mlrtime99

Well I bought my first Toyota yesterday in Phoenix AZ, 1991 4x4 v6 4 runner for 1500 on ebay. 200k everything appears to be in great shape. I know about the head gasket and burnt exhaust valves these engines are prone to and plan on calling the dealer Monday. In the meantime I do know my fan clutch is leaking, my shocks are blown, AND after wheeling a little last night those headlamps are garbage. So i'm interested in everyones opinion, especially if you actually have experience with a product.

Fan clutch-
I can go flex a lite #165 or #180 electric, new stock or rebuild it, OR the taurus electric. Any feedback on these? Seems like a lot of people aren't a fan of these because of the water use issue. One member even mentioned the electric fans were much louder? Any truth to this?

Shocks-
Pretty clueless here, everything is stock today but I wouldn't mind 31" tires eventually. I plan on a lot of roadtrips on this thing but would like to have a little fun once I get there.

Lighting-
I hate sealed beams, has anyone had luck with a HID retro or even a relector instead of a refractor headlamp? Aside from auxilliary lights I'd like to get the headlights up to par first.

abecedarian

fan clutch- don't have anything really to add for your consideration I picked up a fan clutch from autozone for 49 bucks with a lifetime warranty for my 22re.
shocks- rancho has some decent shocks and prices from cheap to wack. bilsteins seem to be the beezneez but I've not used them.
lighting- hella has some nice replacable 9004 type housings. I've got a set of cheap replacable bulb ones (i think by pilot for 39 bucks) with silverstar bulbs and high beams are bright out to about 1/4 mile and have a nice spread below the main beam.

mlrtime99

Thanks for the pilot light suggestion, that's EXACTLY what I was looking for just couldn't find a set made by a brand company. Pilot WI-HL5A, clear lense reflectors. WI-HL11's are also 6054 to H4's but they have colored accent rings.

89macrunner

if you are planning on taking it to the dealership to get the head gasket and burnt valves fixed you are going to spend at least twice what you paid for the truck.

Matt16

Shocks don't have anything to do with tire size. The 4Runner was available with 31's so no modifications necessary. Shock selection comes down to personal preference. There are $35 shocks that will do the job, then there $100 shocks that will also. Both will do a pretty good job controlling body roll, pitching etc, but the expensive ones will give a nicer ride. Here are my observations:

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
mine were ancient and two of them had no oil left in them hence the truck pitched and rolled like mad even on gravel roads. Moral of the story- don't go offroad with burned out shocks.

$35ea. Pro Comp ES3000 shocks
The tightest ride of the bunch. Probably the best if you like to drive fast on the street. Gives a punishing ride with Old Man Emu (stiff) springs.

OME (not to be confused with OEM, Old Man Emu[$80ea.]
Best ride over gravel, rocks, and most comfortable on the street. More body roll than Pro Comps. I like these best.

abecedarian

I might be inclined to argue with the shocks and tire size interraction, but that arguement is about preference. larger tires than what was on there might warrant a shock with more compression and less jounce dampening for street or desert use but less compression and more jounce dampenign for crawling, but like said, it's a preference.
as for the springs, that's a whole nother argument.
then again, I'm not a crawling guru, just a mechanical type person.

Jay351

Replace the fan clutch with a stock unit. They are ample enough to cool your engine should it need the fan. The 3vze has a big rad, so its usually enough to cool the engine without the aide of the fan. In anycase, stick with the original crank driven fan setup, it will work better then 99% of electric fans out there.

For your headlights go on over to hella and get a set of their Hella E-code lenses, with some nice bulbs. Then go over to 4crawler.com and get the upgraded headlight wiring harness.

Once I get some extra cash my headlight system will receive this treatment!

Matt16

But if you overheat, you've got a time bomb on your hands. 3VZE are notorious for head gasket failures due to overheating for the benefit of anyone who didn't know.

dirtoyboy

fan clutch = go with a stock (used) unit.....I would rather run that than an iffy electric fan....

shocks = Used are good as well...check with some local off road shops or tire/wheel shops to see if they have any sitting around. For new I would recommend Deutch Techs (sp?)...the germans know a thing or two about shocks

Headlights= roundeyes conversion lights and upgraded harness from 4crawler

CJM

In all honesty if you dont want to spend alot on shocks, some monroe senstraks are very good for the cash.

toyNG

I use the Rancho 5000s, and have so far been pretty pleased. I'm definitely on a budget, so I couldn't afford anything really nice. But they get the job done, so I'm happy.

I just checked 4wheelpart.com and they have their Rancho 9000s for 50% off, plus they are doing the buy 3 get the 4th free promotion. Seems like a great deal.

mlrtime99

Great info guys, looks like headlamp prefences seem to fall to;
Cibie - 200mm-HCR 142 x 200 mm "E-code" Halogen Low/ High Beam Cibie H4 $85.00 ea.

Hella - HL79567 200mm Rectangular ECE H4 Headlamp, no bulb, each $38.46
or HL72207 200mm Vision Plus Rectangular DOT Headlamp. Includes HB2/H4 60/55w Bulb $36.15
depending on your DOT/E code choice.

Probably toss in some silver stars (love the 9006's I already have) along with the upgraded wiring harness from 4Crawler.

I'm trying to get the Rancho RS5000TM's from 4wheel parts with that 4th shock free deal but their site is messed up right now. Says they handle factory up to a 1" lift (you do have to buy shocks based on lift as they all have a stroke range they work best in) Front - RS5145 $52 Rear - RS5187 $52 pricing at advanced auto, will let you konw how 4wheel does. The 9000x's are a bush on 4wheel, the 5000 series they are selling are also end of life models. Same price for the new series from Advanced Auto.

Looks like aftermarket mechanical fan clutches go from $55-95 but everyone here seems to talk about the ASCO/AISIN clutches, but I'm not finding a consistant part number or place to buy these.