Glad to see you hopping back on the bandwagon again. By the time I found Yotatech you'd sold your truck and I want to see another lifted 4runner around town that isn't a first gen.

I really liked the 5spd in my 95, and without it, the truck really would have been sluggish. In all honesty, in the 70-80mph range, stock, I enjoyed the highway manners of my 2nd gen more than my 3rd until it was time to pass, or hit a hill. I'm sure it was all mental as that truck was my baby, and I've had to do a lot of work to my 3rd gen to get that pride of ownership I had out of my stock 2nd gen.

The 2nd is just more of a truck.

...and keeping with my 2am rambling...the one automatic 2nd gen I drove was terribly sluggish and I'd never personally want to own one. Someday I'll own another 2nd gen as my little 2nd car pet project, and it will for sure be a white 5spd just like #1 was.

Good luck finding a truck, there are definitely a lot of 2nd gens floating around town.

 

So you are going from the 3.4 V6 with 33's and 4.10's, to an Auto or 5 spd. 3.0 with stock-sized tires?

 

I drive in stop and go traffic for 2 hrs everyday. I wish I had an auto. I get so tired of shifting. I also wish I had 2 more cylinders but that is a different story. I had to drive the wifes exploder all last week while waiting for my new brake line. I loved the power (as compaired to my 4 cyl) and the auto tranny in traffic. It actually made the ride to and from work a little better. Now if Toyota would produce a Turbo Desiel Tundra, I would be all over that. Sorry got off topic.

 

FWIW, I've had my 3.0 Auto with factory 4.88's for over 8 years now. Bought it with 14K on the odo.

I have done minor power mods (and perceived power mods) including: Borla cat back, electric fan, manual hubs, K&N FIPK. The last things I haven't done to boost the engine that are pretty easy (and not too pricey) are adding headers and an overbored throttle body. Those may come some day.

My tire selection went immediately to 32's after I got the rig in 95 (no engine mods initially) for two sets of tires. I recently went to 33's with the 4.88's. It is not bad at all. Am I going to win any drag races? NO. But it can more than get out of its own way now. When I get locked, I am still debating over if I should stay with 4.88's or move to 5.29's. Someday, this rig will have tires bigger than 33's, so I'll probably pony up.

It appears that the 3.0 is expensive to fix/replace hence the increasing prevalence of the 3.4 swap. When (if) mine dies, I'll likely go that route unless a 4.7 isn't alot more work. I would swap the engine/trans/tcase in one shot, btw.

 

I have driven and will always drive manuals.

They are cheaper to purchase.

They rob less power.

They are more fun.

 

This is what cured me of wanting a manual again. I no longer have the long commute, but I got sick of shifting.

 

I have an auto in my 3.0 and I find the power sufficient for what I need. I actually never thought it was gutless but a lot of people here seem to think so. All I know is that it's a truck and drives like one. I have also driven manuals since the day I learned how to drive and as much as I love (and miss at times) driving a manual tranny, I am now spoiled by the auto. Must be old age, but I just got tired of shifting in traffic and on really steep hills (at stop with someone right up my ass). Now where's that cane, I need to go for a walk

 

Right now, to an Auto 3.0 - stock for a few years. I wont do the manual...maybe it's the jeeps fault for ruining it, but I am rilly sick of driving in traffic, on-ramps, and constant shifting around corners.

Do we have a price on this yet? I have run into quite a few high mileage 2nd gens that are a couple grand cheaper than others Im looking at. But my guess is that Im looking at $5k just for the swap Know yet?

 

I have a '94 P/U with the 3.0 automatic and I have no problem on the hills.

It is relatively slower than most cars and trucks but that's OK with me.

I can keep 75 on ARIZONA's hills if I floor it all the way.

Keep in mind, P/U are much lighter in weight than 4 RUNNERS.

 

I know that, but mine's still slow as hell :cry: (even when I had 31's)

 

My Runner has got 4.56's 31's, and a 5speed. I drove an auto didn't like it... I drive in alot of stop and go traffic, it doesn't bother me to shift. Its when I get behind an auto I feel like theres nothing to do, i get bored. Plus an auto to me feels to much like a car. Behind a 5-speed I get more of a truck feeling with it.

I was a delivery for Napa for awhile, and all the rigs were manuals, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. All my vehicles will be manual transmissions. Now if only the Tundra came with a 5speed and V8, I'd be set!

 

There probably is such a Tundra-overseas.

 

[QUOTE=AgRunner06]Here's my advice to anyone who is going to buy a 2nd gen.

Get a 5 speed.

I wish I had.

Nuff Said! I was looking for a 5Spd when shopping for a Runner but could only find the auto. I wanted a Runner bad enough and didnt want to travel 200+ miles to the cities to find one. I have driven a 94 with a 5spd and I like it better than the auto. the only time I stick up for the auto is when im sticking up for my Runner. I have to give my auto credit for not giving me problems though. Its been a very durable part that ive put through a lot. Blue

 

Blue, your sig is really hard on the eyes.

 

Huh wierd, it looks ok to me.

 

Sneaky devil.

 

 

i agree with you, on all points

i just wish modern car companies would stop taking away our option to buy a manual nowadays...

 

Well, I drove 5 different automatics today, and for various and sundry reassons, I didn't like ANY of them. Nowhere near the same drive as the 5spd, extra noises I couldn't identify and just the thought of all the magic that has to occur before the rubber hits the road makes my mind wobble :pat:

I'm not knocking the auto, because everyone here has posted some good reasons for having one...long commutes in raffic might be enough to sway me. But I only do 14 tours a month and just 4 of them involve weekday morning traffic, so I'm not there yet

Kyle 22r makes a great point...I think it has to do with soccer moms being the descision makers now!

 

I vote for the 5spd with the 3.0. yeah its a bitch in traffic but the as long as you don't ride it the clutch can take it with no complaints. What i'll some times do in heavy traffic is leave a little room (if posible) go 1 2 then neutral and coast up to the guy in front usually they're moving by then and its back into 2 for a little pop then neutral again. it saves gas clutch and my leg :-). + its way more fun. My hilux with a full tool load in the rear can still walk a 5.0 off the line (at least across the intersection anyway then...) but we don't drive these things for the speed do we...go with the 5spd Cheers Aviator