opinons needed on buying this truck

[stealthycat]

I had a stock 1992 Toyota ext cab 4x4 with the 3.0 V6 … loved it, blew the engine at 300,000 and sold to my cousin and now, 8 years and 2 kids later  I’m wanting another Toyota. I hunt and fish a lot, and I don’t plan on having one as a daily driver, probably a 3000-4000 miles a year truck at the most, with a trip out west once a year guaranteed. I need a practical truck, a dependable truck, but everyone wants a good looking truck too you know? I’m NOT that mechanical either, thus me sending an email to someone who maybe is!

I found this 1993 Toyota, ext cab SR5 …. Here are the details on it followed by comments from a guy that went and looked at it for me (I’ve not seen this truck myself). I don’t know much about the lift and suspensions – do you have any comments on how this truck is built up knowing just the info I have here? Would it be a problem truck for me or?? Any opinion would be greatly appreciated !




1993 Toyota SR5 King cab 3.0L V6 locking rear differential w/208,xxx miles.
Steel front bumper w/brush guard and INSTALLED Warn 8500 winch (you could pull a Hummer out of the mud)
6" Fabtech suspension lift
2" body lift
Bud Built skid plate and cross member plate
K&N air filter
Can-back long bed canvas cover w/roof rack and lite bar w/4 Delta lites
extra set of 32 x 10.5 x 15 tires w/black steel off-road rims (31x10.50's with factory rims in pictures)
All-Pro off road rear bumper
Camo-Clad wrap

+++ REPORT +++

VERY clean, almost too clean but Gary explained he has all vehicles detailed ea. week
Tires: Pro Comp Mud Terrain 32X11.50R15LT + wheels New all around, spare different
Odometer: 210,283
Interior clean, carpet good front + back; acc./brake/clutch pedals look good for 210K
Lights, horn turn signals all OK
Engine:
All VERY clean
New battery (contacts CLEAN) / all fluid levels good + clean / K + N Air Filter
Fan belt tight; S-belt appears to be New + tight
** Fan cover Missing / broken off?
Started right up, guess Starter + Altnr. good
AC / Heater operational
Exterior:
Mossy Oak cladding all around.
Front + rear brush guards
Winch + Roof light bar in place + operational.
**Front Toyota grill behind brushguard is anchored with a few Zip-ties??
Canvas cover/top clean and no signs of tearing or "rot"
Gas cover lock is broken / gone
Underneath:
Front skid-plate shows some "wear" but no bolts or pieces bent/torn-away
No visible leaks and seals appear good (pavement beneath vehicle's area stained but old?
Seals on shocks + lift work look OK
NOTE:
Passenger door creaks loudly and rear leaf springs "complain" when truck is turning?
Body welds + anchors all appear original but the passenger door hinges do show some rust

I did NOT test drive the truck .. as I was wrapping up my inspection and while he offered me the drive, I had to go.

Overall the truck appears sound. On a Bad/Fair/Good/Excellent scale I would grade it at High Good.




THANKS






http://i31.tinypic.com/3178ef7.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/jfhpnm.jpg

[Jordan7118]

8" of lift is quite a bit, especially for 32s.

208K is a lot of miles for a 3.0, but sometimes they're good for 300K (like your previous truck)

Some large question marks on the engine and lift, but if you like the looks and the price, go for it. I'm just a little squeamish about the engine, especially if you plan to drive it daily.

Good luck!

[stealthycat]

Not a daily driver - I bet I wouldn't put 3,000-4,000 miles a year on it.

Iv'e read the Fabtech suspension lifts aren't very good either ... I'm not a mechanic by any means ...

[YotaJosh]

I'm not seeing a price for it. If it's reasonable, then it looks like a good truck. I'm no fan of the 3.0, so I'd research 3.4 swaps for it. :D

IMHO, for what you describe you want in a truck, I'd look for a early Tacoma. Better motors, possibly less miles, and they are getting slightly cheaper for the 96-99 models.

[stealthycat]

YotaJosh - thanks for the comments ....... its a $5000 truck price but it'll cost me $850 to ship it. I don't really care for the lift but everything else about it (minus the high miles) is what I'm looking for.

If I understand the Fabtech lifts right, it aint like you can go back to stock without a torch am I right there ?

[YotaJosh]

Most modern drop bracket lifts require you to remove some factory crossmembers, so going back to stock is difficult. I'd imagine this Fabtech is the same way.

[79coyotefrg]

my opinion?? $5000 + $850 shipping is a bit high for a truck with that many miles unless the motor has been rebuilt and i didnt see that it has, i'm with Josh, i would look for a 96-99 tacoma, 32 inch tires can be cleared with a 2 inch body lift easy, that lift on that truck would fit 35's but i wouldnt expect the ifs to last a long time with 35's on it, nor would it be all that great fro driving all the way out west once a year

i'm guessing he had much larger tires on it at some time in the past and put these tires on to sell the truck

[domino]

IMHO, for what you describe you want in a truck, I'd look for a early Tacoma. Better motors, possibly less miles, and they are getting slightly cheaper for the 96-99 models.

x2 on the Tacoma. I got my 96 single cab w/ 3.4L and 130k miles for less that that one.. Granted mine was dented up on the driver's side when I bought it, but I wasn't too concerned since it was in great mechanical shape.

[stealthycat]

After lots of thought ya'll give me the final push to say no on this - and the wife didn't approve either :(

She wants me to get a Toyota, just not one I've not seen nor driven nor one with 210,000 miles

The search continues for a truck

[79coyotefrg]

After lots of thought ya'll give me the final push to say no on this - and the wife didn't approve either :(

She wants me to get a Toyota, just not one I've not seen nor driven nor one with 210,000 miles

The search continues for a truck

glad you found a smart woman :)

now tell us about yourself, where ya at?? what ya do? what kinda wheeling you like to do??

me??
disabled, Arkadelphia, not much since the wreck, mild offroading till these guys trick me into going up humdinger http://i220.photobucket.com/albums/dd137/79coyotefrg/smilies/yikes.gif

[Jordan7118]

now tell us about yourself, where ya at?? what ya do? what kinda wheeling you like to do??

If he told you, he'd no longer be a stealthy cat :p

Good call on moving on. More trucks out there for ya that you won't have to ship, will have a better motor, and won't be jacked up. Good LOOKING truck, but questionable mechanical future. Good call, and good luck with the search!

[stealthycat]

Brad Lantz, 40 years old, grew up in N Arkansas, moved back to Arkansas and to central Arkansas in 2000 live near Cabot. Married, 10 year old daughter, 8 year old son. I hunt a lot, fish some and have a river and bass boat.

I had a 1992 Toyota ext cab 4x4 SR5, 3.0 V6, loved that truck, blew the motor at 300,000 miles, and I'm not much the mechanic so after buying an engine and it getting damaged in shipping and me going through all kinds of hell to get my money back I just sold the truck.

Now I'm wanting a Toyota truck again, I've got a little money saved to buy one. I don't need a rock crawler, I aint looking for ultra pretty - I want dependable, 4x4, ext cab preferred, a few dings and scratches I don't mind, I want a winch on the front, eventually I'd like to camo it ...... I'll find one and the right one at some point !

[79coyotefrg]

Brad Lantz, 40 years old, grew up in N Arkansas, moved back to Arkansas and to central Arkansas in 2000 live near Cabot. Married, 10 year old daughter, 8 year old son. I hunt a lot, fish some and have a river and bass boat.

I had a 1992 Toyota ext cab 4x4 SR5, 3.0 V6, loved that truck, blew the motor at 300,000 miles, and I'm not much the mechanic so after buying an engine and it getting damaged in shipping and me going through all kinds of hell to get my money back I just sold the truck.

Now I'm wanting a Toyota truck again, I've got a little money saved to buy one. I don't need a rock crawler, I aint looking for ultra pretty - I want dependable, 4x4, ext cab preferred, a few dings and scratches I don't mind, I want a winch on the front, eventually I'd like to camo it ...... I'll find one and the right one at some point !

nuttin wrong with not "needing" a rock crawler, i like a good fire road or the trail to a favorite fishing hole just as good

its all about coming together with other toyota owners :kewl:

thats what we're here for :p

[ArkieTaco]

Is there anything in particular you want to haul with this truck?

I know of a 1983 Toyota 22re swap, 2 generation SR5 dash and its already camo!!!

[domino]

Is there anything in particular you want to haul with this truck?

I know of a 1983 Toyota 22re swap, 2 generation SR5 dash and its already camo!!!

PM sent

[Dropmytaco]

i would just buy my truck :D

its not a "rock crawler", its my daily driver! :headbang: