I need you guys thoughts on something. I've been hunting me a good donor vehicle for a 3.4L swap into my 89 4Runner. I ran across a wrecked 2000 4Runner with 150,000 miles today. The guy is an ex con with a new baby and needs cash fast. I know folks like this and I try not to assume that there is something shady going on when they need cash fast but I still do. Especially when I won't be leaving with a title in hand.

The thing was obviously running or it wouldn't have been wrecked. Damage is to front end, mainly on the fenders, hood, and even frame but from the pics it doesn't look like it touched the engine. Long story short. I am going to go and look at it tomorrow or Thursday and at $300, talked down from $1000, with no title, I'm not going to want to hang around forever and test it as well as I would like. Give me some ideas of anything you would check out on it if you only had half an hour to look it over. I have been troubleshooting engines like these for years so I have most if not all tools I would need and am capable of performing any test you might suggest so spitball me some ideas as soon as you can.

Here are a few pics.

Thanks in advance for your ideas.

 

Since the coolant is gone you can`t look at that.

look at the condition of the oil .

if possible turn the engine over by hand see if it moves

pull the top timing belt cover look at that .

looks like it took a pretty hard hit

 

Why won't you get the title?

That would be my biggest concern. You trailer this thing home and he calls it in stolen.

 

At $300 you could part it out if it doesn't work out.

 

Did he introduce himself as an ex con?




Andreas

 

I'm betting insurance totaled it and then never came back to claim the wreck they just paid for. It's been nearly a year. He said he bought it back from them but they still have the title from when they totaled it. Like Rooster Cogburn said, 'I don't believe in fairy-tails, sermons or stories about money." I had the plate checked and it is registered to him and matches the vin so he didn't steal it. It's South Arkansas logging country and I am plenty connected. I am not concerned with some idiot accusing me of theft. If he did, he would be more likely to get roughed up by the cops than them even mention anything to me about it. My only concern is that I will have a hard time selling what's left of the truck to the scrap yard without the title. I've done it several times but it always makes me nervous when they go in there and report my name and the vehicle vin to whatever authority they have to report to.

 

The deal actually turned out to be legit. The guy didn't show up to meet me today so I drove to the address he started to give me. Met his mother. She had to go and wake him up after she explained the title issue. It was available but only if I wanted to go through the process to get a salvage title for it. It will never be driveable so not interested. The car was in her name. It was 10:00 by this time. Due to the missing engine fan, I got the rig for $225. Was thrilled to see that the truck had a pretty descent leather interior and the best thing I could have imagined, a factory e-locker. Engine doesn't leak and has good looking oil in it. Turns through fine and everything but the fan was intact. Got to say it was quite a find.

 

Way to go!