Outer Limits 4x4 Board

hey all, lookin at buyin my missus an 86 2.4d 4runner.

all it has wrong with it is a blown head gasket (which my diesel mechanic mate is goin to double check on) and the guy wants $1000 for it.

now ive seen it gettin around before and its fairly stock.
it seemed to be in awsome condition and i know for a fact its never been bush or thrashed, this blokes mother owned it then he got it off her and since then its just been driven to work and the supermarket.

just want to know what little hidden nastys i need to look for, where the cancer grows etc.

thanks for your help!!

cancer mostly around the front window/A pillar. Mine had some on the wheel arch which started cuz of the stupid chrome strips. Also around the windows of the canopy and under the canopy where it meets the body can be a cancer haven.

Check the canopy is sealed well at the front (b pillar).

Check the rear window functions ok, even pull the trim off the tailgate and check the runners (they like to rust out).

and their obviousely prone to a saggy bum which makes em handle a bit boaty on the road.

hop under and check the cv boots, if theyre hard/brittle. not expensive to replace but a paint in the ass.

all i can think of atm, if i think of more ill ad to this

My father and I are nearly finished painting an '84 single cab Hilux (similar to 4runner). It had very little rust in it, but this is where we found it:
- foot wells, at the main lateral seam. Its near the body mount holes. This was the worst in the body we're doing
- the body mount cavities (lift out the plastic plugs and have a look)
- The bottom front corners of the heater intake cavity. (You really need the front quartyer panels off to check propely though).
- Anything to do with windows, and their frames

When we bought this vehicle, the Chassis was really cancerous unlike the body. The body was rust proofed but the chassis not. These were the worst spots on the chassis:
- arround the fuel tank
- The main middle crossmember that the tailshaft passes under. (this was riddled with rust).
- Behind the brake proportioning valve at the rear. (holes in chassis rails).
- The inside bottom of rails around gearbox crossmember. The walls were so thin that you could knock them out with a hammer!
- very front crossmember was starting to show signs of rust also (inside).

These chassis on the Hilux's seem to eat themselves from the inside out, so I'd be very thorough. Bodies can be reppaired (to a sane extent), the chassis is the real concern IMO. If you get a good one, rust proof it!

cool. thanks fellas.

out of interest... are the 86's ifs or solid fronts??
im goin to check it out tomorrow anyway

mines a 01/86 and it's IFS. i think the <86 were solid tho

nice... bit better ride for the missus then!