Alright. Im gonna price out some options today and let everyone know what i decide to do... if i fix her up I'll post pics throughout the whole process. more suggestions are always appreciated!

 

Does anyone in CO have a cheap DD (preferably older toyo truck but im not picky) they would be willing to sell so I can make this into a soft top crawler?

 

THATS THE SPIRIT

 

Just a thought but could you get an older cheap 2wd and swap bodies? That seems easier to me than chopping the top off and putting a new one on. Check copart.com or other salvage places and maybe you could get one with a good body but severe power train problems. Just a thought.

 

I paid $7,150 out the door for my 3rd gen w/ 87k miles nearly 5 years ago. Of course, that was because of a rebuilt title. Today with the added mileage it would sell for much less. There are deals to be had out there, but I'm sure you need a vehicle to drive right now.

 

I got mine in July. Salvage title with 178,xxx for $3,500 (with the e-locker!). Minor front end collisions total the early third gens now so if you look long enough there are good deals. Plus then you have a whole cars worth of spare parts. I'm sure you could find a 2wd with a good body (if nothing else) for under $2,500.

 

Just for kicks this one is in denver. I'm sure you could get it cheap. The body still looks ok.

http://www.copart.com/c2/homeSearch....SEARCH_RESULTS

 

There have been several folks on here recently asking about 3rd gens with around 190k that were in good shape and selling for around your price point. Just a thought...

 

My nephew totaled my old one about two weeks ago and the insr co is giving him $6900 for it. They are going to cut a separate check($?) for the motor he put in for throwing a rod about a month ago. He is making out pretty good considering I gave it to him almost two years ago for $1k. All he has done since is add gas.
98 4x2 180k+ miles

 

that actually doesn't look too bad... I'll have to check it out... I am still trying to sort everything out.. But finals are coming up so im super busy and not having a car makes it hard to check out other cars for sale haha. Think i may just get a windshield on mine and replace all the glass i can then drive it around as is until after finals at least... I dunno...

 

I hear that. Two more weeks till I'm done with my bachelors. Can't wait to have a real job so I can spend more money on my 4runner. Ha ha.

 

Alright... so I've done some more thinking... and the thought now is to get a DD and make it into a soft top... does anyone know if someone has done this before in a 3rd gen? if so can you post up the links? I'd love to see how the end result looks before I chop the whole roof off my 4runner...
Here is a pic I found on here of a 3rd gen with the roof cut off

 

www.ih8mud.com search username JLHEEPETR