Hi all, im new and eager to learn, please point me in the right direction. I want to build 4Runner up to handle:
-Long prolonged trips on highways
-'Some' leisure offroad use
-Survival use for whenever the hits the fan

This will be a spare vehicle, more than likely not used unless i have a very specific use for it. So, being a mechanic in the military as well as rebuilding my little pocket rocket from the ground up i have decent 'mechanical skills.'

What im looking for out of this post:
-The best vehicle to handle whats listed above(which gen?)
-Fairly cheap(under 7-8k total)
-Links to point me in the right direction

Im looking at the 3rd gen(most likely a 94 or 95) thats over 300k miles so i can build all the way up. What kind of lift should i be getting if all i want is about a 1.5" to 2" total lift? What kind of clutch? What items are MUST upgrades? I have spent about an hour reading FAQ's as well as searching through threads but i still have specific questions that need answers. What id like my 4 runner to have:
-Roof rack
-Front brushguard
-Rebuilt engine
-Slight lift
-Good all terrain tires that can handle DD use but also slight off road use
-Upgraded clutch
-Recovery items
-Any other 'survival' items you feel pertinet

I guess look at this thread as your end of days build to handle most anything thrown at it...

 

Ok after reading some more newbie threads i have a couple more questions...I want decent power output(sorry its in my blood, see sig for other car), so where can i gain a little more seat of the pants power? How much do headers, cat back and intake legitimatly help? Maybe 20hsp?

Next, lockers? I now understand this is a big area of concern i didnt first look at. I want something simple that performs BETTER in snow and ice than rock climbing. DD friendly. IF i happen to get stuck in mud or sand or snow i want to enable the 4wd and just drive out. Non of that "drive into" 4wd(some trucks i have seen had to go in rev for so many feet to engage the 4wd, etc). To me that defeats the purpose, put 4wd on and drive out of the present situation im in.

So what should i be looking at? A detroit LSD, true trac, or the full out locker? Do i need front and rear or just one over the other?

 

I think if you want decent Bug Out Vehicle, go with a 60 series landcruiser. I have seen Chevy 350s in them, they are pretty roomy for their size.
I also am gearing my rig for a G.O.O.D. truck, but mine is a 2002 4runner.
Keep it simple and build what you need, then add what you want.
Oh- I would highly suggest gearing your suspension for load bearing if this truly is a BOV. Old Man Emu is the best, in my opinion.

 

These guys for a slight lift:
http://www.rocky-road.com/4runner.html

About 750ish not shipped for a full 2" lift kit. Not bad...But heres another thing i saw when searching, should i go solid front axle or stay with the IFS?

Oh and i rather a 3rd gen 4runner, the landcruiser is a tad to big for what i want.

 

Check out trdparts4u.com
or toytec lifts also. They have some good stuff, but I would say OME is the best equipment.
As far as HP goes, you can put a supercharger on the 3.4L toyota engine, as well as some small mods to get every last horsey workin.

 

u should go with a 99. they are the tallest of the stock 3rd gens

 

finally someone around here who knows how to ask a question!

 

That's actually 2nd gen. 3rd gen is 96-02, sounds like that's what you should get.

 

If you are getting an 89-95, be sure to get one with the 22re. The 3.0's are ok motors but have HG issues and really not that much more (if any more) power than a 22re.

 

the 3.0 head gasket problem is pretty much eliminated with the addition of headers, as they take heat away from the heads more efficiently than the stock manifolds. the manifolds and cross-pipe would cook the stock gaskets, they usually fail at 130k to 160k miles. and the 22-re had 110 hp, the 3vze had 150, i got mine up to 225 with the addition of nitrous... but a 22re is much more dependable than a 3vze (the current 4.0 v6 has 239-260 hp.)

 

Sorry to hijack here, but I always thought it was the Aluminum Head/Cast Iron Block combination that caused most of the headgasket issues, Different rates of expansion. If headers would almost eliminate the problem, I may be more apt to go with a 3.0 in the future.

As for the power, I don't really know numbers but I've been in a 22re vehicle that outpowered a 3.0 vehicle on hills. My guess is the 3.0 has more, but you can really wind out the 22re.

Once again sorry for the hijack, but I guess it may help your choice

 

very good points on rate of expansion but most head gasket failures happened on either cylinder 6 or 5. where the cross pipe meets the driver's side manifold creates a hot spot and bakes the hell out of that gasket making it really brittle. there have also been points made about how toyota torqued the head bolts (look at the retarded procedure in the FSM) and the type of gasket they used as well. i do know however that replacement of the stock gaskets, proper torquing of the bolts, and the use of headers greatly reduces the chances of HG failure.

and i would believe that a slightly modified 22re with a 5spd can take a stock 3.0 automatic on hills, but if you had identical vehicles with the same tranny type and stock motors then i'm sure the 3.0 would be faster.

 

ok sorry for the tread jack. back to the OP's question.

a 1990-1995 4runner (2nd gen) with a 5spd would be your best bet. the automatic transmission sucks so stay clear of them.

MOTOR:
v6 or 4banger doesn't really matter as far as power because both motors are slow as hell anyways, but the 22re is more reliable. if you feel like spending a bit more you could do a motor swap, but it sounds like you don't want that hassle so you can expect to spend about $2,500 to get either the 3vze or 22re up to par on power.

SUSPENSION:
i do not have a lift but i have heard good things about OME shocks and springs, for 1,100 bucks you can get a skyjacker lift kit from summitracing.com

TIRES:
BF Goodrich all terrains sound like the best thing for what you want to do, they handle great in snow, rain, mud... just about anything mild off roading includes. plus they wear less than a mud terrain.

ODDS AND ENDS:
i like bed lined floors, easy to clean and stuff doesn't slide around in the back. you can get a roll-on kit at kragen or autozone for $70
i have a cobra 800w power inverter and it runs most of my power tools no problem, i got it on ebay for $38
ARB makes some cool bumbers, side rails and rock armor.

Solid Front Axle Sawp... unless you plan on going rock crawling, you shouldn't waste the money.

no matter what you do i am sure it will turn out great, i took a trip out to death valley for my geology course last year and lived in my 1995 4runner for a week and it was quite comfortable and functional. i would take no other vehicle camping... ever.