Need some advice on a potential purchase

I’m considering getting a Tacoma for a daily and giving my old fj62 a much needed rest. I’m looking at a Tacoma and need some advice on the frame. I’m not too familiar with Tacoma’s so my question is, do 1st gens have a diamond shape in the frame? Or is this patchwork? Seller says the frame has never had work but it doesn’t look stock.

 

That frame looks fine, at least that section, it has very little surface rust. My sons 2001 DC 4x4 has the same diamond painted on it. What does the rest of the frame look like? Check the back close to the leaf spring attach points, and around the spare tire carrier.

 

Chandler, what area do you live and where does this truck live? Different regions are prone to more rust so that could make a difference.

 

Don't just look, need to give it good solid raps with a hammer. Frames rust from the inside out on these!!

 

I’m in Mississippi and the truck is in Eastern Nc.

 

Rest of the frame looks the same honestly. Pretty good.

 

I think I saw something similar on mine when I was applying the rust treatment... one of the pics :



looks like cellulitis lol.. but once you remove that layer is just clean frame, mine I realized was sprayed later on while I was working on it, got more pics but like they said , hammer it since rust grows from inside out on these frames

 

Thanks for the quick responses and advice. There is a sale pending on the truck at the moment. When you find one of these with low mileage at a decent price you need to jump in them FAST. Goodness. I’ll find out if the deal falls through but I’m pretty sure my search continues

 

That looks like it. I wonder what the diamonds represent. If anything

 

aren't those stickers? or are they actual chunks of metal?

 

Lighter colored paint on the one I looked at today.

 

I think the diamond \romboid shape was on it, the other are just painter tape since I was covering all the wholes to paint the frame internally first