Why I only paid $400 for a low-miles Tacoma, and do I still have a problem?

I would buy every Tacoma I found for 400...

 

Cheapest Tacoma I've seen since I got mine was a '96 V6, with high miles and a rotted frame, for $600.
I actually thought about buying it for the AC system. Then maybe I could recoup my money selling the rest for parts.
But long-term storage of a vehicle carcass would be a problem.

It also turned out that some of the AC parts I needed HAD to be for a 4-cylinder engine, AFTER I found that same V6 truck in a local Maryland salvage-yard and bought the AC compressor.
That's when I learned the V6 compressor wouldn't work on my 4-cylinder because the compressor clutch was different and the pulleys didn't line up!

I was able to find the 4-cylinder compressor bracket in a '99 Tacoma, at a Lorton Virginia yard, along with a good evaporator-unit and the engine AC drive-pulley. But that truck was hit in the front. So the condenser & AC lines were trashed, and they'd already sold the compressor.

Fortunately, buying that used V6 compressor wasn't a total loss. After I got tired of looking for more 4-cylinder Tacomas in the yards, I ordered a new compressor kit, with the correct clutch & pulley, from Rock Auto. The kit included a new filter-drier, O-ring kit, and expansion valve. But the new compressor didn't come with the hose manifold. I was able to use the one off the V6 compressor.

Of course after all that, TWO 4-cylinder Tacomas, with complete AC systems, turned up in the Virginia Beach Pick-N-Pull. At least I was able get a perfect condenser assembly, with the lines and the AC dash-switch, to finish my AC project!

Happy Motoring, Mark

 

buying old tacomas that are too beat up cheap is like printing money.

those regular cab tacomas with AC will freeze you out of the cab... you start off high fan speed, ac and recirc on, then start turning the fan speed down, then start nudging the temp lever to the right a little...

 

A friend asked me to look at a '99 Tacoma for sale in his neighborhood today. Std cab, 2.4, similar to mine except automatic. AC compressor seized, rear bumper rusted out, and 243,000 miles!
Seller asking $2200. I think my friend is going to pass on this one.

If I'd been able to find most of my AC parts in the Pick-N-Pull, I could've saved about $240.
OTOH, the compressor & clutch, HP hose, and expansion valve I bought new, are items that would be most likely to fail soon if they were 20-years old.

This week's big project is a new clutch-kit. Fortunately, for under $100, as I'm supplying the labor. And now I get to install my new shifter saddle kit, as I discovered the original was completely disintegrated!

Happy Motoring, Mark