Frame repair or sell truck?

Hi everyone, new to the forum and new to tacomas as well. I've recently purchased a 96 Tacoma, while I was checking it out I missed how bad the frame rot was on the rear right side, I've read that it's typical of the first generation tacomas. I was wondering if any of you taco gurus had any advice on what to do now. The 3.4l v6 is clean and has 176k on it. So my thoughts were to either find a way to repair the frame where it is rusted or find a taco with a blown motor(impossible?) and put my 3.4 in it. Of course there's always the sell option but at 3k I bought it for I'd just like to find a way to turn it into the hill truck I've always wanted. I appreciate all suggestions!

 

Take some pics - let's see how bad it really is. You can use this site or imgur.com (what I use) for image hosting.

 

My truck is in Michigan and I'm in Oregon. I'll have my girlfriend take some pics tomorrow and post them up here as soon as I get them!

 

Thank you dalandser!

 

Here's some stuff to look through while you're waiting:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/my-frame-repair-thread-lots-of-pics.399408/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-repair-rebuild.280849/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-repair-2001-minnesota-taco.341186/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/frame-repair.498477/#post-15483929

 

I'd find a new frame if you're willing to do the work to swap over the body and the drivetrain. I see frames pop up all the time on Craigslist, usually less than $1,000 and include most of the body too. I'd look for Pacific NW frames, or really dry and arid places like Arizona. Really anywhere where they don't salt the roads or where it snows.

 

Here is another one never hearing about the frame issues till after the fact

Anything can be fixed or rebuilt if you can do the work yourself .

Maybe have people you know that can work something out .

I have done quite a few just for materials and consumables and Breakfast !!

If you need to pay someone that has done these repairs going shop rate $$$$ you need to figure if it is cost effective for you.

Finding a used frame coming out of the Southwest USA unless you know someone that travels between there and where you live and has room for a Frame on there trailer .

You can spend the time going to get said frame yourself

Freight will be more expensive then the cost of the frame then you have the hassle of unloading it and getting it to where you need it

 

Here's some pictures

 

...

 

We have done many of these frame replacements. Its not that hard just takes time. Frames are available without rust for less than 1,000 every day.

 

Where in Oregon? We are in Grants Pass

 

unfortunately, what you don't see is probably worse than what you can see, as these frames rust and rot from the inside out :/

It is still possible to repair, but it really depends on where and how bad the rust is. If it's paper thin, there's nothing you can do to fix it. If there is still solid spots, it can be worth to repair.

So what you can do when you will get to your truck is to hit the frame with a hammer. You'll see what is good and what is not, then you can get a better idea on how you will tackle this project or if it is worth repairing. If you know how to weld or have a friend who does, it helps a lot, and it is much less expensive than having a shop do it.

There is also the frame swap option. Find a good condition frame to put on the truck

If it is not worth repairing or if you do no want to take on this project, then the only thing you can do is sell the truck for parts and find another one with a V6

good luck

 

It all comes down to how much you can do yourself .

How much you can afford or want to spend .

I have started on ones worse then this

 

Thank you for all the replies! I've got the truck going in to a shop to see if they can repair the frame on Wednesday. Unfortunately I can't weld and don't know any one that welds with experience in this type of thing. If they can't repair I'll be looking for a frame and getting a hold of mikes custom toys or parting it out and putting the engine in a truck missing one.