Looking for a frame

Hi all, new member here. Just purchased a 1995 Tacoma SX, standard cab, 60" bed, 4x4, 4cyl, automatic. Great little truck, only 93K miles. Interior needs a refresh but the body, engine and drivetrain are in fantastic shape.
I/we purchased the truck for my son, now 12 but will be driving before i know it. Project for us to work on over the next few years.
Surprise, the truck is out of Pennsylvania and never had the frame recall done, terrible frame under it.
Not sure i have enough metal left to patch with repair kits and really want to run to ground a frame replacement option. OEM is a discontinued story. Have not had any luck with aftermarket replacement frame builders (budbuilt and throttledownkustoms). Currently on Copart looking for salvage trucks to pull from, both frame and manual trans. I would also like to pull the auto trans and set a manual in the truck.
I live in Maryland.

Question: Ideas on salvage frames or aftermarket frames, where to find them? When looking on Copart, what year frames are compatible with 1995 trucks? If i buy a frame with an auto trans set up can i easily convert to manual?

Thank you.

 

I can't answer the compatibility questions, but I doubt there is any difference in frames between a manual and auto, maybe other than cross bars for transmissions mounts. They don't change much during a generation other than cosmetic stuff, so anything from that generation would likely work. It looks like they changed to longer leaf springs in 1997, but you could use the ones from the donor (you probably would want to anyway).

Finding a donor vehicle of the same configuration but with a manual transmission that's lived its life in the southwest would likely be your best bet, have it shipped up. Anything close to you likely has a similar frame unless it was replaced.

 

@BartMaster1234

 

1995-2000 trucks never had their frames replaced. They were bought back by Toyota at 5% more than KBB value, then crushed and scrapped.

Your only recourse if you want a new frame is to buy one on the west coast, well used, and ship it to your location. You can also buy a 2001-2004 frame and modify all the mounts. Leaf spring perches, transmission and engine mounts, etc. will all be different.

Depending on how bad your frame is (pictures will help) you can use products like Saf-t-Cap to rectify the rust issues.

For frame, you must match engine, transmission, and cab type to get the best fit.

 

How much is in the budget ?? I hope this was a very low cost purchase.

How much fabrication work can you do?? A few years ago the last job I bid was$3500.00 plus assorted new parts .

The shipping out of the Southwest USA is going to be very expensive.

Please take some pictures !

See just what your dealing with.

Have you checked with any local Fab shops to build or splice a new frame

It might be real close cost wise to a used frame from the South west USA

Best of Luck!

 

You sure about this? I know the 95-97 use different (shorter) leaf springs, but I thought they were still spring-over.

@AllTerrain919 if you do end up with a later-model frame, I think you can just switch to the newer leaf spring size. That might even make your life easier, as the later-model spring is more commonly available. @Tour991 or @Speedytech7 will probably know more.

Standard cabs were less common than extended cabs. Are you up for shortening an extended cab frame to fit your needs?

Frames pop up every now and then here in Colorado:

 

So any 4x4 or prerunner regular cab frame from 95.5 to 2004 will work.
Ideally you want a frame from 95 to 97 with the same engine and transmission. If they are different you will have to move the motor mounts and or the transmission crosmember.

If you get a 98 to 2000 the leaf springs are longer (no big deal use longer leafs) and the frame horns are 2 inches longer. You can fix that with a grinder. transmission mounts may need to be moved. Motor mounts will be the same because there is no v6 past 1997.

2001 to 2004 same thing as 98 to 2000 except the frame horns are shorter like the 95.5 to 97

 

You’re right I’m mixed with the SUA 5-lugs.

 

Doofus

 

I have a 02 v6 4x4 5 speed extra cab. with a good frame. Once I can get enough post to sell things on here I will part the truck. If you can use the frame I would gladly sell it you for a decent price to keep yours on the road.

 

It would be so nice to know where you are??

 

This is a lot of work just to give to a new driver... five years from now. I see no way this will be worth it.

Source:
My bro just spent the past month patching the frame on our New Jersey 1st gen and it's still not exactly complete. We pulled the bed but there's still a ton of questionable areas under the cab that we couldn't get into.

 

Any way to lift the cab?? If your going to rebuild the frame as best you can!.

Worth is in the eye of the beholder. I would rather dump $10,000 into my 2000 then have another Truck Payment.

 

What I mean is there's a good chance the 17 year old will put it through a retaining wall like I did when I was 17.

Would be a shame after dumping 10k into an old truck and still having another payment when the kid needs a replacement.

 

Now I understand I thought you were saying fixing the truck was not worth doing.

 

07827

 

I have read of a source called sschassisworxs dot com. Just give them your dimensions & they'll make a basic frame (you might have to fab your own mounts/ladder racks). Another thing is they don't like to ship & prefer pick-up, plan a road trip.

 

Deep South is also an option, since he is on the East coast. I salvaged several pieces of sheet metal in central Florida that were rust free, bolts came free easily. Frame was pristine, but I didn't need it.

 

That works too! Just hear of people snatching them up here more often. Florida could work too