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Looking at an 04, question about Frame Rot

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BLKRCAT, Jan 7, 2020.

  1. Jan 12, 2020 at 11:01 PM
    #21
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just an update. I checked out the truck today and it looks great in pictures but up close that frame is pretty crusty. We knocked around on the frame with the back of a wrench and you can hear it's a bit soft near where the rear leaf springs are.

    Lots of paint missing and lots of pretty heavy surface rust everywhere on the frame. I had to pass on the truck. I'm a little disappointed because the form factor of these old trucks is exactly what I want.

    I'll keep my eyes peeled for something else. Perhaps a second gen.
     
    cruiserguy likes this.
  2. Jan 13, 2020 at 8:06 AM
    #22
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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    well, that coating toyota puts on the frames is crap. Stay away from frames that received this coating because if it is not too late already, you will have to peel that junk off if you want to save the frame. Not bashing on toyota for their undercoating, as they tried to do something about the rust issues, unlike other manufacturers... but they used the wrong product that did accelerate the demise of the trucks they tried to fix

    This coating hardens up after application, and this is exactly what you want to avoid with undercoating products. When it hardens up, moisture and salt eventually get behind it through cracks and chips, accelerating the rust process tenfold as the salt and moisture gets trapped between the frame and the coating

    The best undercoating is oil-based, like Fluid Film, Krown and similar products. But these are good only if you apply them on a YEARLY basis. Their consistency is both their strenght and flaw. They have water-like consistency and will creep anywere, into the smallest crevice and corner BUT this consistency will also allow them to get washed off on areas exposed to elements. This is why you must apply it yearly
     
  3. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:01 AM
    #23
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    For those looking for any sort of pics, here's what I walked from. I'm not sure if the owner is on the forums or not but I figured I would just include the pictures of the truck underneath to keep anonymity for the seller and not mess up any future sales. He seemed like a nice guy just trying to sell a truck. Didn't get any scummy vibes from him at all.

    Also frame is wet not oiled. Looks like it just came out of the car wash prior to me getting there.

    https://imgur.com/a/Fd9iK6I
     
    cruiserguy, six5crèéd and GQ7227 like this.
  4. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:17 AM
    #24
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    did you stick your finger inside the frame and feel around the bottom?
    check the drain holes
     
  5. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:19 AM
    #25
    six5crèéd

    six5crèéd Shop Time

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    You shouldn't have walked away from that........you should have ran!
     
  6. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:20 AM
    #26
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    may be just on the surface?
     
    six5crèéd[QUOTED] likes this.
  7. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:24 AM
    #27
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I gave the frame a couple knocks with the back of a wrench and you could hear the sound difference around the spring mounts. I'm not sticking any appendage in that!
     
  8. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:36 AM
    #28
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    '97 black SR5 0g ~ MT @ 176k ...
    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    was it just an echo?
     
  9. Jan 14, 2020 at 11:42 AM
    #29
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    the middle of the frame in a painted area was solid. Pingy and metallic. Around the leaf mounts it had a very dull muffled hollow sound. Definitely some separation in the metal happening. You can see it on the outside of the frame, I can assume that it's happening inside too.
     
    six5crèéd and GQ7227 like this.
  10. Jan 14, 2020 at 4:01 PM
    #30
    onakat

    onakat Well-Known Member

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    The thing with boxed frames is that they tend to rust from the inside out, so usually, what you can't see is worse than what you can see . If it already looks like this on the outside, imagine the inside.
    Frame might still be salvageable but truck will definitely need a frame job. Unless you wanted a project to work on, you did the right thing to pass on it
     
  11. Jan 14, 2020 at 5:08 PM
    #31
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    thanks for the reply. It's too bad that I had to pass. It's a really nice looking truck and the body looks new but that frame scared me off. The seller was confident that the frame was fine and sound. It may be now but next year maybe not so much. I'm very surprised that he hadn't been oil spraying it this entire time.
     
    Keep on Truckin' likes this.
  12. Jan 23, 2020 at 3:37 PM
    #32
    BLKRCAT

    BLKRCAT [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Bumping this up again. Here's what I ended up with.

    It is an 05. Just recently had the frame recalled. 20k since the frame was replaced. It's a little bare right now but I'll be getting it undercoated thick once I get my hands on it. Here's come pics. Drives nice, and leaves me with some stuff to play with. I want to see what my options are for a double din so I can get a carplay headunit instead of the stock radio.

    They also did control arms, springs, shocks. All new bushings in the control arms and all that. Things drives very nice. Thanks for the help from all of you guys. I'll be lurking around the second gen threads in the future.

    https://imgur.com/a/VJOVuSs
     
    six5crèéd likes this.
  13. Jan 23, 2020 at 4:04 PM
    #33
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Don't kid yourself, the 2nd gens, and even the 3rd gens are just as susceptible to rust. ALL vehicles are, lol...

    Don't undercoat it. That stuff is crap. There is no way to 100% seal the frame off from the elements unless you 100% submerge it in a vat of the stuff. Water WILL find its way in and rust from the inside out. And with a thick undercoating on it, you won't see it until the frame cracks in half.

    Address any rust it does have, and just keep the frame as clean as possible (inside and out). and don't let the salt sit on it for too long. Most people end up doing a 1x or 2x per year clean and treat with fluid film. Pressure wash the ENTIRE frame (inside and out) then treat with fluid film. There are tons of threads on how people have done that. just search around, you'll find several methods, choose one that suits your abilities.
     
    six5crèéd likes this.
  14. Jan 23, 2020 at 7:41 PM
    #34
    Seagull233

    Seagull233 Well-Known Member

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    BMW seats, OME Suspension, CBI and NWTI plates front and rear, 13,000 winch, LED light bars, Ham Radio, topper with roof rack added, stainless exhaust, 2nd battery, inverter, sound deadener
    I go a slightly different route, after having used FF for a few years. I use the FF wand and sprayer to spray mine with heavy weight differential fluid. Stays on better. Petroleum based, as opposed to lanolin based FF. Messy to work under there though. Everything has pros and cons....
     
    six5crèéd and GQ7227 like this.
  15. Jan 23, 2020 at 7:57 PM
    #35
    GQ7227

    GQ7227 mw survivor

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    309km east of Hazard ...the good life
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    black woolWax, green IFC, borlaCB, custom Line-X PC drums, skid, nuts, hooks, 1/4 silver frame...
    whats that diff fluid look like in the wheel wells :pccoffee:
    i don't like the idea much of spending $100s per year on FF having to apply it every damn time i wash it all off cleaning road slop out, no sloppy taco!
    up next to try is some woolwax product for durability
     
    six5crèéd likes this.
  16. Jan 24, 2020 at 6:31 AM
    #36
    Seagull233

    Seagull233 Well-Known Member

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    After driving for a few days, it just looks like dirt. I will actually try to find a dusty road to drive on after I apply it, usually in summer or fall. When I first bought my truck, I actually "painted" inside the bed (under bed liner), and any flat panels, and anywhere else I could reach on the under side with wheel bearing grease. That won't wash off.

    By the way, FF is lanolin, which is also known as wool wax.
     
    GQ7227[QUOTED] likes this.

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