Out driving around today and found a 90 4Runner for sale. I will post up some pics later when I go back to take a closer look. I called the guy (Allen) and talked to him briefly. This truck is MINT! No dings, no rust, new BFG All terrains, solid alluminum rims, fender flairs, 3.0 (just rebuilt), polished and ported heads, DOA headers, flowmaster exhaust, free flow cat, interior looks amazing and it is a 5 speed. The guy is looking for $3500 minimum. And it's black...my favorite color!

 

Buy it. Perfect platform for a 3.4 swap.

 

If he wanted a 3.4 he should do the logical thing and buy a 3rd gen.

 

Not necessarily so if he is a 2nd gen fan. Some prefer 2nd gens over 3rd gens and for that price, he could have a 2nd gen with a 3.4 for under 7,000.00. All in all, a truck as clean as he decribes is still a hell of a deal at that price.

 

Why would I even consider a 3.4 swap when the 3.0 has just been rebuit?! Port and polished heads, bored 10 over (at least i believe that's what he said on the phone). With everything he has done to it i would think that the power gain should be coming close to that of the 3.4 anyhow.

 

Because that is the standard answer around here when anyone mentions the 3vze.
Need more power? Swap in a 3.4.
Head Gasket leaking? Swap in a 3.4.
Need a water pump? Swap in a 3.4.

 

I am glad to see I am not the only one out there that believes just because somthing goes wrong the 3.4 should be swapped in. I would rather rebuild my 3.0 over and over than spen thousands on 3.4 swap

 

Think you missed one:
Gas level is low.. swap engines

 

time for a spark plug to be replaced? 3.4
everyone knows that the 3.0 is gonna drink 20 gallons of gas sitting in your driveway and then on the way to the gas station, its gonna blow a head gasket or 5. its the worst engine ever built on the face of the earth. blah blah blah.

very nice find, I am super jealous. I just bought my 90 for a thousand bucks, rusty as hell, nothing rebuilt, auto, forest green. but it did have a brand new radiator, came with a bunch of new parts, and it runs and drives. new alternator (Denso!) too.

post pics if you buy it, a black 90 4runner with a swinging rear tire is like my ultimate dream SUV.

 

Wow...that's a really dumb way to look at it.

The 3.0 is a Turd so why spend thousands to still have a turd when you could put a good motor in for less??? Hell a 22RE swap should be considered a performance mod for these trucks. Great find...except for the motor. Oh and it's a Chain driven T-case as well but the R series 5-speed is a nice unit.

Cheers

Dave

 

WOW...I am super jealous!! I was looking around for Pickups and 4Runners for months and at least here in NY there are bareluy any pickups for sale ever, and if they are they are beat to hell or rusted out completely.

Found a lot of nice 4Runners, but all were Auto's, so kept looking, but could never find one in 5spd, good or bad. Found out anytime one goes up for sale that's 5spd, they get bought up by cab drivers and shipped back to Africa or wherever because they don't want the Auto's over there.

Finally found a real nice '91 4Runner, 195K, no real rust on it, just had new heads and HG's put in by Toyota, brand new BFG All Terrain TA's, 31X10.5, and a bunch of other stuff....but Auto, so I sucked it up.....was Ok for a few months.....but now I am starting to freak out without a 5spd...seriously considering swapping it if it's not too expensive.

Sick find man, I would almost consider flying to NE, and driving it home for that price, condition and setup. By the way I would definitely stick with that 3.0, I dont' mind mine at all, and you have headers, that is sick.

 

diesel freak you odviously do not know how to read, I said 3.4 is thousands, I you blow 5 HG on a 3.0 you odviously do not know how to drive. And it sure does not cost thousands to do a head gasket job, I did my last one for $300 including full gasket kit, got the heads machined and inspected, new water pump and timing belt just because I could. all for under $300

 

I haven't blown 5 HG's... You said you'd rather re-build a 3.0 over and over... and that sounds stupid. No wait, it IS stupid, yeah that's it. 3.0's make gerat planters and that's about it. End of story.

Cheers

Dave

 

the 3.slow is a turd of a motor but with some work they can be good between the head gasket changes. damn those aluminum heads and cast iron blocks.

 

You are right in that I made the mistake saying rebuild over and over because that would be dumb, but I am just saying the 3.0 is not a complete disaster, there are many success stories about the 3.0 and getting 300,000 with only 1 HG job and no re-build. The only reason I see putting in the 3.4 is for more powere, but if I were to stick that much money into I personally would got to the 1UZ v8

 

I only mentioned that it is a great find and a perfect platform for the 3.4 swap. The fact that it has been rebuilt is great. Drive it till it drops, swap motors, and you still have a 2nd gen with a 3.4 for under $7,000. I am in the swap or rebuild dillema on my sons 95 right now. Recall performed in 01 and now it just blew. Pretty sure I will be ordering the 3.4 next week. I was quoted at 1700.00 for everything needed. Also, I havent heard of very many people on this site that have had that much work (or wanted it) done to a 3.0. Hope it holds up for you. Keep us posted. I would also like to know what you get for gas milage after you buy it with all the work that has been done to it. Good find!!!

 

for sure a good find my buddy has a 93 4 runner that we ve never had a HG problem. how ever my dads has had 2 in the last 2 years

 

you can get all the parts for the swap, every last thing, for like 700 bucks. if you are handy and have some friends that are handy, all you need is some tools, a garage, a saturday night, and a case of beer.

cheers!

 

Maybe in PA, but out here in CA the motor alone is 1000.00 to 1200.00 not including the wiring harness, MAF and air box, computer, and all the tuneup needs. If you can save me a grand on parts, And I mean ALL PARTS, I will buy it now. Just give me a number to call. Or better yet, call me!! PM me and I will give you my number.

 

I was talking about a manual swap haha. re-read my post. If I could do a 5VZ swap for 700 bucks, you better bet your butt that I would be the first person to do so in my area, and rather rapidly.