I have a 1994 4runner v6 automatic and im looking to put a 3in body lift, 33" tires, new wheels, and regear it, and put straight pipes on exhaust. I dont have a lot of $$$$ at all so this is as much as i can do b/c i have to pay for my college (parents). I was seeing if anyone had tips or on what i should do or anythin regarding my plans...also what gears should i regear to? Thanks

 

You need to regear to at least 4.88s, but if you think you might eventually go to 35s then go ahead and get the 5.29s. As fas as the body lift, be sure that the one that you get comes with some way to modify the shifting mechanism of the auto tranny. This could be the biggest obsticle(sp) to over come.

Good luck with the project, and post pics when you are done.

 

which gears are more road friendly and would give better gas mileage the 4.88 or 5.29 b/c i drive on the road alot

 

also since im gettin 33x12.50x15 tires i need to get 15x10 wheels right? or do they need to be wider

 

I have a 4" Superlift and 33x12.50 Interco Truxxs muds. I got the 15x8" rims cause it will stay on the bead a little better if you air the tire down to do any type of rock crawling or sand or anything. the 15x8s also make the tire slightly taller and the 15x10s will let the tire be a little flatter. I also have the 4.88s that came from the factory. I wish I had the 5.29s cause my 4Runner is a real dog. It's pretty slow to accelerate and I only get 12-15 mpgs with the auto. the 4.88s are supposed to put it back to close to stock gearing with the 33s.

I'll try to post some pics when i get home.

 

So should i get 4.88s or 5.29....mostly ill just be goin offroadin in mud aint alot of sand and rock crawling in north alabama. My runner is really slow to accelerate to and i get about 12-15mpgs too. when i change gears is there anything else ill need to change and how much does it cost to get the gears changed and all?-thanks

Also on the wheel size if im just goin offroadin in mud and dirt and still drive on the road alot which size is the best?

 

5.29's will improve performance/mileage a little. You will never get great mileage or performance out of the 3.0 with an auto.

15x8's is better for 12.5's than 15x10 per the above. 3" BL with an auto requires a good amount of work. You can go 1-1.5" without much issue. To run 33's, you can get by with leveling coils or a spacer in the rear and a 1" body lift.

Save your money so that when you regear, you can get lockers also. 4.88's with 33's isn't that terrible. I had that combo for about 8 months and it wasn't awful. Regearing isn't cheap. Guessing $500-600 per diff (including gears/install kit)

What do you mean by straight pipes? There is only 1 outlet on your 4Runner if it's stock. A Cat-Back system will make a diffference. I have a stainless steel Borla setup that I love, but there are cheaper alternatives...

If I had to estimate some costs, I'd say you are looking at:

$120 for the BL + other parts needed to make it work with the auto
$560 for 33" BFG AT's
$160 for 15x8 rockcrawler wheels (black)
$1200 for regear ro 5.29's (no lockers)
$250 for flowmaster mufffler and custom exhaust pipes from muffler shop.

$2,290 for 4Runner on 33's that becomes 2WD when the wheels start slipping. Aussie lockers are around $230 for each diff.

 

what are lockers? and what do they do

 

They lock the drivers side and passenger side wheels together. They help with traction.

 

are lockers neccesary? would i need them badly?

 

Not a question of if - more a question of when.

 

how much they cost

 

Do some research them come back.

 

If you're paying for college yourself, just keep it stock. You're looking at about $1000+ to do the gears and axles, probably another $700-1000 for wheels and tires and then there's the gas for hauling all that mass around. You'll find that a stock 2nd gen is a VERY capable vehicle offroad. You could increase its capability by adding a Oz or Lockrite locker.

College has a way of getting very expensive, very fast and the extra cash is a nice security blanket.

 

Yea, what he said. If you don't have much $$$ and you primarily drive your truck on the street, save your money and keep it basically stock with possibly one of the less expensive lockers in the rear. My truck made it through all the popular trials in California (except the hammers) with stock suspension, no body lift, 31 x 10.5 BGF ATs and an ARB airlocker in the rear diff.

Then when you get out of college, go to town with the mods. When are you going to have time to go offroading during college anyway? You'll be out with your buds.

 

do i have to regear if i just get a 3" body lift and 33" tires? and if my tires are 33x12.50x15 what size rim/wheel would i need

 

Like I said before, you don't have to regear, and you might want to check your VIN to see what ratio you have in your diffs. You might have the 4.88s from the factory. I agree, put on some good all-terrains, or maybe even muds, lock the rear and you will be able to do much more than with a lift and 33s. Trust me this is where I'm at, I should have done the locker first, but didn't and now I am having to wait and save my money.

Good luck.