Co-worker is selling his 2000 Toyota PreRunner. It has an auto transmission and the 3.4 V6 motor. He Said he'd sell it to me for $1400. If not then he wants to sell it for about $2400. The truck has 154,610 on the Odometer. He Says the Odometer stopped working on him early/mid 2012. and that he's put on about 10k miles on it since then.

The truck is filthy but i know i can flip this truck around for a huge profit. The reason I'm asking for your personal opinions is because i do NOT want to have to deal with the headache and expense of rebuilding another motor. Buying it and parting it out is out of the question. i simply dont have the space at home. My choices are either gonna be. Buy it clean it up really nice add some nicer/bigger tires, swap in some newer seats, change the ugly grill in the front back to stock or do a 2003 tacoma conversion in the front end and keep it for myself or sell it to my dad or girlfriend who wants it really bad. lol OR do exactly all that with the exception of changing the front end to a newer style tacoma and then sell it for about $3800-4000.

The way i see it. If the only thing i need to fix is a few sensors and the rest cosmetic's i figure it is definitely worth fliping the truck into a money maker or to keep. If i have to rebuild this engine though i dont even wanna bother with it at all. I just got done rebuilding my 3.0 on my 89 4runner and i dont want to get into debt all over again.

I'm gonna be taking the truck for a test drive this weekend on saturday. See if my girl likes the truck. If she wants it then i'll just flip it for her. I'm gonna take it to my Girlfriend's uncles Auto store as well. I want their personal professional opinion on what they think i should do too. As well for their mechanic.

The things I'm certain will have to be replaced are:
1) Vehicle Speed Sensor to get that damn speedometer working again.
2) The Catalytic Converter, muffler, 2&1/4piping Magnaflow muffler. Not only because im getting that P0420 code but also because im gonna have to smog it eventually if i wanna put it in my name. and in CA Smog is a horrible experience.
3) Needs one 3 Spoke SR5 rim because he only has 3. The 4th was stolen off the back of his truck when he had a flat.
4) The passenger side window needs to be replaced. Someone recently broke into his truck to steal his drill and they broke his window to get it.
5) Definitely needs the new grill.
6) New front seats
7) It looks like the Valve Covers are leaking. on both sides so i'll need to replace those too.
8) Engine desperately needs to be degreased and pressure washed.
9) Polish up light to make them clear again (but now i'm just being picky lol

I'm just crossing my fingers i don't need to replace a head gasket, head or anything major. Take a look at the YouTube Video i made down below and look for yourself. Tell me where you guys think the leak is coming from PLEASE!!! You'll see in the video above when i check the power steering that it looks pretty empty. And what little bit was in there looked like a thick brown liquid. Almost muddy. I went ahead and added some of my personal ATF from my 4Runner in there to make sure he doesn't jack anything else up if its not too late.

I would. But only if you have time and the money for a project like that.

Or possibly using the 3.4L for an engine swap into your 4Runner?

Valve cover gaskets and possibly the seal on the oil cap are leaking. Battery posts need cleaning. Are the paint issues isolated to the passenger bed rail? The passenger head rest is oily, filthy, but interior can be cleaned up pretty easily.

For $1400, if the engine sounds ok, oil, looks ok, and coolant looks ok I'd take it.

What does a used 3.4 pulled engine sell for in SoCal?

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyota4x4907 (Post 52021522)

I would. But only if you have time and the money for a project like that.

Or possibly using the 3.4L for an engine swap into your 4Runner?

I really would love to swap that 3.4 engine into my truck. But like i said i just got done rebuilding my 3VZE on my 89 4Runner. I mean it literally only has about 5k miles on it lol Not only that but my girlfriend desperately needs a car. And You can ask any of the Yotatech buddies of mine. My girlfriend loves Trucks. And she likes These tacoma's preferably the 2nd generation of tacoma. but considering i can always swap the hood and whole front grill/lights to make it look like 2nd kind(more round front end style) of the 1st gen tacoma i think it would be perfect. She doesnt have confidence to drive Stick shift. so this auto tranny would also benefit her as well. Only down fall for her is that its a v6 and she's gonna be driving a lot once she starts school again. But i figure this engine's MPG shouldnt be as bad as my 3vze. This truck is really just gonna be for her. Or just for a quick Flip and Sell for profit. one or the other.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rworegon (Post 52021523)

Valve cover gaskets and possibly the seal on the oil cap are leaking. Battery posts need cleaning. Are the paint issues isolated to the passenger bed rail? The passenger head rest is oily, filthy, but interior can be cleaned up pretty easily.

For $1400, if the engine sounds ok, oil, looks ok, and coolant looks ok I'd take it. What does a used 3.4 pulled engine sell for in SoCal?

Rworegon thanks for the reply. I suspected the same thing. Based off what i seen today it looks like the truck just desperately needs an Engine wash. Interior Wash, And nice 31", 32", or 33" tires. I know that'd make a drastic change in its immediate appearance. Maybe even a cheap $600-800 paint job eventually.

To answer your question. A new engine will usually run about $1600-1700. At least that's the quote i got for my truck's 3.0 with installation its about $2400-2500 And the Paint on top part of the bed is chipped all the way around on both Driver and Passenger side bed rails of the bed.

Snatch that taco up and save her!!

Id buy it in a second.

Fix it up, get her running tip-top shape and you should see mid-20 mpgs Hwy.
Maybe have your GF drive it for a few months, see if she likes it, then keep it or sell it.

Just so you know, the 1st ('95.5-'04) and 2nd ('05+) generation Tacomas are very different. It would take a lot of work to get a 2nd gen hood and grille onto this Taco.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyota4x4907 (Post 52021547)

Whoaaaa I meant the 2nd style of that 1st gen tacoma. thanks for the correction. I'll fix the text right now lol I meant like making the front end of that 2000 toyota tacoma (squared-ish front end) to the 2003 style(more round) Here's the thread where i seen it done.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/o...thread-163883/

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redeth005 (Post 52021551)

I figured thats what you meant, but you never know....

'95.5-'97 had the sealed beams. '98-'00 had the flat grille style (like the one on this truck) then the '01-'04 had the more rounded style you want :)

TY haha.
I'd really like to have this motor in my truck. that'd be a really sweet upgrade it. but like i said my 3VZE only has like 5k miles on it haha

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyota4x4907 (Post 52021547)

Fix it up, get her running tip-top shape and you should see mid-20 mpgs Hwy.
Maybe have your GF drive it for a few months, see if she likes it, then keep it or sell it.

I'm sure if it gets at least 25MPG my girl would really enjoy this truck.

I'm on my way over to pick it up right now... Sorry bubba! :( ......... I'll let you have it when I restore it, k? 1 MILLION KAJILLION BASHJJJJJJILLION DOLLAIIIRS! :laugh: hehehe... JK.

Well, like I said on the phone... I just HATE to urge people to buy something, especially when it's over 1000$... BUT, it could be a good turn around for ya... Start with the Oil Cap and Valve cover if you get it... AFTER CHECKING THE COMPRESSION... Just to be sure, ya know? Everything on here is going to be a guess, Richard... that's all I was saying. You take your compression tester over there...(rent one from Autozone for free).... and AT LEAST you'd know if the valve train and rings were 'acceptable', right? ;) .... Personally, even if I was just gonna sell it.... I would wanna know EVERYTHING I'm getting into, including Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Trans, Drive Axle, etc. Things like a valve cover, oil cap, sure, that's promising 'hopeful' news... Just be sure as you can of what you're grabbing, ya know? Whether this guy knows his stuff or not.... That doesn't mean he's not accidentally dropping a TOTAL lemon on ya, ya know?

NOT TRYING to be negative... It's a 3.4 for one thing... BONUS... And it's NOT smashed in all over the place.... Another BONUS... But often, oil leaks on the top end like that are a result of 'pressure', ya know? Does this rig have a PCV system, RW? I've had a bad one blow out my VC gasket, lol.

Take care, bubba.... LOVE that color btw.. lol. One of my favorites on the Taco's... Even thought about painting another 4Runner I had that color.

thanks Mark,I definitely will take all your comments into consideration. But like you say, there is only so much that you can tell the photos and videos online. You definitely have to be in front of it in order to properly diagnose it. That's actually a another reason why I want to take it to my girlfriends uncles auto parts store and have their mechanic(the guy who rebuilt my motor) take a look at it as well.

By the way thanks for the idea of the compression test. I've never done 1 before so I did some research online and look up some videos on how to do a compression test and why theyre done in the first place. And thats really helpful to know how to do. I might buy one of those for future use and diagnosing future cars/problems. Need to see how much they cost. I wonder if harbor freight sells them. I have a 30% off coupon right now.

Ill let you guys know how it goes. I asked my co worker to please have that engine pressure washed so hes gonna take it today. And tomorrow we're gonna go take another look at it and take it out for a joy ride around the block a few times. :hillbill:

So I was talking to my girl just now and she said she'd rather have me finish my truck instead of getting her this tacoma. Said she can always get her truck later on and would prefer me to finish my project before starting on another one. And shed probably have a better shot at finding a 4x4 she likes too if she chooses to wait. She said she doesnt need it right now anyway cuz she has her moms car. So we're just gonna pass on the truck. She really wants me to get all the major mods out of the way already. (My SAS, 4" lift, 4.88 gears, dual lockers, sliders, Cbi Warn or Arb bumper, roof rack, read tire carrier/bumper etc...) and taking on another project while I still have all this stuff that still needs to get done just wouldnt be worth it. Not to mention itd delay my trucks progress too.

Shes right anyway. I have about $3k Left to pay still on upgrades to my truck on sas, shocks and lift alone. So I'm gonna continue my project instead.

Shes a keeper :laugh::laugh:

I guess it really is a good things to walk away from deals to give it some thought before actually deciding on something. Especially when it is about another car. just bummed out because it could have been a really nice truck if I fixed it. But like I said if she's right I should fix my truck up instead and finally get it finished to the way I want it so I can start going to school as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by toyota4x4907 (Post 52022130)

Shes a keeper :laugh::laugh:

Oh definitely! CHEFYOTA4X4, RAD4RUNNER, & GREGO92 have all met her before and all really liked her. She is a real girly girl but loved to help me work on my truck and car. She gets down and dirty when it comes to helping out with cars. Lol Bad thing is she keeps wNting to go to the dark side. Jeeps just suck her attention and she wants one bad! I'm trying to convince her I to getting a yota hahahah. I know she likes 3rd gen limited 4runners, all tacomas, and fj cruisers. So maybe we'll get her one of those sometime in the future.

well i would buy that truck in a heartbeat if i were you dont do the 01 if you will sell it right after youll like it too much lol. i had a 1999 but then did the swap....so awesome looks very mean but i spent about 2300 total upfront everything brand new along with a shrockworks bumper