mosk

This is sort of a companion question to my other question about manual transmission 4Runners, but I'd like to know which 3rd gen. V6 4Runners are best for supercharging and why?

For example, I know Toyota changed O2 sensors after 1998, and the 1998 and earlier motors used dual narrow band sensors, and later 3rd gen, 4Runners used one narrow band and one "not narrow band" sensor, and then still later (?) switched one of the sensors to a Toyota-variant wideband AFR sensor. But which of these arrangements is best for supercharging? And did they make other year-to-year changes within the 3rd gen. run that make one year stand out as "best"?

As you can probably guess, I'm interested in getting a V6 3rd. gen. 4Runner w/a manual transmission and am trying to figure out which year I want to focus on. I currently have a supercharged 1998 3RZ 4Runner, but it's still a bit underpowered when towing, etc., and I'd like to see what else is out there. I'm not in a particular rush, but I don't want to inadvertently put myself in a corner by choosing a "bad" year for what I want.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

Yukon

It seems to me that the 99-00 Limiteds, and SR5 Higlanders are considered the "best" 4runners. Of course opinions will vary, but that is how I feel.

vital22re

iTrader: (2)

the 99 and on ecu's responded better with the sc is what i've heard.

X-AWDriver

Plus you get all the mid gen upgrades in '99 and they are a plenty.

Here's a thread detailing a few overlooked items.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...es-w-pics.html

mosk

OK, cool. I forgot about moving the cupholders to the center console -- yet another reason to hold out for a '99 or 00

Thanks!

Followup: Which 4x4/AWD setup is best? Is the AWD well implemented? All of my 4x4 Toys to this point have either had manual hubs or just the more traditional xfer case options. Looks like this is something else I need to consider.

jrm

is what my 00 limited has. Its real easy to use. Theres also a mod to reprogram the locker so it works in H4 and 2WD. Havent done it yet

914runner

Get a '99 or '00 with the 5-speed. The 5-speed should have the regular "J" shift transfer case.

mosk

Thanks, guys. I have the 1999-2000 4x4 5 speed V6 4Runner Craigslist search saved as a series of RSS feeds (and Vehix...and AutoTrader...), so I'm currently keeping my eyes open. Interestingly, after a camping trip a few weeks ago my wife and I began to question if a 4Runner still going to be big enough for all four of us and our gear, so I'm also keeping my eyes open for a 2001-2004 Tacoma Double Cab 4x4 5 speed V6 short bed. I'm leaning towards the tacoma, but I'll take a hard look at the first one of these i find in my area (NorCal). Both of these are hard to find as very few have turned up in the 2 or 3 weeks I've been searching. Thankfully, I'm not in a huge hurry, and it's very important to me to find *exactly* what I want, so I'm going to be patient and wait.

Anyway, thanks again for the input. I'll update this thread when I eventually find something.

Jeff

jrm

it takes time to find a good one and you may have to travel a ways. Its worth it though.

914runner

Well you will be searching a very long time for a '01-'04 5-speed double cab because Toyota never made them. The double cabs only came with an auto. They are easily swapped though, my friend and I swapped his '02 double cab to a 5-speed.

mosk

LOL - seriously?! The first Tacoma Double Cabs were auto only? Man...goes to show that you (or at least I) shouldn't make assumptions! Thanks so much for pointing that out -- I was willing to wait a long time to find one. Thanks, 914runner!! Excellent info, and very much appreciated. Thanks for setting me straight.

Mechanically, I'm fine doing a trans swap, but I guess I need to see how the CARB handles that sort of thing. I don't want to set myself up for unending grief every time I need a smog certificate. Out of curiosity, do you know which tranny they use? Do the autos and manuals use the same transfer case? Also, did your friend swap in the manual ECU? Sort of curious to know if that was required and necessitated any re-wiring or pin moving in the harness.

Interesting that manual transmissions made a reappearance in the 2005+ double cabs. Too bad those are so pricey.

-Jeff

crolison

98 is the best year for me, it's like a half upgrade between 96-97 to the 99, it has the new steering wheel, larger cargo bin, but not the simple simpler electronics.

only really early 96s were known to have head gasket problems.

Me personally would look for a 96-99 4runner with a 5 speed.

914runner

CARB cares what tranny you run? Here in Oregon they could care less.

5-speed is the R150F
Auto is the A340F
They use the same transfer cases

No, we just used the Auto ECU. It threw a CEL, but it still ran perfectly fine.