Newcomer, "New" 2007 Tacoma Owner

Thanks to all of you for the welcome. Your advice is really helpful. This is one of the most friendly and active forums I’ve seen in a while.

So I’m thinking that the plan is:

1) Take it to a reputable local mechanic (I have one lined up who comes highly recommended). Get a sense of what is really going on.

2) Perhaps get a sense of what the vehicle is worth, ie take it to Carmax or similar for a no-commitment quote.

3) Depending on what really needs fixing, and the vehicle’s value, make the hard choice to fix it up and run it, or sell it. That’s a decision I will likely need help with from folks who know these vehicles better than I. For that reason, I’ll try to keep this thread updated as I learn more.

Again, thank you all for your helpful opinions and advice. I’ll update the thread with some “after” pics once it’s done next week. As well, I should have an answer on the “will it pass an inspection” question.

 

Welcome to TW, sorry about the rust issues, tis a shame to be welcoming you to not spend money on fun mods. Gl w the truck

 

It’s funny you mention mods. I was all hyped up to replace the stereo (that kind of thing I’ve done in cars for years), add some fog lights, a tonneau cover, and aftermarket power locks.

I guess brakes are fun, too, right? Kind of?

 

FWIW. I’m pretty sure they replace what ever breaks while replacing the frame. For example; my brake lines, lower control arms and leaf springs I believe were replaced on my 02 at no cost to me. They also replaced the exhaust from the cat back as a “good will” repair. With that amount of rust, it’s unlikely something won’t disintegrate during the frame replacement.. good luck!

 

They can be if you upgrade them

 

Best of luck to you!!

 

That's a great point. On the advice of a friend who knows vehicles well, I think I'm going to ask them if they'll give me a break on the oil pan. He said that it can be a real pain to replace, so if they'll do it for a lot less than the $1400 quoted, I'd be glad to have them do so.

It sounded a month ago like they kind of assume they will have to replace the brake lines. When I asked the service advisor for a status update back then, he mentioned that Toyota sends some parts (like brake lines) earlier than others. Didn't occur to me at the time, but in the context of your post, it makes more sense. They expect to find rot on non-frame parts, and plan to replace them.

Otherwise, it will be an open question whether to keep the truck, or let it go. My friend sold it to me for a very reasonable price, so I'm hopeful I can get out of it what I have in it, if worse does come to worse.

 

So I do have an update on my truck. I asked my service advisor if I could see it while it's still apart, to better understand the facts and figures they sent me. My advisor was awesome about it, and brought me back to their enormous shop, introducing me to the tech who was working on my truck!

I'll show the pictures I was able to take in the posts below. I want to preface my comments by saying, however, that I was tremendously impressed by the professionalism and courtesy of J, my tech. I will be sending a note to the dealership to this effect, but he was personable, patient, and answered my ignorant questions thoroughly. He walked me through what he had seen and had to do as he was working on the various parts, and gave me the straight dope on what should be replaced soon, and what could probably wait until it broke. It was a real, "If this was my truck, I'd do..." kind of talk.

I'm a little nervous in posting these pics - I don't want these guys to get in trouble for going above and beyond, and showing me the magic "behind the curtain". This is a really busy shop, and for them to take this time to walk me through the operation was kind, and really, really helpful to me.

A possible explanation on the excessive rust: I mentioned to the tech and service advisor that this truck had lived outside in Gloucester its entire life. They exchanged a knowing look, and told me that explained everything. Gloucester (ever watched, "The Perfect Storm?) is surrounded by water on beautiful Cape Ann. Apparently the city is well know around here for just EATING vehicles, due to the salt air. I'm not a metallurgist, but apparently it's a known thing.

Without further blabbing, let me start rolling some pictures below.

 

Here's some "wide-view" shots of the truck apart:

 

Here's the bed, over in the corner, minding its own business:


And the cab, looking over things, rather aloof:

 

Here's some shots of the parts off to the side; exhaust, rear shaft, stabilizer bar:


For comparison, here's the front driveshaft:

 

And about that oil pan, and having to drill out the bolts...

 

Rust city Get a Tetanus shot

 

Upper control arms, outer tie rod ends, and front suspension:

 

There's more pics in the album I uploaded, but this gives the general idea, for those who have been kind enough to give me some advice and explanations on what I'm seeing, most of which I don't understand.

Seeing the truck in pieces gives me kind of a mixed sense of how to proceed. The body and bed are in great shape. Seeing all those rusted components bolted to the new frame makes my OCD want to explode, and really does make you want to run out and get new parts for everything.

That engine, with less than 10k, looks so shiny. And the frame looks shiny. And the cabin and bed look shiny. It appears to be just the bits that make it go that are disintegrating.

Worth holding on to? If I sell it, I'm going to force the buyer to look at these pics before they make an offer.

 

Wow...very cool to see the body off the frame. Great access you had. I can't give you advice on what to do now but if you ever get another tacoma pre-rust; spray the frame..etc every winter with Fluid Film. It'll give it a protective coat.

 

If you find a donor truck and transfer the parts over you’ll have that truck for years to come.. You’re getting a $10k frame job and you got a deal (you said) on the truck. I don’t think you can go wrong putting the money into the extra parts.. It’s either that you sell it and spend a lot more on a newer one. At least that’s my opinion/advice. Good luck and nice new lower control arms and leafs!

 

So a donor truck could end up cheaper than buying parts, when it’s all said and done? That makes sense to me, it’s just a new concept for a complete novice like myself. Is it a smart plan up here in the rust belt? Thanks for the suggestion - never would have considered it.

Thanks for the encouragement - after reading the amazing things some of the people on this forum can do, I feel like a complete wuss for being intimidated by a brake and caliper job.

 

I should clarify that I would get used parts as opposed to actually buying a parts vehicle. Even a parts 2nd gen would be hard to come by and still pretty expensive. I’d just call some junk yards and repair after it’s back together. Fix the safety and more important things now. Maybe including that oil pan. And get that darn thing soaked in fluid film.. there’s also a place up in Portland called Rust Check. They’ll spray the whole truck for like $200ish I think.

 

Fluid film is a definite go for later this year. I did my trailer last year after grinding it down and repainting it - that stuff's amazing!

They had Rust Check up in New Brunswick, as well. I wonder if it's the same system.

Junk yards are a great idea. I tend to drive my vehicles until there's almost nothing left, so I know of some good ones right around me.

They are quoting under $1000 for the oil pan. That would be a real killer on our budget, but after looking at it, I get it. And that deal is only good until they start putting parts on top of it.