How are the 95's with the V6

Looking at a 95 Tacoma 4x4 that has the 3.4L V6 and auto. It has 200k, but has been serviced very well and no issues. Guy is asking $6400 with brand new grabber a/t tires

 

100% rust free top and bottom - new frame also from Toyota

 

solid engines, just ask when timing belt was changed.

 

Truck has 205K exact and the belts/water pump were all changed at 195K

I just don't know anything about those motors and automatic tranny's

 

sounds good.

 

The 3.4l v6 is a great motor. It was Toyota's way of saying "sorry" for the years that people had to deal with the unreliable and gutless 3.0l v6 that loved to blow head gaskets.

 

How are the auto transmissions?

 

Can't speak to them from personal experience myself, I've got a manual trans. But having been on this forum for some time now, I will say I haven't seen or heard much about the transmissions being 'bad' or unreliable. Anyone that has an issue with it usually has hundreds of thousands of miles on it, which is to be expected eventually. I'd say a well cared for 200k auto tranny on the Tacoma should be nothing to worry about.

 

Actually the truck is 3 hours from me and he said $6400 with new tires, but since I would drive down he would do $6300. If I go, I'll try for $6000-$6200

 

95-97s never got new frames. buy back only.

 

They're good. Just keep up on maintenance, and I'd suggest a standalone transmission cooler to extend the life.

 

Engine is bulletproof with proper maintenance

Trans is just as good i have just about 300k on mine (building it to hold power now, was working fine till the day i pulled the truck apart)
The a340 they put behind the v6 was also used in turbo supras (2wd variant, landcruisers (a few extra clutch packs internally), t100, tundra, sequoia

Also the same transmission internally to the Jeep AW4..

They're pretty reliable, transmission cooler can help extend the life, Regular fluid changes probably help, but mine was untouched for almost all its life.

 

I was wondering about the New Frame !!

I can only hope something was misquoted ??

I know I would want the frame issue cleared up before reaching for the check book

Since the OP does not state where The Truck lives the frame might be a moot point .

Buy a New Frame from Toyota for between $4000.00 to$ 5000.00 plus the assorted other parts a new set of tires .

Sell for $6400.00

Interesting at this point I wonder what other misinformation may have been given

 

Is it 100% true they did not recall frames from 95?

I will speak to him today about that - Thank you

Truck is from NJ/Delaware area

 

March 7, 2008 - Torrance, CA - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS) U.S.A., Inc. will launch a Customer Support Program to extend warranty coverage on certain 1995 through 2000 model year Tacoma truck frames.

Toyota has received reports regarding a small number of Tacoma vehicles exhibiting excessive corrosion of the frame, causing perforation of the metal. The frames of some vehicles may not have adequate corrosion protection. When exposed to severe environmental conditions, including accumulation of road salts, these vehicles may develop corrosion beyond normal surface rust commonly found on metal after years of exposure.

Instances of this condition are isolated and largely confined to states which use salt for winter de-icing of roads. However, to assure customers of its commitment to satisfaction, Toyota is extending a rust perforation warranty covering 1995 to 2000 Tacoma truck frames for a period of 15 years from original sale, with no mileage limitation, for corrosion damage resulting in perforation of the frame material.

Should a customer's vehicle experience this condition, they will be requested to present it to any Toyota dealer for inspection. Upon confirmation of rust perforation, Toyota will, at its option, repair or repurchase the vehicle. If it is determined that no rust perforation is present, the extended warranty will be in effect for 15 years from original sale.

It is important to note that this is not a recall or special service campaign. The extended frame corrosion warranty provides goodwill assistance to owners who have experienced, or may encounter, frame problems as a direct result of rust perforation. Owners will be notified by first class mail beginning mid-March 2008. Customers with questions or concerns should contact the Toyota Customer Experience Center at 1-800-331-4331.

 

Seller could have done a frame swap in the past, but in no way totota did change frames on 1995-2000.
Frame replacements were for 2001-2004 only, but you still had to meet specific requirements.
OP, check this out with the seller.

Before going there, ask for pictures of the frame and underside of the truck. There's people who paint over the rust on the frame to hide rust issues and then claim they have a rust-free frame or a brand new one.... when it isn't the case at all
YOu could then post the pictures here, so we'll tell you if you should run away or not

 

Hey Everybody,

This is my analysis of the predominant two Toyota engines. They are both great engines, by the way, that are extremely reliable and dependable. To all the serious mechanically talented members, I know there are a lot more differences than what I am going to outline in this post.

The Toyota 2.7 inline 4 cylinder is a much simpler motor than its 3.4 V6 sibling. It is a single head, which makes everything inside the engine compartment extremely accessible with the exception of the fuel filter. These Toyota four bangers use a timing chain rather than a timing belt. As a result, timing chains are replaced much less frequently than timing belts. Because of their simplicity, size and configuration, this motor is both easier and cheaper to maintain and repair than its larger Toyota 3.4 V6 sibling. It will get also get better gas mileage. Although, this is not a significant difference.

The Toyota 5VZ-FE 3.4 liter V6 engine is a very sophisticated motor with two heads and double overhead cams per head. It uses a timing belt instead of a chain, which has to be replaced every 90,000 to 100,000 miles. As a result of its size and configuration, it occupies a lot of space in the engine compartment, which makes getting at things a bit difficult. It is going to be both the more expensive and complicated motor to both maintain and repair. Please don't assume that the 3.4 is a difficult or impossible motor to work on based on what I just said. This certainly is not the case. It is just way more complicated of a motor to work on than its 2.7 liter sibling. The 3.4 is going to have significantly more horsepower and torque than its smaller sibling, which makes it much more useful when doing ugly stuff like hauling and towing.

The two transmissions found in the Toyota trucks are the A340, which is an automatic, and the R150F, which is the manual transmission. They are both great transmissions, which with the proper care will bring years of reliability and dependability. The trick with the automatic transmission is to change out the transmission fluid every other year. Of course, if you tow with it, change it out every year. As members have already said on this thread, transmission coolers extend the life of a transmission, and they make its life easier. The trick with manual transmissions is to change out the transmission gear oil every three to four years.

Good Luck ,
Paul

 

Waiting to hear back from the seller today. Soon as I do I will post.

Just found another 95 Tacoma 10 minutes from me on craigslist, but looks rough
https://binghamton.craigslist.org/cto/d/95-toyota-tacoma-sr5/6363600127.html

 

Same there, check the frame. The rear fenders are rusted pretty bad, so I expect you to find more rust all over the truck, frame included...¸

To check a frame is simple: bang it with a hammer.
The first place to look for is where the leaf springs attach to the frame, right behind the cab, as this is usually the first spot where these frames start to rust and rot.
Then around the gas tank and catalytic converter, as these are commonly rotten areas too
Then try to poke a finger into the square holes that run along the frame rails, to see how much rust chunks and flakes there is in there. If full, not a good sign, but the hammer test is really going to tell you if the frame is good or not

A frame can look good from the outside, but the thing is that these frames rust and rot from the inside out. So that's why banging it with a hammer is the only way of telling if the frame is good or not

 

The guy called me from the craigslist ad above, the frame has a crack in it. Not interested. Still waiting on the original post Tacoma