How to scrap a Tacoma with a rusted frame

I would fight before I'd touch that frame. Toyota may come through, but if you do anything to that frame, you may be SOL.

 

https://www.autorust.com/product-category/toyota/

Not sure if already posted but they make frame kits that can be welded to repair different sections of the frame.

 

Buy a frame and swap it yourself

 

Oh I know. I’m just talking dit

 

1st I would check with Toyota to see if there is any kind of warranty if you do in fact have the frame rust proofed through Toyota as part of the recall or whatever it was. If and only if you cant get Toyota to do anything then I would patch it. I'm a certified welder in Sheet metal Union and do my own thing on the side. I could buy enough steel thicker than OEM if preferred to strengthen, cut out the area pictured on both passenger and driver side and make look factory for around $400-500. Id be surprised if any fab shop charged more than $1k and that ripping you a wide one

 

So only up to 2008, then they started making frames that don't rust?

 

As someone who's lived in the rust belt there entire life and an ex-fabricator and welder, older Tacoma frames love moisture. Toyota used too many brackets, braces, stiffeners or what ever you what to call them too strengthen their frames. Like they make them for two different markets and to meet US crash standards they added stiffener plates to strengthen the frame and water just loves to sit in between metal to rust. I even question the material properties, but I don't have the funds to have the frame material analyzed. In some places I've seen rust on the frame, it has acted as the frame material is laminated as it appears to fall off in larger flakes leading me to believe the frame material is in question. In other places the rust looks like what I'd expect.
Then Toyota has the air conditioner water drain exit right above the right frame rail. Again, poor engineering design, like an after thought.

 

Depending on the cost of a frame. I’d buy a frame rent a lift at a do it your self shop, get some guys and knock it out.

 

its not a small job. but its also not horribly hard. get something to support the engine up in the body and it goes pretty quick. our turn around time in the shop is 2 days if all the parts are in

 

Mine the dealership told me they were getting 13 and some change for the frame replacement plus rental fees and other misc expenses. Probably about in the 15g range once everything was said and done.

 

Under warranty mechanics get paid internal rates. So Toyota pays the dealer 15k. Let’s say internal rate is $100 /hr. No way it’s takes 150hrs to swap a frame.

 

From what I understand its a standard fee. Toyota dealers try to capitalize on it by finishing it as quickly as possible and charging customers for as much bullshit as they can (like broken bolts, leaf springs, worn hoses etc).

 

IIRC they were paying 40 hours on the 1st gens when that came out, and it got cut down to 24-28ish after a bit when it was discovered that it could be done much faster with practice. A mechanic friend of mine worked at a Toyota dealer back then, and confirmed stories I'd heard of tag-teaming them with 2 techs and knocking them out in a 12 or so hour day, and getting 20 hours each.

If the frame itself and parts kit are really as cheap as was quoted, I'm curious where the rest of the $15-20k figure comes from, even if you figured $5k in labor, which would be high on both hours and rate (for warranty pay). Even of they started nickle and diming little crap, $5k even is a hell of a lot of dimes.

 

“You are included if you bought, owned, or leased 2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma, 2007-2008 Tundra, or 2005-2008 Sequoia vehicles (see FAQ 3 for a list of eligible vehicles).”

I know your probably joking about non-rusting frames but I thought it would be good to get the facts out there considering all the bs floating around.

 

I was partially joking, but I really was wondering. I have a 2014 that I'd like to keep for a long time.
Thank you for the great data!

 

I’ve sectioned and welded frames in much worse shape. Find a competent welder.

 

I sold my 2004 with substantial frame damage with full disclosure and pictures of the rot on Craigslist in about 10 minutes after listing. Truck was beauty but substantial frame rot. I did not qualify for the TSB campaign due to my own stupidity. Anyway, I sold my 2004 with over 200k miles on it for like $2800. I had people literally telling me they would give me $1000 over my price, I took the add down in 10 minutes and had at least 10 people call me. Guy was at my house after work with a flatbed and looked it over and said, "Yep, I've welded up a dozen just like this. Days work and it's all set."

 

I mean to be honest I'd just weld a patch on the frame and then a get a piece of metal for reinforcement and bolt it on there,so not only will you have a patch thats welder in there and plus you will have the extra reinforcement ,but second Wich would be a pain in the butt would be to replace the frame and in that case if I were to replace the frame I would sand the whole frame down to bare metal and apply some por15 or some rust proof paint and not have to worry in the future about another rust hole in the frame popping out of nowhere.but yeah I hope that gives you an Idea of what you could do

 

I would patch frame as others have said
If u scrap it you'll take a big loss
Fixing it will cost u a lot less and you'll get a few more years out of it

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