Pull the trigger on a 2000 Extra Cab TRD Automatic 4wd w bad transmission and leaky diff?

After a deeper convo w my buddy (also the guy I’d rely on to fix) and another visit to the truck I may pass on it.

My buddy’s concerns in summary is I have to basically rebuild the whole truck. Maybe not right away, but near future. If I fix the trans, the diff I have to consider a head rebuild is imminent. Also it has stock suspension- would have to replace all the of the suspension (hub, wheel bearings, struts/spring) tie rods, lca, cv’s etc. I knew I would have to redo the suspension but when I look at the whole picture it’s like yeah, I’m basically rebuilding the whole thing. I have to organize the whole operation. Time. It is worth it in a sense, but my buddy’s like for the $ I’d spend I could just get a truck w way less stuff I’d have to fix.

 

A lot of that is just standard stuff to replace over time with a 23+ year old vehicle. Doesn't mean it all has to be done right away. I recently bought a 1996 3.4l 5spd 4x4 4runner with 255k miles, it has a few leaks (rear main, valve covers, axle seals) and some clapped out suspension parts but it's still a great vehicle that I drive nearly every day. I guess it just depends on what you think you can tackle yourself vs. what you're going to pay to have done, I wouldn't buy a 20+ year old vehicle that I was going to have a shop do all the work on. That would be extraordinarily expensive

Why does he think a head rebuild is imminent? If the slush box is going out because it was overheated then that could be a bad sign for the engine too I guess. 3.4s are extremely reliable but overheating them is a good way to counter that