UPDATED:

Thinking about buying a 95 4cyl 2wd from a co-worker, have some concerns about it, but it is only a few hundred...

So today I went back and checked out the truck a little more, he wasn't around so I couldn't drive it but I did get some pictures and check a few things out.

First concern is the frame, do you think it could survive this? He says insurance did not total and a body shop said the frame checked out:



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The passenger leaf spring:



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The driver leaf spring:



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Looks like it leaked some oil all over:



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And just some pics of the rest:



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OLD POST (YOU CAN SKIP THIS):

Hello,

I have a co-worker who is selling his 1995 Pickup 22re 5 speed 2wd. I know of a few problems going on and am hoping to get some insight into what might need to get done/is it worth it at all.

So here is the problems I know of...

Overheating, he says it needs a water pump, could it be that simple? Engine was rebuilt w/in 30k...

Clutch felt funny, really springy with a click, maybe this is normal, never driven another one... Also rebuilt w/in 30k...

Had a major electrical problem and was rewired (battery had come loose and shorted against hood), should I be concerned about this, when i turned it off the speakers seemed to make some noise but I am unsure if they were, right blinker flashed fast (common fuse problem?)...

Steering felt sloppy, no power steering, he says loose tierods probably more than that? It is lifted slightly (not sure how much) and running bigger tires...

Now the things that are less of a concern but still wondering if they will be a big pain...

Bed is smashed up, right rear corner, he installed a couple lights in place of the missing light on the side, but could it have done more damage to the rest of the truck than i think?

No parking brake, broken cable

Needs some exhaust work (it's kind of loud), something I am not concerned about, easy enough to replace

Some rust (I live in Wisconsin), now where should i really check, it doesn't seem bad to me, looked like some surface rust is about all, but is there anywhere in particular i should look?

I am going back this week to check it out again, possibly bring it to a mechanic for an inspection, probably jack it up to take a closer look at the steering issue. Any other things I should be aware of, things to ask, things to look at? I am very interested in it, I have always wanted a 4cyl toyota pickup so it seems like something I can't turn down, and with it costing only a couple hundred dollars, even harder...

Hope to hear soon and thanks in advance!
Bink

 

Bump for the update

 

i wouldn't buy it lots of work to make it look good again

 

Naturally I wouldn't buy it to look pretty, I just want a beater with heater, but I would like it to be safe

Thanks for the reply though

 

For a few hundred I would buy it ,If it didn't pan out you could do all right parting it out.
It looks like there is a lot of oil on the front of the motor for a rebuild .

 

For "a few hundred", it is what it is...any mechanic will find all kinds of stuff, you may not want to bother yours (because you'll be bothering him later with repairs, lol!!!). It depends how mechanically inclined YOU are, whether you should jump on this or wait for a nicer one.

Probably needs a water pump, yup....I doubt it was rebuilt 30k ago! No way.
While in there, YOU may want to partially rebuild it - timing chain, water pump, oil pump.. Parts are cheap, but labor is not, so it depends if you can do a lot, and if you have a friend or 2 who can also help. You'll have to pay (most likely) for exhaust work. The frame SEEMS (stress SEEMS) ok, as do the leaf springs, unless they are warped and we can't see in the pic.
The front end stuff can be pricey, and that is usually (kind of) not DIY stuff.....
The electrical issues could be a pain to track down and fix, but if the things work and it can start and drive, well ok for now.....
The bed - you'll probably rip it off and do a flatbed anyway.

Off the bat, with zero knowledge of THIS truck, but of the year/make, I'd say expect to throw 500 to 1,000 into this to get it 'nice' (meaning dependable). Ballpark. Your skills or lack of them will affect that figure. If you want to save the bed, big bucks and I'd pass. But here in Maine, we like the flatbeds :o)

Check the frame next to the gas tank, right behind the cab, on both sides. Feel free to knock on it with a hammer! Check the frame cross member behind the gas tank (it attaches to it.....). BIGGEST worry is frame rot.....holes there can add up to welding = $$$$, gets expensive quickly! Pass if it has holes, I'd say - too many other issues with that, too.

Otherwise - if you want a project, for $200 to $400, I'd jump. More than that, I'd pass - you will HAVE to do some major overhaul, I am afraid....some ppl dig that, others are scared by it. Your call, man!

For $1,000 to $1,500, you can probably find a similar year Yota with no oil leak, possibly bent or rotted frame, and no electrical issues. Just costs more....

 

hey it seems to me like it would be a bad idea to buy it

 

for $200 I would drag it home. Knock the D/S overload back into place. Pick up a used leaf for the P/S

someone has rewelded the passenger side front leaf spring mount...that is not a factory weld.

bed it a no brainer...
just wondering about what looks like a 4 wire (trailer harness style) running under the engine

 

He wants 400 for it, I want it for a project, a couple hundred is a lot less of a worry if I break it , gotta start somewhere you know?

The wire didn't seem to go anywhere, I think maybe a wire my co-worker was going to use for the replacement rear lights.

What does that mean for me as far as the leaf spring bracket (forgive my ignorance), just that it broke, or was cracking, it could a lot worse? My co-worker says it has a small lift on it, I don't know whether he knows that or it looks lifted with the bigger tires, could that have something to do with it (bracket relocation)?

I am new to car repair, but want to jump both feet in I am pretty much planning on buying it unless someone here has some glaring reason why not to.

 

So today I test drove it again, took it up to 65+, did some sharp turns at low speed through a lot, did some brake checks, knocked the frame with a hammer a bit, let it idle, everything seems pretty good (as far as I can tell).

It starts to overheat when it idles (any ideas? Like I said he said it needs a water pump).

The steering wheel is left when the car goes straight, can I just center the wheel and adjust the steering box gears?

The engine seemed a bit shaky, maybe motor mounts?

The exhaust is trashed so that will need to get fixed pretty quickly, any suggestions?

How hard is a leaf spring replacement, any good sources for a how to?

 

Robb just meant that the spring hanger looked to be rewelded - most likely rusted and broke or the guy just wanted to fix it. As long as it looks stout and it drives decent, I wouldn't worry about it. Unless you have a buddy that is a fabricator/welder, then have him look at it and reinforce as needed.

It does not look lifted to me.

Hell, if it drives on the highway decently and you don't feel like it's going to fall apart, it is worth $400.

The steering wheel can be recentered fairly easily, and there are threads on here about how to do your own alignment.

Leaf springs are simple, remove the bolts, beat the hell out of it with a big ole' hammer to get the old springs out, bolt the new ones in (with new bushings and hardware).

Not sure on the "shaky" motor - I would say as long as you don't note any visible damage and it doesn't sound like anything is broken (clanking, pinging, clicking...) then just leave it be after doing the usual regular maintenance (oil/filter change, TB cleaning, plugs if needed...).

Exhaust is simple as long as it just the pipe/muffler - exhaust shop could install all new piping with a cheap muffler for around $150 or so, maybe cheaper.

Fink

 

overheating while idling problem=waterpump
when steering wheel to left while driving straight means you suspension is out of alignment

 

When I changed the center link on my truck ,it caused the wheel to be off to the left. I just repositioned the steering wheel. You probably couldn't get lucky enough to have some new front end parts.

 

Not sure what you're saying here, the front end definitely doesn't look new, anywhere lol

 

If you're buying it for a project..Don't..

If you're buying it for transportation, get it, drive it until it dies, then take it to the scrap yard.

400 bucks is about all it's worth. IMO