New to Member

New Tundra member here. Been lurking since I stumbled across my 03 AC on the book-face this fall. Found it aimlessly viewing junk for sale that I don't need. I've been trying to justify buying a truck since I sold my last 1st gen Toyota mini to get my 87 4runner. Turns out my wife's limit on just using a utility trailer is about is about 8 years... So as luck would have it she off-hand mentioned that it would sure be nice to have a truck to run around the farm with. My plan has been just to buy like a 2000's Chevy with a 5.3 and 200k miles for a few thousand bucks and just drive it. Well when this Tundra came up in the same price range/mileage and with a better body than any of the Chev's, it was a no-brainer...ish. So I waited a day or so before showing her pics of the truck, because - pro-tip guys, you want it to seem like it was her idea all along. Not that you've been scrounging for a truck all along. She was indifferent except for the miles. Went to look at it with cash after our first cold snap here this fall. Did a once-over and it looked pretty good. Forgot my bore-scope, but did the hammer test on the frame and it sounded solid. Took it for a quick loop. It did truck things, heat worked great 4wd shifted no problem. Wife - still indifferent. Her words "It's a beige 2000's truck". While I was looking the truck over, we found out the seller worked at the local brewery and talked about how nice it would be to have factory reject beer for penny's on the dollar around. We talked about price and I told him my concerns about the timing belt and lack of maintenance. He understood in a way that people who don't know cars understand. We got close on price and I could tell he wasn't going to budge any more so I told him I'd take his last offer if he threw in a case of beer. He gladly obliged. I gave him the cash and he came back out with a huge box full of an assortment of beer - probably $100 worth retail. We both left thinking we got a decent deal. He was mostly glad to have a third vehicle out of his life, I was glad to be gaining a fifth; lol. Drove the truck home and it had a bit of a vibration that I found on the test drive from all the oil from the rear seal mixed with gravel dust - that made the 45 min drive home less fun.

The good:
Buying from second owner who drove it for 200k miles commuting across the state
Body in excellent condition
LSD
Interior was complete; no tears, cracks etc.
Replacement coil packs in the back
Some rust in the frame, but not bad for where I live

The bad:
The state it drove across was in the salt-belt
270k miles
No record of timing belt or trans service
Engine had a random misfire
O2 sensor codes for both banks
Interior was gross; like so gross...
Mis-matched tires
No record of ball joints being done
No real service records to speak of....
Headlights super fogged over
Rear axle seal had been leaking a long time
Power steering lines leaking
Mushy brakes
Loose steering
Missing gas cap cover
Broken tonneau cover

Things I've done to it:
Timing belt/water pump
1/4 ass coolant flush
Replaced power steering lines
Swapped coils around till I had all 8 firing
Drain/fill trans - decided later against doing the filter for now
Drain/fill differentials and transfer case
Replace axle seal
Rear diff vent moved to tail light
Vacuum
1/4 ass exterior wash
Scrape 1/2" of oil and lime stone from the rear rim
Took each wheel off in the shop since I had to beat the piss out of the first one to get it off
Anti-seized all the things

Things I should probably do next:
New PCV
See if O2 or Cats are bad
New brakes all around
Replace AC Delco spark plugs and Amazon Coil Packs
Replace steering rack bushings
Ball Joints/Tie Rods
Wash frame and KBS rust coat that sucker followed by fluid film
Replace headlights




Pulling her in the garage for a first once-over


I'm going to guess that's an original...




My families face when you buy a high-mile vehicle, then tear it all apart over thanksgiving was priceless.


That water pump wasn't going to last much longer either.

 

Welcome aboard. Good lookin truck. Here's one to ya

 

Welcome from So Cal

 

Welcome from Nevada

 

Good intro and great advice on the wife tip. Please post some of your other vehicles when you can, we like other Toyota too.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Meh other babies... Tucked away at our new place.

 

Welcome you with first post and love the 87 4 Runner...just saying...

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from the wet side of WA.