I have yet to get a 4runner and i keep changing my mind. I want a 22RE, and I want a Gen II, which seems to be an impossible combo to come across. So, my questions are these: Should I get a Gen I or II? Should I get a Gen I just for the 22re, or live with the V6 in a Gen II? I've heard the v6's blow headgaskets, I've heard they barely have more power than a 22RE, and I heard they get terrible mileage, especially for how much power they make compared to a 22RE. So, what do you guys think? Thanks much

 

Would a convertible make you happy?

 

How about the best of both worlds? 1st gen with a V6? That's what I got and it's great!

 

I personally own a 2nd gen with the 22re and I am really happy with it. I perfer the 2nd gen over first beacuse it has much more modern styling and obviously it isn't as old so there is less rust/milage on them. It seems they didn't put the 22re in many of the newer 2nd gen runners but they were somewhat common in the 90 and 91s. The 22re is a good engine but it is a bit slow for the 4runner if it is not it tip top condition that is. Fully tuned up, it holds it's own fine untill you get to a really long 6% or more grade.

 

if you're not planning on a lot of offroading i'd go with a 2nd gen. or, if you plan on making it your daily driver i'd go with a 2nd gen as well. for ME, it's my secondary vehicle that i use as my winter "beater" and my offroading toy, so i had to go with the 1st. the 22re does pretty good for me. it's not fast (that's what my celica GT and my crotch rocket are for), but it gets the job done. and i only get about 19 mpg's with it. but i think that's because i have oversized tires on it.

 

As far as milage goes, I got 18 tops out of my 3.0 89 pickup but my runner consitantly gets well over 20 on the highway with the 22re with stock size tires. I once got 25 mpg with it!

 

I want it to be a serious trail rig as well as a daily driver, being able to go on 4hr road trips if necessary. Im thinking a gen II is more reliable for longer trips. I want a flexy trail rig though, so im wondering what generation meets my needs best.

 

If you want more than 6" of lift, IFS won't cut it and you will have to go with a first gen. Also as mentioned, since the first gen are older, they usually have dents in them so they can be more of a beather off road rig and you don't have to wory so much about it. If you want a really hard core rock craling beast then you beter go first gen. If you won't something shiny, clean, and still does some trails, go second gen.

 

I really dont mind cosmetic stuff that much. I was planning on a solid axle lift for the future of the runner regardless of generation. I dont have tons of excess cash, thats the only reason im looking at the gen I's. They're cheaper, easier to come by with a 22re, and they're cheaper to lift. Does the coil rear end of a gen II perform better than the leafs of a gen I either on road or off?

 

if you want a SERIOUS trail rig, then there's no question. 1st gen is what you should get. not to mention, it'll still have no problem with the 4hr road trips. get the 22re and the 5-speed! you can't break em! in reliability, they're pretty much exactly the same since the same engines and tranny's were used between 1st and 2nd gen. except that the early 1st gens were carbeurated. don't worry about the longer trips, YOU'RE DRIVING A TOYOTA! if you ever wonder about the quality of ANY toyota, check out which brand of cars that you see broken down on the side of the road. VERY seldom will you see ANY toyota. i drive 3+ hours with my 1st gen frequently and the only problem is that it doesn't have CRUISE! treat your baby nice, and your baby will treat you MUCH nicer.

 

3.4L V6 all the way. Reliable. And when you tap the gas, it actually goes somewhere, unlike those 4-bangers. :rolleyes:

 

Just do what I did:
One for the street:

And one for the playground:


Both are 22re's. Personally, I wouldn't waste my time on a v6. It seems like the only time you hear about people bragging on the v6 it is either a 3.4l conversion (which is a pretty sweet setup) or their most noted problem with the 22re is that it won't do 80mph uphill in 5th gear
If you want a truck you can really beat on, hunt around for a 1st gen EFI 22re with a 5sp. You can go lots of places without ever having to modify it and when you do modify it, it'll go places that you might not even need to go
Figure out first what you really need. If you want/need a truck that just you or you and a friend can go out and beat around in the hills with, hunt around for a 1st gen EFI. If you want/need a truck that'll carry a few people and you aren't going to get stupid too often, get a 2nd gen 22re 5sp for the 4 doors and try to not break the IFS. If you are really, and I mean REALLY lucky, you might score a 2nd gen with factory hubs and the w56 tranny and gear drive transfercase and be on your way to stout 2nd gen, but don't hold your breath. I looked for months before I gave up and bought the red one and in the times I have messed around looking out of curiosity, I still have never found a 2nd gen 22re with the factory hubs.

 

I have owned a 93 X-cab 4x4 truck with the 22re and my 94 Runner with the v-6. After having the 3.0 I wouldn't even consider another 22re. I had to downshift to second gear and keep the thing floored to make it up the mountains near my house. Because of this the mileage I got with the 22re was worse than what I see from the 3.0. The headgasket problem doesn't affect all 3.0's. I have 210,000 miles with nothing more that a timing belt change. The timing chains probably break in the 22re's about as much as head gaskets blow in the 3.0. The timing chain broke in my 22re at around 130,000 miles detroying the water pump and a valve. The 22re's are ok for a small truck but not a heavy Runner. Just my opinion.