What to do about a rusty (ruined) frame.

A good buddy of mine has a 1996 2.7 4x4 with a rusted frame. One of the rear shackles has literally rusted off the frame and is just resting there against a spot where half of the frame is rusted away. It won't pass inspection like this and is basically not drivable.

The rest of the truck is pretty cherry. 167k miles, no body rust (rear bumper is rusty, but nothing else), 4x4, TRD, cruise, new (80%+) AT3 31s. I compression tested the motor today and all cylinders showed 150-170 PSI.

What's the best thing to do with it? Part it out? Sell it to someone willing to do a frame swap?

What do you think it's worth?

 

Sub'd for result

Be prepared for the part out whores

 

If I could buy it and part it all out in a week or two, I would maybe do that. I can't store it longer than that.

I have dibs on the motor.

I (and my buddy) would rather find a solution where the truck goes to one person in one fell swoop, or better yet gets resurrected and made drivable again.

How hard is a frame swap? Where is the best place to find a frame? I have access to a lift....

 

There may be a recall on your truck.

 

@Gear Head
@DCSBFTMFW
Either of you know where to locate frames for a first gen? I have not a clue.

 

Nope. 1996 is too old for the recall.

 

Easy enough to just patch it if the rear section with the shackle is the only affected area but that's just me.. Be a hell of a lot easier than a part out.

 

Depending on the rust, you could do a "poor man's" frame swap. Find a truck with a frontend smashed, cut off the back portion of the frame and weld it on to the truck you have.

 

Do what I did, fix the frame. Full swap can be tough.

There are plenty of places that you can source nice condition frames from if you are willing to do the work.

 

You'd be better if swapping the entire frame

 

Call Toyota corporate and ask for "goodwill" towards the purchase of a new frame. They will probably have you purchase the frame at a specific dealer where Toyota picks up part of the cost. Getting it home and assembled would be up to you unless you could negotiate the labor too.

It's worth a shot.

 

This is true. But then it would be the "poor man's" option. It would be the $5k plan.

 

if you can section a frame in half you can swap the complete frame..and its gonna be just as cheap..

 

So what's the truck worth with a bad frame? Nothing? Only part-out? Is there a market of people who want a good truck and are willing to swap the frame, or can it only be sold to salvage yards if he doesn't want to part it out himself?

 

I doubt it is worth much and I doubt there are many people willing to do the swap themselves. If the frame is bad other things are going to be rusted out and need to be replaced.

A salvage yard is probably best bet. I would post it on Craigslist first as a parts car.