Old Truck New Truck

**520** · 06-24-2019, 01:45 PM

So I picked up this Tacoma a few months back from a friend who owned it for 18 years. On Sat. I am 110 miles from home and the radiator plastic cracked.

It over heated and after doing a road side radiator swap bringing it back up to operating temp it was running rough.

Pulled the plugs and sure enough I blew a head gasket. Coolant in the cylinder but not in the oil.

Limped it to my parents house a few miles away, posted it on FB marketplace and had a deposit down on it from someone within an hour. Title was 110 miles away so I go back today with the title.

I really like single cab tacoma's but it was just not enough truck(and I was hauling bigger loads than I should have) so the blown head gasket was my reason to step away and look for something else.

I found this sweet 7.3l that is coming up at auction and I think I am finally ready to spring for the big diesel truck I've been wanting.

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**t00nces2** · 06-24-2019, 03:56 PM

How in the hell do you kill a Tacoma??!!

Congrats on the new heavy mover.

**SKWrapper** · 06-24-2019, 04:12 PM

Congrats on the new truck! Nice that it has a lift gate.

At least this didn't happen:

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**520** · 06-24-2019, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by SKWrapper

Congrats on the new truck! Nice that it has a lift gate.

At least this didn't happen:

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Trying to figure out exactly what happened here? Doesn't really look like it was in a collision. I wonder if the frame was rusted out? Kinda looks like someone got on the gas and the rear wheels moved forward while the front stayed still.

**Patriot76** · 06-24-2019, 11:14 PM

I have a 2000 F 350 with 260,000 miles and a 2001 F 450 with 160,000 miles both with the 7.3. The 7.3 is actually the International 444 and is bomb proof in my mind. The 2000 has a micro tuner that allows for the changing between performance and towing, a nice luxury. I have several other trucks, but these two are the go to rigs when hauling big loads or dealing with snow and mud. I just wish they were both manual transmissions because then I could leave the keys in them in the city and know few would know how to drive them. Just kidding, but a manual would add more versatility to their towing capacity. In addition to the lift gate on yours, I love the dent in the fender because you will not sweat a scratch when scrapping. Good luck at the auction and I hope you end up driving a new rig for your endeavors.

**Patriot76** · 06-24-2019, 11:16 PM

An additional thought, a 7.3 might be over kill for electronic scrapping. You might find yourself looking for bigger loads just to challenge it. It might be like using a plow horse instead of a pony for the kiddie ride at the carnival. If you can find enough electronics to push it you will be the man.

**520** · 06-25-2019, 03:10 AM

Originally Posted by Patriot76

An additional thought, a 7.3 might be over kill for electronic scrapping. You might find yourself looking for bigger loads just to challenge it. It might be like using a plow horse instead of a pony for the kiddie ride at the carnival. If you can find enough electronics to push it you will be the man.

I still have the wife's 07 tacoma for when I am making longer runs with smaller loads. I can basically haul 3 pallets worth of stuff with a tacoma and my 8ft trailer but i've been regularly needing to pick up double that or more 100+ miles from home.

I still plan on getting another tacoma for running around town but right now it's time for a real work truck. This one has a manual trans by the way and it's definitely one of the reasons it caught my eye. Plus I will be able to cut down on my trips to the scrap yard so that's another plus. There is enough opportunity out there right now that i'll have no problem putting it to use.

Learned to drive in a 92 F-250 7.3 Manual...Last year of the Naturally Aspirated 7.3's I believe.

**KzScrapper** · 06-25-2019, 05:54 AM

I have a '84 F250 with 6.9l IDI w/Banks turbo...just needs 12 volts at the injection pump and compression does the rest. Don't drive it as much as I could but always starts when needed even if it's been several months. Have had close to 2 tons of rock in the bed and it just purrs along.

**APA** · 06-25-2019, 06:51 AM

Frame rotted in half. There is a major recall on the frames for rust.

Originally Posted by 520

Trying to figure out exactly what happened here? Doesn't really look like it was in a collision. I wonder if the frame was rusted out? Kinda looks like someone got on the gas and the rear wheels moved forward while the front stayed still.

**matador** · 06-25-2019, 08:53 AM

Those old Tacomas really are tough little beasts- the farmers run them as irrigation trucks. Imagine no maintenance, an oil change once a year, 10-15k miles of driving between them, through mud all day, bouncing along on dirt roads that would kill anything. Somehow, you don't see the Tacomas getting replaced very often- they just keep on going. There's only two types of small trucks that can take that abuse really well here- Tacomas and Ford Rangers. You can't go wrong with either.... unless you need to do heavier hauling