What's the deal with Prerunners? and should I buy this one hit in the front?

It's a 2003 Prerunner, extended cab. Has the 4cyl, automatic w/168k. Bed stick reports TRD, but not sure. I haven't seen the truck yet. Kinda just wondering if it's even worth my time to go out. No idea about the frame (if rusty, or undercoated via Toyota). These are things I will check out and ask in person.



Here's my question... What's the deal with Prerunners? I don't quite understand their status in the market.
Also, I've worked on cars a bunch, and I'm very experienced mechanically, but I usually stay away from body damage. How bad do you think this is? Obviously needs bumper, fender, headlight, turn light, grille, hood, and owner said washer fluid reservoir. I will inspect radiator and try to look at core support, but how bad do you think hidden damage could be? Any surprises?
How hard would it be to source the parts? I know it's always the issue of getting lucky and finding the same color parts, or just painting them.
How much might the truck fetch pre-accident? I'm just trying to figure out if it's a smart deal and this is a good truck worth keeping

Thanks for the help guys

OH btw - owner reports that it does NOT have the salvage title nonsense. LOL...just comes down to the coin flip of "do I report this or not?" if a truck gets branded salvage.

 

Prerunners are simply 5e 4x4s without the transfer case, etc... they are great for desert running, and you can easily lift them 3 or more inches without worrying about CV angles. They also typically get better gas mileage (sligtly).

As for this one? A 4cyl automatic. Ouy. It will be gutless. I test drove a 2002 singlecab prerunner several years ago, and I hated it. Before that I had a 5spd manual 4cyl and that was workable, but those auto really seam to rob what little power the 4cyls have.

As for the body work, at least most of those peices are bolt on (fender, grill...) so it wouldn’t be that hard to fix up. I’d be more worried about the suspension...

I smell fiberglass fenders and long travel....

 

Thanks for the reply. I agree with you on..pretty much 100%.
Every since I got involved in the Japanese truck 'scene' I never understood the '4cyl in a 4x4, ext cab, automatic truck' move, but it seems insanely popular with Tacomas. I always got the V6 in my trucks and always thought "man...if this thing had ANY less power...man oh man.."
Maybe there's something I don't know ? Doesn't really seem to hurt the market value like a V6 Silverado or anything.

I understand what a Prerunner technically is, more or less a 4x4 without the front diff and t-case. But I don't really understand their purpose. Only judging by used car listings, the Prerunner actually seems like it sold really well. But I don't understand why a person would want one? I guess Toyota marketed hard on the 'aggressive 4x4 styling but without 4x4 cost'?

And yes, I'm pretty happy it seems everything damaged is bolt on.
What makes you think the suspension would be compromised?

 

Just any sort of front end damage, I’d want to check the suspension over really well, make sure it can be aligned, etc... it doesn’t look to bad, but you never know. You take a risk buying ANY used vehicle, even one that “looks” perfect, let alone one you can see the damage.

I think the prerunners were marketed just like you say, aggressive 4x4 look, without the actual 4x4. If you don’t go offroad, a 4x4 is just a waste, and added cost. Hell, most people with 4x4 never engage the front diff...

 

What do you think a fair purchase price would be? Assuming the rest of the vehicle is in overall good condition.

 

4CYL Auto TRD will not have the elocker. Basically the TRD package with that engine/trans combo will only be the bilstein shocks and progressive rate front springs.

You can go by kbb for value based on mileage. Depending on where you live, you can get higher than kbb value. 4x4s are worth more, but it doesn't always add that much and not everyone wants a 4x4.

 

Gotcha. Thanks for the tidbit about the TRD, I didn't know that and I was having that exact conversation with someone last night.


D'oh! I forgot the 2 most important questions I was going to ask

1) I was talking with a long time die-hard Toyota truck guy. He occasionally buys up rusted frame trucks for a bed or cab, then parts the rest. He has pretty much only delt with 4x4 toyotas, and he was almost positive that the body panels on the Prerunner trucks is slightly different
Any knowledge on this?

2) that same guy, who, coincidentally, just finished parting out a 2001 single cab 4x4 5spd (and has the 4x4 parts left) recommended 'it might be a much more valuable truck to you (and worth more in the future) if you added the front diff and t-case'
Not trying to give the wrong ideas, he was a really nice guy and not really interested in making profit off the parts. I think he would sell me everything I need for the 4x4 conversion for a few hundred$.

How much work is it to convert? And is it as 'simple' as bolting in front diff, axles, auto hubs, driveshaft and t case?

 

1) The 5 lug tacomas have different front fenders. Prerunners are the same as 4x4, they just don't have the 4x4 stuff. 5 lug trucks are very different.

2) The easiest way to convert is using the same year engine/trans combo. There are many threads about converting on this forum, just search and you'll find them. Doing a auto to manual swap will complicate some things, but there are people that have done it.

 

I've NEVER converted a pre-runner to a 4x4, but I will say, after reading on here I'm about 99% sure that you have to change the transmission out on them as well. I'd definitely look into that, but I think I remember having to replace that as well.

 

It is that simple. I'm in the process of doing the PreRunner 4x4 conversion myself and swap is very straightforward - it is basically all bolt on-bolt off if you go with manual hubs. I've spend about $1,200 so far in parts and I expect to pay a total of $1,500 when I replace the ball joints, t-case rubber boot, the alignment, etc - preventative maintenance basically.

Here's a list:



The PreRunner is basically a 2WD truck on a 4WD chassis. If it's an auto the transmission is exactly the same (A340E) in exception of the output shaft - you can keep your old 2WD tranny if you wanted you swapped the shaft but it's very involved, I found a good deal on an A340F and t-case, which is the 4x4 tranny for a whole $450.

 

Wow. Thanks a lot for your post. Very informative.

Just curious, what makes you want to go forward with this swap? Not the end of the world, but it's pretty time consuming and a lot of grunt work with heavy, greasy parts. I replaced the throw bearing in my 5spd 4x4, and it was agony. I did it in my driveway, no lift. It took me 3 days and my entire body hurt afterwards. A lot of this comes from only having one floor jack, but still..it was a headache.

Personally, I'm only going to consider it if it turns a $5k truck into a $7k truck, for example, and if I get the parts cheap.

 

I like this truck too damn much, has a lot of sentimental value to me. I plan on driving it until the engine falls out. It's also 100x cheaper than buying a truck that is already 4x4 - plus you don't have to pay for 4x4 insurance rates since it is, on paper, still a "2WD PreRunner" truck. I also like working with cars a lot so this project makes a lot of sense for me. Just need to find time to do it.

Adding onto the insurance rate thing, there's a guy who bought a late 1980's v8 Dually and a 1997 Tacoma. He cut both trucks in half at the cab, and welded the dually rear-end to the Tacoma cab. It's basically half v8 Dually half Tacoma (which since has 6 wheels, must be registered as a commercial vehicle in some states) but since the VIN plate for the Tacoma remains intact on paper it's still a stock 1997 Toyota Tacoma, not a 1980's Chevy v8 Dually.

 

I recently bought a 4x4 with similar front end damage for 2k.

Looks to me like you need inner fender and rad support too. It'll cost you more than you think to repair. I toyed around with fixing the one I bought until I talked to someone about paint. Likely $1200+ for just paint.

I took the locking rear axle and a few other doodads for mine and resold it for 2k.. .

 

Oh, and since I see you are close, I still have the same color inner fender and core support, hood, grill and headlights. I have a white used oem fender too.

 

I understand the whole 'cost more than you think' that's why I'm here.

$1200 for paint...like repaint the entire truck or just a fender and hood....??

The truck actually sold before I could contact the guy again, which is fine. I wasn't super excited about taking on this project since I wasn't sure how much value it would add. The guy seemed kinda desperate to get it gone. The last edit of his CL had $2500 obo. It was $3700 about a week prior.
I had sourced all the 4x4 parts - front diff, axles, ADD hubs, front driveshaft, 5speed trans w/t-case, rear driveshaft, and the matching rear gearset w/axles - all for $300, but it seems body panels in good shape are not so easy to find

 

If you used the ADD system it's a lot more involved. Depending if its vacuum or electrically actuated it would require running the respective systems to the factory lines.

 

I've had a 2002 4cyl TRD Prerunner for 9 years and have loved it. Has done plenty of mild off-roading without any issues.

 

Paint hood (both sides) fender and likely fade door and other fender for color match. Also paint strip on top of bumper and piece below headlight... You get the idea!

Used body panels are not easy to find, bumpers are impossible!

 

My '97 2.7l auto extra cab TRD had the elocker.

 

Interesting. My 99 2.7l auto extra cab TRD did not have the elocker. I know it was a custom option. Did you buy the truck new?