Hey guys, so I am almost 16 years old and want to get a mid 80's 4runner.I have no clue where to start.First of all what year do you guys recommend?I just want a truck that is a good daily driver and all around off-road machine.My price limit is about +-$1,500. Once I get a 4runner in running condition, I can get a job and start modding it.I just don't no what to really look for and when I do get it, what mods I need to make it what I want.Much help appreciated

 

Depends on if you want a solid axle, if so, try and find an 85 with fuel injection (22re).
If ifs will suffice for you, 86-89 is the year..and try and stay away from the 3.0 v6, they have head gasket problems...

 

So whats better: solid axle or ifs?

 

try and find an 86to87 4runner with a 22re and 5spd manuel trans than you can save up for a 4inch procomp stage 2 lift kit that will allow you to run 35s and regear the axles to 488s and later down the road you could do a sas

 

solid axle in the long run but for your purpose ifs is fine

 

Ok thanks.Keep em' comin guys

 

I'm in high school with a 4Runner and I'm a total newb so far as mechanics goes. If you're anything like me, bring someone who knows cars along with you when you go to look at a truck. I got my 'Runner for a good price ($875 for a good running '89), but my dad knows little more about cars than me, and I found that mine is leaking coolant from everywhere. Had I known before I bought it, I'd have offered less. Don't make my mistake. Have someone who knows give it a once over.

 

I'm mechanically inclined...to a certain point of course.I just don't know what does what on off-road trucks.

 

well it has already been stated. a 22re 5 speed ifs truck would be a decent starting place. here's a couple pics of my truck which is a solid axle Hilux. the suspension is pretty much the same as an 85 4runner. with the solid axle you get some good articulation. especially if you wanna do crawling on some rocks. not to say an ifs truck. they certainly can. with a little more ease and picking the right lines. here's a pic of a buddies 89 pick-up ifs truck. procomp stage 2 lift with 3 inch body lift with 33's. my Hilux has a 5" lift with 35's. yes i know these are both pick-up's and your looking for a first gen 4runner. but both suspension systems are pretty much the same. for a decent daily driver that'll be fairly smooth on road get the ifs truck. if later on you decide to want more off road. get a stage 2 lift. you want a little more do the Solid Axle Swap. really you gotta look at what is practicle for you and what your gunna use the truck for. one thing that's great about a yota is you can start out with a stock truck have fun with it and build it slowly learning along the way. and progress in to something that totally kicks a$$.










hope that helps you a little bit.

overdrive

 

Thats truck porn right there...

 

Sfa means solid or straight front axle. its generally a better front suspension for off road than ifs, independant front suspension. If you buy a truck with a sfa and decide to start wheeling it, you can get some strong birfields, axle trusses, a lift kit, and a locker and have a REALLY mean off roader. it doesnt take much to build a sfa front end. all you need for a moderately strong front end is some birfields. Ifs on the other had is about equal to sfa when stock but when you decide to start modding it ifs just isnt practical unless you want a baha style truck that you can jump. with ifs if you want to make it big and strong youwill want to swap out the front end for sfa anyways. dont get me wrong ifs can be just as strong as sfa but it takes much more.

that being said it depends on what you want out of your truck. For a lower cost if you want a good running one i would get 86 or newer. Its cheaper because of the front suspension which was better in 85 and earlier. If you plan on modding it and lifting it you should go 85 or older. My daily driver is an 84 and it does great all around. If you buy an ifs truck, you will likely want to swap it for a sfa or buy a sfa truck in the future. one thing you will learn is its ALWAYS better to do it right the first time so it may be better to just hold out a little bit to get a sfa truck. if you can find one with efi (22re) that would be great but you will pay a little more.