Any toyota experts out there?

[Naches Sportsman]

Ok,  i have a chance to buy my grandpa in laws 1991 toyota with 213,339 on it,  it is the v-6 it has only been driven 13 k in the past 8 years.  Timing belt, water pump, radiator all replaced, no tranny issues, clutch replaced.  Outside 10/10 with crome bumpers, excellent canopy, 80% tread, and crome running boards.  Interior 9.5/10 with 1 small rip in the seat.  What are these trucks worth.  The local toyota dealers said anywhere from 5-7500 on it with its condition.  He is willing to sell it to me for 4k.  Does it sound like a damn good deal? 

It is the best looking toyota that pld that i have ever seen.  Immaculate inside and out.  Its not like its been ran out on the forest floor or anything.  He fixesup old cars so i know this has been well taking care of.

Thanks for any responses or info. 

[rtspring]

Heck ya!! Toyota's last forever.  Great hunting rig!  Mine is brand new!

[buglebuster]

Sounds like a great deal but those 3.0 v6 are horrible engine. With that many miles, problems will be in your future.

[JohnVH]

v6's have a bad habbit of blowing head gaskets, but they get good mileage. I have a '90 4 runner with a V6, engine I put in has 230K, body has 355K on it, and you wouldnt be able to tell it! love the thing.  Id guess closer to 3k for your rig, but check see what they sell for on craigslist.

[rtspring]

I agree. Do a head gasket job! So you know its done! Other than that drive the wheels off it! I have owned three!  The new one has a 4.0 with the TRD supercharger!   Scary fun with lots of power in a small truck

[Bean Counter]

Does it have 4wd? I wouldn't buy a truck without it, especially in the PNW.

+1 to the other comments about the V6. One of few lemons that Toyota ever made. If you look at Consumer Reports when they do their used model edition, you can see that its pretty much the only thing to avoid are the older vehicles like 4Runners with this V6.

[buglebuster]

Here in yakima the going rate for them is 3500-5000 so I'd say yes.

[rtspring]

Bugle, is that a Peaches Bull in your avatar?   Hell of a bull

[JohnVH]

Pics from my swap.



The donor

[KFhunter]

dude


I want that shop 

[bucklucky]

The 3.slow is a boat anchor . I replacedd mine at 160,000, had 35,000 on my new motor and blew a head gasket in Idaho. I put new head gasketts on a month ago. Wish I would have done my 5.0 swap the first time  You can get a long block for around 1600 .oo .

[Shooter]

Sounds like its a great family truck and engines can be rebuilt and updated as needed, based on the overall description I would buy it for sure, nice that it was Grandpa's.

[fish vacuum]

The 3.0 sucks a lot of gas while only producing about 150hp. They're not as reliable as other toyota engines and they're a mess under the hood if you do have to work on them. If you rate an engine on reliability, power, and fuel economy, the 3.0 fails all three categories.
The 2.7l 4cyl that toyota used later did everything the 3.0 was supposed to, and did it better. It makes the same power with about 25% better mpg and very few problems.

[HntnFsh]

The 3.0 sucks a lot of gas while only producing about 150hp. They're not as reliable as other toyota engines and they're a mess under the hood if you do have to work on them. If you rate an engine on reliability, power, and fuel economy, the 3.0 fails all three categories.
The 2.7l 4cyl that toyota used later did everything the 3.0 was supposed to, and did it better. It makes the same power with about 25% better mpg and very few problems.

This is all true. And Ive done head gaskets on 1 of those 3.0s It sucks! You almost have to be a contortionist to get some of the nuts and bolts off. That said. If the gaskets have been done. They used an improved gasket and it should be a dependable rig. I would try to get a better deal. But dont know if thats possible.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

The 3.0 sucks a lot of gas while only producing about 150hp. They're not as reliable as other toyota engines and they're a mess under the hood if you do have to work on them. If you rate an engine on reliability, power, and fuel economy, the 3.0 fails all three categories.
The 2.7l 4cyl that toyota used later did everything the 3.0 was supposed to, and did it better. It makes the same power with about 25% better mpg and very few problems.

This is all true. And Ive done head gaskets on 1 of those 3.0s It sucks! You almost have to be a contortionist to get some of the nuts and bolts off. That said. If the gaskets have been done. They used an improved gasket and it should be a dependable rig. I would try to get a better deal. But dont know if thats possible.

 
Had the knock sensor go bad on my 91 3.slow.  Had to strip the engine down to the block and heads to get to it.  It's in the back of the engine, under the intake manifold between the heads.  Talk about a pain in the #%#$.  Wound up replacing timing belt, water pump, getting the injectors cleaned, headcover gaskets etc while I had it stripped down.  Ran good for a while but I think the hg may have gone again.   Grrrrr 

[motg9_6]

http://www.yotatech.com/f116/crossover-eliminator-diy-198561/

check out this link for pretty much eliminating the head gasket issue..
im doig it to mine right now and a buddy did it to his when he rebuilt.

[BsB]

The exhaust cross over on the 3.0's was the main culprit for head gaskets failing. Typically the it was one of the cylinders in the back of the motor that would have the gasket fail due to heat buildup. Toyota changed the design with the 3.4 which was commonly swapped in place of the 3.0. That cross over eliminator kit is a good idea also.
If your family is the original owner and its been garaged for 20+ years with proper maintenance $4k is a good price. You could even shoehorn a 7mgte in that baby.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[bucklucky]

I have a set of 600.00 headers I had on mine , still blew head gasket.

Id buy it even if the motor was bad and put a 3.4 in it or a 4.3 chev.

[rtspring]

You ready to do some scouting around?

[bucklucky]

We need a picture of your ride. I will never get rid of my 91.

[thinkingman]

The 3.0 sucks a lot of gas while only producing about 150hp. They're not as reliable as other toyota engines and they're a mess under the hood if you do have to work on them. If you rate an engine on reliability, power, and fuel economy, the 3.0 fails all three categories.
The 2.7l 4cyl that toyota used later did everything the 3.0 was supposed to, and did it better. It makes the same power with about 25% better mpg and very few problems.

This, plus frames literally rusting away, suspension that doesn't suspend, all the things that make a truck a truck....Toyota fails.
They do look cool with a lift kit and tires, I guess.

[rainshadow1]

I have had severaal, pickups and 4runners. 2.2, 3.0, 2.7, and 3.4. You are getting good information above, very good little rigs, 3.0 tends to be hard on headgaskets. Price is fair at 4, pretty good at 35, 5 to 7 k is stupid, not a steal until 3.

I love toyotas for what they're made for. I am out of the buisness now, but dtill have a 97 4runner (3.4) as my personal rig.

[saylean]

The 90-94's had a recall on the head gasket...I used to have a 90 back in 95 and had it replaced twice.

I still drive toyotas all the time. I currently have a 95 4runner. Everyone else has pretty much covered it. Good luck!

[bucklucky]

Oh and one last thing to add, Toyotas like to get stolen ..... buddy just got his mint 97 tacoma stolem yesterday along with a bunch of stuff from his house...

[gotshot]

Just saying, If your going to spend 4000 You probably can't get a better rig.

[Orion88]

Any thoughts on a 98 or 99 Tacoma with about 250k miles for $5k? Any particular issues I should look at?

[rainshadow1]

Look for looseness, everywhere. That's lots of miles. From the door hinges to the transition from gear to gear, and everything in between. Go with your gut. Lots of miles for 5k.

[Orion88]

Thanks Rainshadow. Great advice. I will keep looking, but hard to find decent Tacoma with lower miles at fair price.

[BigGoonTuna]

they are very hard to find.  even the older trucks haven't gone down much in value.

i paid $6500 for my '98 tacoma 4x4, regular cab back in 2008.  it had 170k on the clock, 220k now.  i've replaced the rear wheel bearings, and had the alternator rebuilt in that time frame, no other mechanical issues.

[Orion88]

You're right BigGoonTuna, Tacomas have not gone down much, if any, in value.  I will keep searching.

[Arnbo]

Sounds like a great truck ,although I would not want a V6 With all the
 Off road use my 94 Fourunner gets The 22RE is the best Engine made
 For Atleast the older model Toyotas.Straight Axle in the front,Thorley Header,
FlowMaster Muffler,locked in the Rear.Great Gas Mileage and it goes anywhere.

[Shooter]

All my friends cannot believe how nice the truck is.

Never did see the pictures?

[Bmcox86]

 

I have a 91 and love it, just hit 238000

[scottcrb]

got a 94 ex cab sr5 with the 3.0 V6 4x4 and it has 280,000 havent really had to do much to it and it never gets stuck. amazing trucks.

[Orion88]

What do you think of the 3.4L V6 engines for Tacomas?

[Bigtine96]

What do you think of the 3.4L V6 engines for Tacomas?

Arguably the best toyota engine ever made

[C-Money]

I have a 88 2wd with the 22R 4cyl. 4 speed, 33mpg, always starts and always goes!! Very dependable. Oh how I wish it was a 4x4!

[HntnFsh]

What do you think of the 3.4L V6 engines for Tacomas?

Very good engine.

[Orion88]

Thanks everyone for the information.

[Bmcox86]

Do your seats slide when you flip the seat forward? I have the same truck and mine don't but don't know whether there jammed or just like that