Took my 2001 AC in for the frame replacement!

Got a call on Tuesday (1/12) that my parts were all in and would I like to bring it in for the "big" operation?

Dropped the truck off about 11AM. I talked to the mechanic (Mike) that evening and he said the box was off and the cab would be off the next day.

Lots of frame holes. I dropped a camera off and Mike will take pictures as he works through the job.

Lots of parts in boxes and the new frame sitting ready to get new parts. The semi driver had about 10 frames on his load, busy dropping frames at other dealers.

Mike said the work is going well. He said they were sent a 63 page instruction manual on how to do everything. (He's having fun with a new and different project. Nice to work with all new parts.) I'll probably get the truck back next week. They gave me a loaner to drive. (Not used to a car.)

 

so excited to see the outcome!

 

doesn't make u a bit nervous that they r doing it at the dealership? prolly not something they do often..

 

Where else do you think they should do it?

The techs at the dealerships have years of experience replacing any of the parts individually that will be replaced on the frame swap.

Shocks, brake lines, springs, front ends, etc., etc. They do these items all the time. Now my mechanic (Mike) gets to replace those same parts in a heated garage with lights, tools and help if needed. The parts are new, free of dirt, grime and rust. Talk about an easy setup.

Taco owners on this forum do these same chores in their driveways. Usually all they have is the instructions that came with the part, a friend to help him and a couple of six-packs of beer.

Why would you think a trained Toyota tech would have a problem?

The service advisor said they've taken a number of frames off other vehicles such as the Lincoln Navigators. (It's a Toyota/Mercury dealership.) They do it for auto accidents also.

Haven't a worry in the world. Now if "I" was trying this same work in my driveway, I'd have some concern.

 

Well said. The dealership here in Vermont dedicates a bay for doing this process & have swapped out a lot of frames. A member here told me they've gotten so good at it, they specialize in it now & make good $$ off the deal seeing how its an internal payout type of thing.

Best of luck with your frame swap, you going to take any before and after pics or have them replace anything else?

 

I would have asked if you could have the new frame sprayed with undercoating before they put it together.

 

I gave Mike a digital camera and told him to take plenty of pictures.
He wants a CD of pictures also.

I'll put a CD together with the Johnny Cash song "One Piece at a Time."

 

In some of the forum comments, I saw a comment that they may do that after everything gets assembled.
I'm sure they don't want a repeat.
The stuff may be in one of the many boxes they shipped.
I'm going to call Toyota and ask them anyway.

 

Well said. The dealership here in Vermont dedicates a bay for doing this process & have swapped out a lot of frames. A member here told me they've gotten so good at it, they specialize in it now & make good $$ off the deal seeing how its an internal payout type of thing.


That's what I heard too, a couple of techs I talked with love doing that job. They've got it down to a science. Takes about half the time that the company pays to do it.

 

Interesting because my truck came from Heritage Toyota in Burlington, VT.
I'm in Iowa now.
Never been to Vermont but it always sounded like a pretty state.

 

I had actually quoted Simon's Mom with the separate bay reserved for frame work. She lives near Burlington, and I wouldn't be surprised if she bought her taco there...

It is nice.......hilly......plenty of dirt roads........snow.......ice........mud in the spring.....

 

Half a day to get the bed off? It takes 30 minutes tops to get the bed off.. Man are they milking that deal. My friend works at my local toytoa dealership. Him and another guy do the frame swaps together. 6 hours on a clean one, maybe 7 on a dirty super rusty one. Thats 6 hours from pulling it inside the shop, swapping frames and back outside.

 

They have lots of other parts off also. Not just the box.

Mike is very good at his work. He informed my of the other progress made.

I know my truck won't be completed as fast as dealerships with frame exchange experience because I'm the 1st in town.
Hey... it's free! Glad to get the truck done, just in case Toyota decides on another path.
The truck is paid for and I don't need a new payment.
I think the survivor trucks will bring a better price on the used market.
Ever try to find a decent Tacoma in the want ads?

Nothing wrong with being 1st. I doubt they'll take shortcuts. They'll follow the instructions.

Got a dealers loaner and because it didn't from a car rental, I didn't have to do insurance like others have had to contend with.

Going in shortly to take more pictures.

 

It's going to be like getting a brand new truck! Can't wait to see the pictures. Should go another 300,000 miles.

 

My thoughts exactly.
My salesman hasn't even tried to sell me a new one as he knows I'm coming out ahead.

 

lol small world lil ol Heritage Toyota. Mark's described it to a T.
My truck came from Courtsey in Montpelier, Heritage had no leftover models, but they do my warranty work. That's when I saw the frame swap bay.

 

Progress is going well.
I've dropped in every day and been taking pictures. Dealership has been easygoing with me dropping by.

Frame has been getting the new parts added. Really looks nice.... to nice to use (almost.)

Mike expects to start dropping the cab/box on today.
He's the only person working on the truck. I think that's better as he knows what and where everything came off. He knows where it needs to be placed. Less chance of a mix-up.

Had clutch and new shocks put in. Getting a break on cost, no labor. Easy access to the clutch with the engine/tranny out of the truck.

Toyota is treating me fine.

I think the 1st Gen. trucks will appreciate more in some parts (salt-use areas) of the country, simply because so many were crushed.

I'll get the truck back next week.

 

Like others said, my dealership had 2 guys specifically just for this job, they'd already done several before my truck. The only thing I've found after 3 months of having my new frame they screwed up on was not tightening the exhaust bolts enough, they worked themselves loose and caused an exhaust leak, which tripped the CEL. Fixed it myself, the dealer wanted $100 just to check the damn thing.

 

the frame replacement work doesn't carry any warranty?

Or would the $100 have been waived for you after it was determined to be caused by their crappy frame replacement job?

Another ques: Are the new frames better coated against corrosion? or identical spec to the old one?

 

It's got a 30 day warranty for the labor, mine was out of that time frame, and yeah, they said if they determined it was their fault they'd waive the fee, but I didn't want to take that chance. They could have claimed anything and made me pay the $$'s.