Are new frames still available from Toyota Parts?

I found a low mile Tacoma I like a lot. But it may need a frame. Would it be possible for me to buy a frame over the parts counter from Toyota? Price?

Thanks in advance.

-Mike

 

No, discontinued.

 

Thanks. So much for that idea. Too bad, it's a very clean truck with only 100k on the clock.

 

You might be able to find a complete used frame in good shape, or a complete truck with a good frame but a bad or no engine.

 

That is a good idea. The market is so strong for them right now I hadn't considered looking for a complete truck with mechanical issues.

What do you suppose the book time is for a frame swap?

 

Rumor has it the frames were scratching up the counter tops and that's the real reason they stopped selling them.




Sorry, couldn't resist. Welcome to TW.

 

I have a 2nd gen so time may vary. I booked 41.1 hours over 6 days for my swap

 

Someone should make them again. Land Rover chassis are widely available, cost around $4k imported from UK and are galvanized. Surely someone could make similar for Tacomas and turn a profit -- there are far more 1st gen tacomas in north america than land rover defenders -- so there is a potential market. Shops doing LR frame swaps are everywhere and busy. Just don't let Dana make the frames!!

 

Always wanted a galvanized frame on my truck. Never understood why that isn't a thing... It couldn't cost that much extra per frame to do in production. Are there issues with painting over galvanized steel? I imagine when the zinc oxidizes eventually it holds onto paint worse than rusty steel would.

Once I get the current truck up and running, I want to get one that I can tear down to the frame, have it hot dip galvanized, and build up from there. I foresee moving back to where the roads get salted one of these days, and would like a truck that would last in such conditions.

 

Galvanizing is pretty cheap -- pay by the ton. Retail for a single frame at a few hundred pounds probably a few hundred dollars. I epoxy painted black the galvanized crossmember and fuel tank tray for my Land Rover -- seems to stick okay and people paint full galvy frames, but it doesnt' adhere as well as bare steel. That said, waxoyl is black and sticks fine if all one wanted was to cover the galvy look with black is a good option.

I thought about getting the full set of frame sleeves from safety cap, galvanizing them and welding to my existing excellent quality frame. Would cost a few $k for welding but then basically a galvanized sleeve over ~90% of existing frame... The safety cap sleeves are bare metal and would be a few hundred $ to galvanize. There'd still be weaknesses compared to full galvy frame (like interior of frame which can be waxoyled) but should hold up well.

For now, I have a salt taco and a non-salt taco. Just had frame welded on salt truck... Rust is maddening!

 

There was a member here recently who galvanized their frame. Had a massive shop, serious welding skills, and all the tools to pull a truck apart put the frame on a pallet and send it off. Not something I could imagine the majority of folks here being able to do.

 

I don't remember who did this, but I still have a pic of his beautiful, galvanized parts. If I operated in the Rust Belt, I would seriously consider this myself. Luckily, I don't deal with any road salt/salt water here in MS. A minimum of maintenance once a year with a wire wheel and Rust-Oleum Rust Reformer keeps my frame and undercarriage in very serviceable condition.

 

That is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen

 

https://youtu.be/zuo9uC42RVw?si=te9qzt-jyJYFDvx8

 

Ian from Big Tire Garage does a frame swap, and talks about the difficulties of finding a frame, plus the time, tools, and knowledge it takes. Not for the weak, for sure.
Toyota Tacoma Rusted Frame Repair, Complete Frame Replacement (youtube.com)

 

Just for the record, this is the last factory-new 1st Gen Taco frame I have a picture of. Again, I don't remember who the buyer was. But IIRC, he paid approx. $4K for it from a Toyota dealership.

 

buy the truck and make some patch panels that extend out to the good metal then chop and weld until your frame is okay.

 

i am doing just that for my truck as i cant find a good frame.

 

The idea that "somebody" could remake Gen 1 frames in galvanized is a pretty good one, I'd say. If a company were to be interested it would likely be someone like RATCO, who make well-respected replacement frames for cars like vintage Triumph TRs. (The independent rear suspension frames are notorious for structural rust -- it was one of a number of problems that took my TR250 off the road in the late 1970s. Today, that TR would be rebuildable.)

As prices for good Gen 1 trucks start to approach their original selling prices (or more, if one watches BaT) the idea of an aftermarket frame starts to make reasonable sense.

The days of these kinds of scenes in back of rust-belt dealerships are over, alas.

 

Anyone have a good or fixable used frame to sell me as i bent mine yesterday in a parking lot incident.
v6 5spd 4x4 club cab long bed.