My99

Here's the low-down. The guy claims he was driving down the road and the truck started steaming. He pulled over, thought it was just the fan belt, and tried to restart it. It turned over once and that was it. He took it home, drained the oil and there was antifreeze in it. (Headgasket's gone). So, he's selling it. I noticed rust on the passenger's side fender area and on the chrome on the back bumper. The engine compartment definitely looks as though it's been in salt country. He says everything was fine with it before the engine went. It has about 180k miles on it. It's a 91 SR5 A/T with sunroof and most all options I suppose. I assume I'll have to replace the engine and Hope to be able to find a long block for between 1,000 and 1,400 in decent shape. I want to be able to sell this vehicle if I decide to for a profit if I decide I don't wanna keep it for a wheeling rig. Would you say that paying $700 is too much for this rig? I figure with a running engine it should fetch about 3,500-4k on the market. What do you all say?

Here's some photo's.







Anyone ever seen this before? Appears they've mounted a tranny cooler on the top side of the skid plate...







Thanks.

Scofco

You could always buy it for $700 and part it out on here if need be.

WSU4runner

Yep I'd say $700 is a pretty good deal. Fix it, wheel it, and sell if for more than you bought it for Atleast thats what I would do.

AgRunner06

Buy it.

ilion

Covered by the Head Gasket Recall?

My99

My assumption is no.

rimpainter.com

Here is the way I see this deal:

Rig: $700
Long block $1500
Fluids, belts, misc. top-end/sensor/exhaust repairs $500
Misc cosmetic repairs: $200
Ad to list it: $25
Cleaning supplies for detail: $50
What about the heads? What if they are warped? [$300 min]

Assuming you will be doing all the work, you are just over $3K out of pocket. And that is if everything goes right.

Personally, I would pass. You would be hard pressed to get $3500 for it. People dont care if you just dropped a new long block in it. They expect it to run for that price.

lee

people are also weary of buying cars that had to have engine replacements.

My99

Uhh... a Longblock includes heads, and I know I can find one for under 1,500... hoping to find one for around 1-1,200. I would do no cosmetic repairs... you can expect minor dings/scratches and stuff on a 90, whether you're buying or selling. Only thing that concerns me is the rust. Hopefully all sensors will be in tact, if not, i hope to scavenge these from a junk yard for much less than 500 dollars. I can list it for free in the local paper. The guy says it was running great when the headgasket let go... not that that's really worth much, but you can always hope he's being truthful.

You're right in one respect, I may do all this and find that there's more problems and needs more money than originally anticipated, in which case I would be parting it out.

rimpainter.com

My bad, I was thinking short block for some reason.

I have bought and sold a lot of vehicles, including 4Runners, and Murphy's Law always seems to come into play. Not only that, but there is always something more than what I expected wrong with the rig, or some hidden cost that I forgot about. But that's just me.

If you weigh the pros and cons and it's worth the risk, by all means go for it.

halza

(not related to your question) just wondering how do you post this large pics on this site, I have some pics of my truck and the files are too large to post, any help I will appreciate.

Enigma

You have to host them on your own webspace. There is a size limit on the pictures you can upload here as "attachments". So if it is greater than that size you need to either upload them to your own webspace or find someone who will host them for you.

DaveKerwin

buy it, install a head gasket, and wheel the crap out of it. You won't care because you have so little money in it. Rust does not matter because it will be a trail truck. Then you don't have to worry about body damage because you only got a grand in it. Definitely buy it and wheel it like mad!

Fink

I agree Kyle, I would definately buy it and then wheel the crap out of it...gimme a call and we can try to go mudding again, maybe the ground won't be frozen this time!!

Fink

shazaam

This "wheel it" suggestion doesn't add up either ... no locker, no wheels, no armor, no lift .... nothing .. so now you have to throw the cost of that into it to make it trail worthy.

DaveKerwin

not necessarily. you don't need armor on a trail only truck that you have a grand into. Weld the rear axle and HIT IT! All you need is a go pedal and some driving skill.

My99

That would be a perfect world. I'm thinking there could be bottom end issues..this is the assumption I have.

Fink

It sounds like in the end your gonna be selling it to make a profit so all in all it probably wouldn't be worth it given the fact that you wouldn't be able to get much more than 3500-4k when its all said and done...its up to you man, if you get it let me know and you can bring it by and I can help ya work on it...let us know what you decide man!

Fink