Hello from Indy... Barn Find 2000 Tundra Limited TRD Off Road

Greetings everyone and hope you're all having a Merry Christmas. I found this Tundra over the summer (July I think) and signed up on the forum but have never gotten around to introducing myself as work and business have kept me pretty busy. My apologies.

I had been looking for a good used truck and a Gen 1 Tundra was top of my list but the prices were always a bit too high. One day I received a call from a friend of mine saying an old farmer he had known since childhood had a 2000 Tacoma for sale and it was in great shape and the price was $3,500. I did not really want a 2000 Tacoma but decided to drive the 20 miles and take a look. When I pulled up to my surprise there was a 2000 Tundra Limited TRD Offroad sitting just outside the barn. I greeted the farmer (Dan Senior) and he told me due to medical issues he could hardly get up into the truck anymore and he was looking to sell it to someone who could take a little better care of it than he could. He had bought it off a local preacher 4 or 5 years previous and only used it in the spring, Summer and Fall to haul hay for the cows and do chores around the farm. In the fall he would park it in the barn (which was out in the pasture) and there it would sit until mid Spring. The truck was covered in bird crap, hay, cobwebs, spider eggs and tell tail signs of mice. But the truck sure looked decent. It sat just right and had the look of at one time being someone's pride and joy. What I could not get over was the lack of rust on this truck. We are in the Midwest/rustbelt and one just does not find a rust free 18-year-old truck... But this one was. I was crawling around on the ground looking everywhere and I could see only minor surface rust. Half the frame still had original frame paint on it... as did the underside of the bed and inside of the quarters and bottom door seals and the tailgate. This thing was practically free of rust and only a little surface rust here and there. It had an aftermarket exhaust and one of the expensive (but faded) roll up tonue covers, 17" wheels and what looks to be a leveling kit on it. Back in the day, this was one nice truck!

I cranked it up and the exhaust roared to life sounding great and off I went for a test drive. The motor with 200k miles ran strong. The 4 wheel drive worked as it should and breaks were a year old and felt a bit undersized as the stock breaks do on these trucks. Everything was good. So I asked if I could take the truck to a Toyota dealer for a pre-purchase inspection and I did. I ordered a CarFax report and found out the truck spent the first several years in Georga and then it went to Texas for many more years finally ending up in Indiana in 2013-14. No wonder it has so little rust.

Long story short I bought the truck for $3,500 and immediately changed out all the different fluids and filters so I knew at least the basic maintenance was fresh. I have put a couple thousand miles on the truck so far with no issue other than the stock radiator is leaking a little bit. So I will replace it with a Champion radiator (I think, any suggestions?) and have the water pump, belt and thermostat changed. I also plan to have the clear coat/paint fixed on the hood and roof and buy new seat covers. I think those are the next items on my "to do" list.

My main concern is keeping the truck from rusting out. So if anyone has good advice on how I can best protect the truck please let me know. Por 50? Ziebart? etc etc.

Here are a few pics for everyone. Good to meet you and let's all have a great 2019...

 

Welcome to the party!!

 

Welcome to the forum. It sounds like you found a nice truck. If you're not aware, these trucks require a new timing belt every 90k. Most people do the water pump at that time if it hasn't been done.

For the radiator, I believe it's recommended to stick with OEM which is Denso. They are not very expensive.

Keep us posted on any work you do to it.

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Welcome from Ct

 

Welcome from Ohio!

 

Welcome from NC.

 

Welcome from Texas!

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome from Texas

 

Welcome from NC!

 

Welcome from nj , good buy!

 

Welcome from SE PA!

 

Hiya and welcome from SoCalif!!!

 

Welcome from Colorado

Great story!

 

Welcome from Maine.

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Lucky you! Congrats.

Fluid Film anything underneath you don't want to rust. Don't forget to get inside the rear bumper, drop the spare tire out of the way...

 

Greetings. Let me know what you do about the paint. It sounds like the same problem I have with mine that I just purchased in Clermont Indiana. I'm wondering if the hood and roof paint can be fixed on mine. If you don't mind let me know where are you get it fixed.

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

Sweet find and great price.

 

Welcome from Arizona.

 

Everyone, Thanks for the warm welcome!

T-Rex226 & Nudrat - Ill research this "Fluid Film spray" to see what it is. I have not heard of it before. The undercarriage looks very good. some surface rust on the frame but most of the frame still has the factory paint on it (pic below). The underside of the bed and inside of the fenders/quarters show no sign of rust and the original paint is still there. The cab corners and around the windows show no signs of rust or corrosion. The only real rust I see is a couple small round "pea" sized spots on the hood that look like a rock chip that broke the paint and started to rust. I will send more pictures when I have the truck out in the sunlight. I'm keeping it off the roads this winter and in the garage where I plan on doing a few things.

Jeff Springer, On the roof and hood there is larger areas where the paints clear coat has been worn away. I have seen many vehicles from Flordia/Texas that look this way after years in the sun. I have seen a few videos where people repair this. I can keep you posted of any estimates I get. PM me if you want and give me your number. We can meet up sometime and talk shop.

NewImprovedR - Thus far I don't see any areas where the mice started gnawing on anything. I know the speakers don't work and plan on having a decent radio unit installed in the future. But I am keeping a look out for any damage the critters might have caused.

My current plan is to try to fix up the interior this winter. The carpet has been badly bleached in areas. I'm thinking the farmer might have gotten ammonium or fertilizer on his boots and rubbed it into the carpet. Who knows... I don't want to just cover it up with full floor mats. So I have removed the seats and center counsel and will be giving the carpet a thorough cleaning just to make sure there are no chemicals left in the fibers that might discolor carpet dye. Then I'll dye the carpet back close to the original color. I post some pics of the current condition and after I dye the carpet. It's not hard and maybe others can see the results and do likewise if they wish. I know of a company that sells new leather for Truck seats (F-150's, Silverados, Titans, Tacomas, Tundras etc) so I plan on buying a set and have a local shop install them. I know I can buy cheap seat covers or buy some Carhart, Dickies or Mossy Oak covers but I think with the carpet dyed and new seat covers the interior will look excellent. Not quite new but very presentable.

Thats all for today. If anyone has knowledge or advice on the Fluid Film spray for rust protection let me know. Hope everyone is enjoying 2019.

 

Howdy from NM!

 

Score! Welcome from Washington. Yep, check the wiring.