Where to find a rusty framed Taco

FRAME WENT TO MINNESOTA 11/18 I bought a 2001 Double cab 4x4 that had been rolled lightly for the 3.4 to swap into a friends rig. The frame on this truck is really clean and looks like it may have been a replacement. I was thinking of hanging onto it and trying to find a double or extra cab that needed a frame and do the swap. I did a 2003 double cab swap a couple years ago and also a 1st gen Tundra.

 

Pic

 

I'm sure you can find one for sale on the east coast or in the northern midwest, pretty much any first gens in those regions are on their last legs with the frame and suspension by now even with great care. We see photos from people looking to buy them off used lots and whatnot with clear signs of someone covering up catastrophic rust nearly every week.

 

Check with @bigaltrif in the classifieds. He might be able to help. But he's on the right cost.

 

I will try that. Seems there have been a few with reasonable miles that fail inspection. Hoping to find something like that that I can afford to ship to Wyoming. The one I did was from Minnesota but found it's way to South Dakota before I got it

 

I wasn't even able to find one for myself when I went looking. Ended up doing weeks of cut out and replace on the frame. You don't have that option, though. I think your just gonna have to keep after this one.
Good luck.

 

Keep posting until get past 50.....
......then you can run a WTB here in classifieds...

guarantee you'll get some action.....and probably not that far away too..

there so many of these that are pristine........and yet are not safe to drive...

 

I've been lurking on Tacoma sites for a couple months, checking Craiglist and Marketplace. Just haven't found one yet. Not in any particular hurry. I'd also offer this frame to someone that wanted to save their truck

 

hmm, sub'd for pics of clean frame

 

Why not get a good Double cab and use the one you have for parts .

Find one that you can drive home .

Shipping would cost more then the truck.

You might have some luck with Car Part.com Shipping a truck with a bad frame.

I know I sure would not want to mess with shipping a truck with a bad frame across the country.

Best of luck.

 

Yes. I saw one just today on one of the East Coast off-road groups I'm in. Gorgeous 2nd gen, beautiful paint and all-around in great shape, but the frame is toast. Should be able to lock in a 1st gen.

 

It seems like every few days someone on here is posting a "is this too rusty to buy" thread. And the response is usually holy f, yes, that is horrible. You seem to have a plan. One way or another, you will find a body for it, or get it to someone who needs it for their project.

 

I’m in ny. I’d be interested in the frame

 

It will be a rolling chassis by this weekend. Not sure if that would be better to ship than a stripped frame. I could do either

 

The last one I frame swapped was really bad. I wouldn't have driven it across the street! But I'd be open to whatever.

 

I would be interested in your frame if your thinking about selling. I have a 2003 with bad frame and a clean body, I've purchased some Safety-Caps and was hoping to repair it this winter. After taking a good look under the rig I've turned my efforts towards finding a replacement frame. I'm located in Moorhead, Minnesota and would be willing to drive to pick it up. Do you have any pictures of the frame you could share?

Thanks

joej@tlstroh.com

 

Like everyone has said you have the hard part which is a clean frame. Theres a bunch of these trucks rusted to crap with a decent cab and bed you could repaint and have a new truck. A clean frame is harder to find than a clean body.

 

I think my frame is a replacement frame. Had this "do not use forklift" sticker on the spare tire crossmember. And the frame is substantially cleaner than rottted backing plates rear axle and misc. Brackets that have some flaky rust.

 

Clean!

 

Frame found a forever home in Minnesota.