Did Toyota already replace my frame?

I have a 95.5, (03/95 build) ex cab. The frame is beautiful and clean. I bought this truck in NY back in 2003 and brought it to GA in 2004, sold it to my neighbor in 2006 and recently was given back to me by his estate recipient. I was very happy to get it back and started reading more about these trucks and found the info on the frames rotting from inside out. I checked mine immediately and was tickled to find it was of no concern. Is there rust on it from its 7 years in NY? Yes there is, but inside the frame or even outside.

How do I determine if this is a truck that Toyota replaced the frame on? I am thinking it is possible by the owner I purchased it from in NY. There is a barcode sticker still intact on the drivers side just before the wheel well comes down with another sticker on the passenger side in a similar location that has no direct representation for anything.I will take and send photos in a few minutes to add to this.

I am think the owner before me may have had it replace, it's a deluxe Xcab, but a V6/5spd power train. It was worth keeping in the day and very cool today with a nice rare factor to it.


Thanks in advance for your advice and knowledge sharing,
Mike

 

Add more photos of various components… I’m leaning towards yes the frame was replaced by looking at how rusty the exposed ends of the bolts are for the sway bar in the last photo.

 

I've noticed with the replacements frames.......they seem to rust twice as fast as the first...

so if you have a replacement frame......you really got to stay on it
garaging it nightly may make it worse

so that in itself maybe a sign.....yours is way too clean to be a replacement



maybe that frame subcontractor is making the tundra engines now..

dont think they had the frame problem until after 99ish
mines 98 and good as new

back then a lot more of the components were made over there,
the fremont plant allowed them to get around the small truck tariff

so they made as much sub parts over there(Japan/Korea) as they could get away with

 

Also, I believe a frame replacement appears on the service records if you create an account on Toyota Owners website and input your VIN to “claim” the vehicle.

 

Photos of what else? I have the knuckles out as the passenger wheel bearing went out and I have both at the machine shop awaiting all the parts to replace them. I will say this, the bracket that bolts to the knuckle which the brake line bolts to... the bolt broke when impacting it out. The lower ball joint bolts took a long snap on 1/2" drive swivel ratchet and a very hard and slow maybe 1/12th of a turn ccw to remove them.

 

I have an account with Toyota for my 22 Tundra (yes, I saw the comment on our motors... I get it, but it is a wicked awesome truck and I will get a new complete motor soon). They have that truck registered, and I am trying to find where I can add this to my account. Hmmmmmm

I got it added. When I select it, it says no recalls (expected). Basically, there is no information about my Tacoma on their site that I can see. I'm wondering if my local dealer service advisor can pull anything up on it.


Mike

 

Looks to be the original frame. IIRC, replacement frames don’t come with the VIN sticker

 

Those numbers on the barcode are not my VIN info. I don't know what they are for, and tried to look it up with no luck.


Mike

 

That should be your VIN unless it’s truly faded

 

The gas tank skid plate, rear differential, rear drum backing plates and front wheel dust covers all rust out pretty fast as well and didn’t get replaced during the frame swaps. If those parts are pretty rusty then it’s likely the frame you showed in the picture is a replacement.

 

That must be a faded VIN tag then? It is absolutely faded to not recognize there was ever characters even there. I will try and use my camera and get very close in to see something. It would be 30 years old.

The front dust covers are quite rusty, the knuckles are also and here pics of items suggested. There is surface rust here and there around the truck. Every hold I can get my finger into, is clean and smooth inside of the frame.

 

I’m guessing that is original frame. NUMMI plant in Fremont, CA shut down in 2010. Besides, I would be surprised if a replacement frame, not produced at NUMMI and not installed by NUMMI during any frame recall would have that sticker on it.

 

Thanks all for your inputs. One VIN lookup said this was a Freemont CA manufactured truck. Was frame issues build location dependent?

I find it odd for this truck to have been in NY it's first 7-8 years and the frame to be as clean inside with their problems.


Mike

 

Yea. Seen plenty frame replacement without the NUMMI sticker while original frame have that sticker. Unless it was frame swap by a shop or PO, recall frame will not have the sticker.

 

Frames were replaced only on 01-04 trucks. 95.5 to ‘00 trucks were repurchased by Toyota for 150% of excellent condition retail value and crushed thereafter. So your frame was not replaced because the replacement program didn’t apply to that model year. Nice that yours is still good. Some people took good care of them.

 

I was telling u that one is not like the rusty later ones

yours will clean and paint beautifully.........be lucky you dont have the replacement


because by now .....you may of been looking for its replacement



Not bad for something 30yrs old

 

Thanks all !


Mike

 

Just remember .....a lot of tundra owners waiting on their new engine

are using these to get to work.........................


and they cannt ride with their neighbor because they have the GM 6.2 L87