New to Yotatech forums, but I have been reading for a while as I'm on the hunt for a 1st gen 4runner.

A family friend of ours has a 1988 4runner 22re 5spd 4x4 that they bought new from the dealer in 88 and have owned ever since (it hasn't been driven much except for around the farm for about 5 years). The truck is down in SC, so there is absolutely NO rust. It starts up and runs just fine, the interior is in OK shape, and the exterior has no major dents; it's just rough around the edges. There are two things about the truck though.

1) It needs a new set of tires as all of them are completely bald, and
2) this is the big mystery to me: The truck is driving in 2wd, but the 4wd selector is stuck and will not budge from 4 HI. What could be causing this? Anyone have a best guess as to how much this would cost to fix.

I'm thinking that I can pry this truck away from them for $600 as is, but I'm hoping not to spend more than $2000 to get her up and running with the 4wd working. Any thoughts or ideas as to whether this truck is a steal at this price would be more than welcome.
Thanks!

 

If it has manual hubs you can disengage the wheels from the front differential allowing 2wd operation with 4wd selected in the transfer case. Check the operation of the hubs, lift the vehicle and sping the rear wheels to see if the front shaft spins. Pop the shifter off the top of the transfer case and see if anything looks obviously out of place.

 

before you pull any shifters out, lock the hubs, drive in 4wd slowly, 3-4 mph let off the gas push in the clutch, and at the same time shift into 2 hi.

mileage and pics..

sounds like a good project for the money, hard to go wrong, depending on how much it needs.

 

thanks for the advice. the shifter is stuck in 4hi though and will not budge, but when i go look at the truck next month, i'll try it out. the truck is in South Carolina where my family lives, and I live in Baltimore, MD. My brother was interested, so he went and scoped it out first, but he does not want to purchase it (mostly because he doesn't have any money to sink into a project and needs an every day driver). All of my information is relayed via him. He told me that it has 155,000 miles on it. No pictures, but I'll take some when I go check it out myself.

 

better jump on it quick, 1st gen runners are worth money in good shape.

keep us posted.

 

id jump on it . I bet the transfer case is just jammed up they all do it. do like someone said lock the hubs and drive it slowely and try to shift it into 2wd. sometimes you even have to back up or go forwards and give it a little gas and let off and try to shift as you let off . Good luck

 

:wabbit2: It is called torque bind from the stress of not being able to slip in mud or snow things get tight .

The easiest way I have found is to back up. could also be a little dry in the transfer case up top from not really any long drives to get the gear oil slung up top. I would not think it is a major problem

For $600.00 i would not even think just break out my wallet if it is as good as you say.

I would guess the normal hoses would need to be replaced :jessica:

 

600 for a clean running 4runner is a steal in my opinion scoop it up and work out the bugs and have a nice runner project

 

you cannot go wrong for $600,especially if you can drive it.