Please help this newbie make some good choices!

I have admired Tacomas for years and I finally bought one that I love. But I am not very savvy when it comes to vehicles. The seller had painted over a very rusted frame and I missed it.

I spent a month talking to body shops and welders and getting quotes. I found a body shop to do a frame replacement. I have a wonderful wife that wants me to be happy, so I'm getting it repainted too. I got (it seems) a fair price for all this work. It is what it is

MY QUESTION! What would y'all recommend replacing/upgrading? The truck is going to be totally disassembled. I'm replacing the shocks and struts, bumpers, getting the valve cover gaskets changed, and the brake calipers too. I was thinking about doing the tie rods and ball joints, but I don't know what is worth it and what is just wasteful. They have to take it apart anyway, so it's basically free labor, because as they re-assemble they can just use the new parts. It's a 2004 4WD double cab. I don't have endless money, I'm not looking to make this a high-performance vehicle. I am aiming for a nice daily driver that I can use to tow my small farm tractor.

I made a serious mistake buying this truck. Please help me turn it into a win!

 

Bilstein 5100 if its your daily. New ball joints are far from a waste on 1st gens especially when you already have it all torn apart. Tie rods might not be a bad idea either. Maybe drilled and slotted front rotors.

 

Nice! Thank you that's a good suggestion, it doesn't seem like such a big spend if I'm already going to do the calipers.

 

Get 2 each new TYC headlight and side marker assemblies off of rockauto. It's a great front end refresh. It's like a hundred bucks total for all 4 shipped comes with bulbs plug n play.

 

I think you made a awesome decision. If you are going to restore it. Do it while it is being disassembled. Just remember to take your time and don't rush it.

 

Add control arm bushings to the list.
Might take a look at the engine and trans bushings too.

 

Post pics, you will get more (better) comments because people will see things.

new fuel filter - may need the bracket too.
how is the gas tank?
how is the underside of the bed?
If the frame is replaced, get a 2" hitch to mount to so you can tow

I would hold off the paint job until you get everything sorted out so there are no scratches etc

 

Lower ball joints for sure and replace all the body mount bushings.

 

Thank you! I need tail light assemblies too and this seems like a good place to get them

 

I had control arm bushings on the list, but I didn't think about engine mounts and bushings, thank you

 

How much are they doing the frame swap for?

 

Welcome.

What's your location? Rust belt?

You may want to post up some pictures of everything to get better commentary as spacetiger mentioned. It's quite possible that you can best learn from this situation by NOT starting this grand investment into this particular truck. Some just aren't worth it and the time/money spent may rain on your desire to own a decent lil' yota to pull that tractor around in.

Sometimes taking the loss (maybe sell as is as parts truck) is the best thing to do. Learn, start over with a fresh (non rusted truck) from an honest seller. Again, share some pics so we can see what you're dealing with. It sucks that this happened and I despise the dishonest folks out there deceiving the working person but it does happen. The costs for rebuilding (with proper parts) far outweighs the cost of finding a decent deal out there.

 

$4k for the frame and complete swap

 

I am in Tennessee. The truck has been here its whole life, but it was in the Appalachians, so snow and salt. I'm not in an area where it will see much salt. I will get some pictures, it's a a body shop right now. I really like the truck, interior is okay, 165,000 miles, 4WD. I think I couldn't get a frame swap done for less, so I'm sticking with it. I think scrapping the truck for parts feels wrong, it's in pretty good shape. I am considering the loss I'm taking to be the $4,000 on the frame swap. But yes, I have learned from this experience and I'm sure there is still more to learn from it.

 

$4K for a frame swap is a good price.
That's a lot of work.

 

I'm in Tennessee too. (East)
What is the name of the shop?

If you don't want to say it publicly. DM me.
Or if you'd rather not say at all. That's fine.

But they seem to be reasonable. Never know when someone (even me) might need a good shop to take things to.

 

Cheaper than I thought..That price makes me wanna see how much it would cost and save some time, considering I have a frame and collection of parts ready to go haha

 

I live in Massachusetts and we coat our roads with so much salt. I just my 2001 Tacoma back after a year. I got the frame completely rebuilt. It cost me 5800 dollars to get it done. In that cost was new brakes, brake lines, and other necessary repairs. I also had to get a new rear axle for the Tacoma too.
That was 1350 dollars. It was completely rotted out and leaking.