Hey guys, I've been trying to find a Toyota truck for some time now and finally found one in town. I really would love for this to work out but I'm worried that it will be a bit over my head. Here's the ad.....(don't steal it from me quite yet)

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto/1949422270.html

So, I don't have a ton of money(I'm 22) and this will be my first vehicle. I'm a pretty handy guy but I have no car experience. This truck is in my price range but are the extra expenses going to kill me? Could I fix a blown head gasket myself? I'm guessing that it won't be the only problem.

Any information would be a huge help.

Thank you!

 

i dont think anything gets easier than replacing a HG on a carb'd 20R/22R


btw. try talking them down some more. 1200 for a truck with a BHG...

 

thats a sweet lookin truck,and it even has a/c.$1000. would be a sweet price.if you have a problem changing the head gasket you got us TM guy's here with the help,WTH you can even you tube it.im thinking you should grab it.

 

The worst part about replacing the head gasket is getting shuttled around to get the parts when you don't have a vehicle. If you drive with a bad head gasket you can erode the deck where the gasket was supposed to seal. Also its hard to evaluated the brakes, transmission, steering, etc. if the truck is not running. If a head gasket will get it running and you have the time to work on it go for it! that's a good deal.

 

Check a bit of oil on the dipstick. If its a chocolate mile texture/color, it could have a bad bottom end. (and a bargaining trait).

Honestly that truck is worth every bit of 1200. But try a thousand on account its blown up. A/C, SR5, 4WD, Non rusty bed, a good dash.... All worth it.

You are gunna spend about 200 bucks to do a headgasket. Figuring oil, coolant, gasket. Ect.

 

As for your first car if your really up tp the challenge of replacing needed parts then go for it. I just bought a 94 ext cab for $2k and it needs a new motor. Im willing to pay for it to be fixed and buy all the parts but make sure you dont have to invest a ton of money into something that wont be worth it if you ever re-sell it or cant get it to run proper. My first car was a caddy deville from the 80's and I had to drop almost 3 grand into it to make it run reliably should have spent that money on a honda instead but lesson learned. Good luck to you man

 

Been there bro, I got mine for 500 knowing it had blown the HG but found out the head cracked and the #3 pistons warped - even with all this the engine was still able to fire up and run

I'd like to teardown first to see if the head is any good
the original castings are getting quite old now (22yr)
Worst case you gotta get another head, that's another 80-90 @ the junkyard