Some of you may be familiar with my on-going battle to keep my 2nd gen 4Runner out of the shop:

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/over-heating-issues-again-tjm-t-15-cause-59812/

The latest break down was enough. I don't trust it and I'm not going to get stranded by it ever again. I have too much money in it with mods to sell it, and I still think it will be an excellent off-road vehicle, but it has been retired from daily driver status.

So -- this led me to a few dealerships to check out the goods. I very much wanted a 3rd gen 4Runner, but needed to keep it cheap since I'm still paying off my 2nd gen 4Runner. I don't need a 4x4 since I'm keeping the other 'Runner, so this allowed me to find a great deal on a '97 4x2 with 132,000 miles on it. The engine is in great shape and it was the first time I'd driven a 3.4L in a while. The difference between this engine and my modified 3.0L is down right exciting! No more reving engine on the slightest of inclines, and I can actually merge into traffic on the highway on-ramp without fear of getting smoked by a semi. Very nice.

I'm obviously not going to modding this vehicle for off-road, but I am going to make some cosmetic improvements and possibly some engine mods (though a super charger is likely out). I have tended to ignore most of the posts for modding the 3rd gen 4Runner, but now I'm in the mix, too! I'm interested to hear what you think are some of the better non-off-road mods for the 3rd 4Runner. I'm probably going to start with the cup holder mod.

Your thoughts?

Ed

 

Uh-oh...I'm starting to scheme and dream. "What if..."

What if I found an e-locker for cheap? Would it be any more complicated to put it on my 2-wheel drive vehicle than a 4x4? Just thinking out loud here...it would be nice to have some OR capability and a rear locker would get me a lot of places.

C'mon -- if it were your new ride, what would you want to do to it?

Ed

 

Rear locker, super charger, and some exterior cleanup.... make it a nice 2WD street truck

 

This thread is worthless without pics!
Congrats on the new to you runner!

 

Yeah, pics would help. I'll work on it. FWIW, it's a metallic brown with gold emblems and trim. Not in bad condition, at all. After driving around for lunch this afternoon, window tinting will get bumped up on the priority list. I'm spoiled by the deep, dark tint on my other 'Runner.

Ed

 

Elbow mod!

http://www.4runners.org/articles/airbox/

E-locker would be an easy swap, no worries about having to regear the front, either.