Hello all new here and maybe new to toyotas. Iam looking to buy a 4runner after i sell a truck, i have been looking at the 94 and 95. and afew 97 and 98.
1.Which years would be a better 4x4?
2. Is there that big a difference between the 3.0 and 3.4?
3.My budget is about 6grand,i can get a 94-95 cheaper and have some money for mods, Lift ,tires exhaust ETC. But i heard the 3.0 is bad.
most of what i have found have 130k to 180k.
4. I guess my biggest hangup now is engine size
Any ideas or tips would be greatly appreciated

 

Depends, is this gonna be a dd or a trail rig only?

 

oh yeah, it will be used as a daily driver to keep the miles of my newer truck.I do alot of hunting,fishing and trailriding. I want about a 3inch lift maybe 33s and lockers, then whatever performance mods i can find. It will spend alot of time on the interstate,i know it will be a well rounded rig,im just not sure wich years to get. I really like the 1st gen,but there alittle old for what im wanting.

 

I had a 3.0 for a while. Now, i have a 3.4 and i can say i will never want to go back.

 

I have owned all of the first 3 generations.

In my opinion, do one of the following:

Buy a 80's 4runner with a 22re with a fresh rebuilt, you will have enough money for gears and a lift and maybe decent tires. but since you want newer...

Buy a 3rd gen with either the 2.7 or the 3.4.
Both are AWESOME engines. You will get better performance and reliability from a 2.7 versus the 3.0. Also the 3.4 is a kick ass engine with plenty of power and sick reliability.

my two cents.

 

I have a 90 with 224,xxx miles and the 3.0 is factory with a head gasket recall so as for is it a bad motor hell no its great runs forever with a little tlc.

Now a few bad points are it sucks for M.P.G. , its underpowered to much money involved to get the H.P out of it most people would like 5speed over auto anyday of the week it gets a bit more torque (notice I said bit more) but over all its a good solid motor.

The 3.4 is what the 3.0 should have been but then theres the starting to get the more mallcrawler like then the first and second gens but the motor is much better on M.P.G. and H.P. .

If you look around you can find a 3.4 swap job out there for the money you have to spend in my opinon thats the best bang for the buck , you best of both worlds that way.

 

I have a 95 with a small OME suspension (which I highly recommend) and 33's. No lockers yet. I love everything about my 2nd gen except the engine. It's slow gets horrible gas mileage and blew head gaskets around 120,000. I got it after it got fixed. Hopefully it will last untill I sell it or get an engine swap. I like the 3.4. If you can find a second gen with a blown engine and immediately do an engine swap to 3.4 that seems to be a good way to go.

 

i have a 94 sr5 with 100k.. im getting 15 in town with it in 4wd. and thats the 3.0.... ive seen worse.. its for sale

 

Has the 3.4 proven itself like the old 22r engines have. I had a buddy with one in a 83 pickup w/33s he couldnt tear it up.
Is the 3.0 to 3.4 conversion pretty easy. I mean like reusing alot of already there parts. Easy as in compared to doing a chevy swap (4.3)
Looks like il try and find one with a 3.4 they are a little higher.
Thanks soon as i get rid of my truck ill get some pics of what i end up with

 

Check out Offroad Solutions for a complete 3.4 swap kit. It's gonna cost ya though. It is supposedly a fairly simple swap. The 3.4 was around from 96 to 2003 ish so ya I"d say it's proven itself. I love the body style of my 2nd Gen and I"ve never had a lick of issues with my 3.0 but it is underpowered and get's 15mpg. Its stictly a trail rig now so I probably won't mess with but if it ever dies it's getting a SCed 3.4 in it's place.

 

i have a 2nd gen. I really like it.
But i would go with a 3rd. More power, front coils are better than torsion bars, i bet a 3rd gen rides a lot better on the highway, and safety. a 2nd gen has a 1 star driver saftey rating.

 

lets not talk safty ratings here.. i mean.. if your going to crash.. dont matter what kind of crap you put in the truck.. if your going fast enough or they are your going to get hurt or die... if your looking for safty equipment get a car with some nice cup holders and onstar and a nav system.. maybe a dvd player... all plastic junk that weighs you down.. the more junk they put in it the more it makes me think its a saturn.. AKA recycled boardgames.. go 1st or 2nd gen and do a swap if you dont like the power.. plus the 3slow is across the board on MPG.. in the snow with it in 4wd in town.. im getting 15.. on the highway in 2wd is another story.. 19mpg.. with the egr blocked i was getting 13 in the snow.. and 17 hwy.. but i dont wana hear about its power.. its got more then a 22r.. and people run them alot..just change gearing..

 

Airbags are nice to have period;what year did airbags show up on 4Runners?

3rd gen is great right out of the box and it's got the available locker,more power,bigger brakes and slightly more room.

It really depends on what'll make you happy and if you find a 3rd gen in your price range then drive a 2nd and a 3rd and see what you think.

 

i would look for maybe a stock 87 4runner and tthan do an engine swap and lift and that would cost the same as a 1997 4runner

 

One of the things that sold me on the 3rd gen over the 2nd was the lift tailgate which can be opened from the outside and makes a nice rain shelter. The second gen seemed inconvenient since you have to roll the window down first with the key then lower the tailgate with the inside handle.

There are many other reasons the 3rd is better than the second as well. Not that the 2nd gen is bad, it's just been further perfected. BTW I get between 17 and 22 mpg out of my '99.

I've always liked the first generations though. They're classics in my opinion.

 

Thanks, ive been looking at more 96 and 97 there are a few that will be in my price range.I cant wait to get one it seems like it will be a well rounded rig,and acomplish what im trying to do

 

than i would get a 96 cause you can still get one with a manuel transmission

 

Rule of thumb when purchasing a used vehicle:

If it's available as factory equipment, get the truck with what you want.

In other words, if you want a 3.4L engine, buy a truck that came with one from the factory. It will be cheaper, easier, and much much much more reliable that a swap.

If you want 35" tires, then go ahead and modify the vehicle to fit it.

If you're buying a 3rd gen, I hear that the 99 Limited with rear locker is the hot truck to get

The 3.4L engines are pretty good engines, people don't seem to have too many problems with them. They put out pretty good torque and hp, and are quite reliable.

The 3.0L engines weren't as good, because of the switch from asbestos to non-asbestos head gaskets, it was a new thing for Toyota and there were lots of problems. Also, they're not as strong as the 3.4, and generally don't even get the same fuel mileage.

Have fun shopping!

 

I have a 93 with the 3.0. If your buying a daily driver, the mileage and power aren't great. I would go with a 3rd gen. If your mainly using it for trails or wheelin, I love my 2 gen.

 

My next truck for DD will be a 99 4Runner with a 3.4L. I've heard that the 96 to 98 4Runners with the 3.4L had overheating issues, but please correct me if I'm wrong. Also, the 99's sit higher, which I like.

Troy