hey guys i've got a '95 4runner which has a very rusted oil pan. i believe there is a small leak coming from it. i was wondering how hard is it to change the oil pan in it? how would i do that the easiest way? looks like soon it will just fall apart so i gotta do it before that happens.

but thats not it, i have a few more questions.
it seems like the acceleration on it is abnormally low, i was told it was the valves? have any idea why acceleration would be so low on it and what could i do to fix it?

and finally, i will be using this truck for plowing and hauling/towing a trailer. what would you guys recommend i do to the truck to make it great for plowing snow (as in it plows the snow with ease and has no problem lifting the plow up and down). and what should i do for it to be good enough for hauling a trailer large enough to fit 3 quads on it.

i know this is a lot of questions, sorry about that but thanks in advance for whoever helps me out

edit: also i was reading about these years having common problem of blowing the headgaskets? is this true? i have not seen what the past owner has done to it but this is worrying me a little bit what do you guys think?

 

Might help if you told folks what engine you have and what other things on the tuck; miles on the engine, type of transmission, size of tires, axle gearing, etc.

 

what year and model truck?
how many miles on it?

my truck is hitting the 200K mile club soon and on my plate tonight I have been swapping out a newer third member the old one is getting a little loose and leaking like a sieve.
and at the same time I am replacing the rear wheel bearings and seals and the rear drive shaft U joints.

 

sorry guys i forgot to tell you

mines a 1995 toyota 4runner, 135k miles, 3.0 L 2958 CC V6 engine 3VZE sohc.
its got 33 inch tires on it, the axle gearing is stock, automatic transmission.
thats all i can really think of hope that helps.

 

any suspension or body lift?

the oil pan is not to hard to get off if there is a lift of some sort otherwise you have to unbolt the front differential and drop it down to get the pan out, do a search it has been covered a few times on how to replace the oil pan seal.

plowing with stock gearing and 33s might put a good amount of stress on the drive train.

make sure your cooling system is up to par with fresh antifreeze in it and you might want to get a new T stat, it also might be a good idea to install a after market temperature gauge for both the tranny and the coolant system.

and you might want to re gear or go closer to stock tires for plowing and towing.

I have a friend who plows snow every year by the end of the season they have to usually replace a few U joints on his stock Chevy 3500?Turbo diesel.
he also plows for 10 hours a day every day we have heavy snow.

if you are plowing just your driveway then there will be less wear and tear on your 4runner.

 

alright i searched it up and found how i can get the pan off. my truck has a lift from some coil spacers, but im planning on getting fj coils and bj spacers later on.
why do i need to worry about all this cooling stuff?

im not really sure how to regear but i'd like to sometime.
for plowing i will be plowing my drive and quite a few others when it snows. i'll be using a 6.5foot plow also.

 

the 3.0 has a bad rep for over heating and blowing a head gasket.

 

I'm probably biased, since I live in Colorado snow country, but I just don't think that our Yotas are very good choices for plowing snow. They are great for getting around in the stuff, but I just just don't think that there is enough mass, and certainly not enough power to go after any serious plowing.

It's kind of like the folks that come around here asking about towing big trailers with our little trucks - they'er just not built for that kind of load and abuse.

 

i really hope mine doesnt blow a head gasket if it does i'll probably sell it. but for plowing i will be using a 6.5' steel plow so its really not that heavy on the front end or i could even use a 6' plow. its got 4x4 and the tread on the tires are agressive so i dont really see why it wouldnt be good for plowing? and its a v6 so its got a decent amount of power, a v8 would definately be better and if i can find one i'll swap em.

 

Ohhhh... "Toyota 3.0L V6" and "Power" used in the same sentence. That's rare.

I agree with the other guys. The 3.0L coupled with 33" tires and stock gearing will not be a great plow truck... but you might be OK if you don't get too much snow where, you're at. Otherwise, you might find yourself plowing with the transfer case in low range more than you like.

 

there are a few things to factor in what is the snow fall like where you live do you get only 3 inch's on average or do you get 8 inch's in a day.

the more snow that falls in a storm the more stress you will put on your drive train.

I have seen plenty of stock Toyota pickups used for plowing snow and they seem to do ok but you are really better off with a fullsize truck if you plan on doing it to make money.

you already have the plow that is a plus for you if you do your own work on your truck then you could make money if you pay someone else to work on your truck then you may lose money.

call a shop and ask how much it costs to replace all the wheel bearings and U joints and CV axles gear oil and AT fluid.
if you got the truck at a good price and don't care about it then I would say go ahead and plow snow with it.

but it could cost you a lot in the long run I have thought about plowing snow for extra money in the winter but everybody and their brother are already out doing it and it is not worth it for me to maybe make 1000$ over the winter to spend 500$ on parts. plus what ever the plow costs.

if you have set people who want you to plow snow and you have the potential to make 6 or 7 grand then do it but you have to think how much it will cost to replace the tranny and or other high priced items on the drive train

I was given a F150 4x4 that had used for plowing and towing I spent way too much money to have all of the stuff I listed above replaced and it still had problems had the tranny mount snap off one day.

 

well here we usually get about 4in or so of snow regularly. sometimes we get much more though. i know its going to be a strain on my truck but i dont have very many driveways to plow about 2 hours worth of plowing for 1 run. may have to go again same day. im thinking about taking it to my friend and having him regear it, not sure how much different gears cost. i figure the money i make will give me a cash for broken parts plus a little bit of income. im also pretty sure the head gasket problem on my truck was fixed in the recall. im wondering...can i only use a v8 engine made by toyota or can i drop in a chevy v8? if i can find a nice v8 and the scrap yard maybe i'll just swap out my v6.

 

There are many swap options, just take a look in the Engine Swap section here.

Good luck with your endeavour!

 

thanks. i was wondering, i guess on a truck the are called upper and lower control arms i formerly knew them as a-arms but i assume they are the same thing. anybody know a reliable source i can get myself a new set of lower control arms for left and right side? thanks not much cash to spend so oem would be preferred.