Just a few "NEWBIE" questions about 4-Runners!!!

juveteach

New Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2010
Location
Monroe N.C.
New to this forum and to NC 4x4, so my question is....
1. What would be the ideal year for a trail rig if I was looking to buy a Toyota 4-Runner, and why?
2. What do I need to do to it to make it a dependable and a capable rig, not to concerned about street legal issues?
3. What are the best and most cost effective ( did y'all catch that I didn't say "cheapest") mods to do to a 4-Runner?
4. Is the 4 cylinder the way to go or the V-6?
5. Auto or manual?
Also I am very capable of doing all the work myself and introducing our young minds to the great adventure of four wheeling, because I'm an Automotive teacher, so we will be doing a lot of the work at school.
Thanks in advance and I'll monitor the responses.
I'm thinking of getting into this four wheeling thing as a way to get the family involved into something as a whole unit. Since we all can't fit into a tree stand together, I feel like the girls in the squad don't get out as much as my son and I do, so I'm trying to get them into it too.
Thanks, for your time,
Mike
aka "juveteach"
Glad to be a new member!!!
 
Mike, 1985 4runner IMO is the heat,last year 4 solid front axel and 1st for fuel injection. Usually noy a cheap find. My friend has a 88 that is wanting to sell. spring over shackle reversal and regeared to pull 33's on road, very streetable nice truck. pm me with your number.
 
Nice, mold the young minds, and get you some free labor and possibly parts lol.
Don't know much about the yotas but I would get the 22re if I could, heard nothing but good things.
 
X2 on the '85. Solid axle and efi are the way to go. They are hard to come by though. I got mine minus the entire Toyota drivetrain. I've put everything out of an '84 truck in it. (engine, trans, transfer case, front and rear axles, brake booster and lines, clutch master cyl and pedal.

They are pretty simple for learning the ropes of automotive repair, and you don't need but 5 or 6 tools to take the entire thing apart!:lol:
You'll want the 4 cyl unless you want to get into fab work to put in a 3.4 liter.
 
Props to ya for bringing this project into the school. The students should feel excited about a project like this.

And, if I might add, this is also a great time to teach them how to be responsible wheelers. No illegal wheeling,pack in-pack out, extraction safety, seatbelts..etc...
 
What age group will be doing the work and are any of them into wheel-in already? Oh by the way welcome aboard!! I can't help with the yota deal but let me know when you get to the Jeeps(CJ). When you pick out your project start a build tread.
 
Thanks guys for all the love...I teach 10-12th graders. Yes some of these guys already wheel some but I'm not sure if they know how to do it in a responsible way, y'all remember when you were 16,17 years old? Ten feet tall invisible and bullet proof!!! But I'll try to get through to 'em. I will start a thread if I find something.
What do y'all think...I found a 88 runner with a v-6 whith some top engine knock. Should I hold out for a 85?
I'm watching so respond often.
Thanks,
Mike
 
I still have stock axles and gears on my cj but most of the trail rigs go with 1 tons or bigger and this place is full of parts and build treads to see what other people have already done.
 
i don't know to much about the v6, i have the 22re in my yota though and love it
 
If you want to have them rebuild the engine, go for the 88. That's the first thing that one needs. It is also an IFS truck, so if you want a serious wheeler, plan on a Solid Axle Swap. It will wheel fairly well with the IFS, but will break eventually if you wheel it hard.
 
I would try to stay with a 4cyl 5speed. However for the learning, that 3.0 will be good for teaching a basic rebuild. I would tear it all the way down and build it back. The IFS is fairly tough if you dont get too big with the tires, some people dont give it enough credit. I would rather change out half shafts than birfs any day. Keep an eye out though, because occasionally you can find a runner with engine problems for cheap. As for the years, I would stay with an 84-89. They have the removable top which equates to less sheet metal to rub against trees.
 
ahh man auto tech!! I LOVED THAT CLASS!!! our teacher let a kid do a motor swap on his 84.. too bad we swapped IN a 3.0, it tought us how to read a wiring diagram also how much work a motor swap really is!!! ..... but it lived for a long time and never once had an issue.... 1 in a million i guess,

i also have a 1gen 4runner and LOVE IT find you one!!!

PROPS to a GREAT AUTO TEACHER!!!!!:beer:
 
im for a 85 runner to. cost effective mods? throw a lockrite in teh rear, or spool or weld it. and lock the front. some sliders would be good for protection. and maybe rears up front and chevy 63in springs out back. or if you go with IFS, which isnt as bad as people say, keep teh suspenion stock, youll be less likely to break stuff. stock wheels, 33x10.50s, locked rear. steering is IFS's weakest link IMO. some websites to check out, marlincrawler.com, trail-gear.com, 4crawler.com, sky-manufacturing.com
 
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