I know of something even more hard to find than an '85 EFI 4Runner now; a second gen. with a 4cyl, a 5 speed and no power options! SHEESH! I thought I would cruise around town and the internet for a couple weeks, take my pick, buy one and move on. No such luck! So far, both people I have emailed on Autotrader never replied even after I tried contacting the one a couple times, the closest available have been over 200 miles away, many have been 500-1800 miles away. I have only come across locally. It had 210,000 miles on it, was kind of rough and they still wanted $5k for it. No way. Kelly Blue Book lists it at $5100 for a dealer price, but only $3k for a private party. I'm not willing to crank out an extra $2k to have to deal with some wanker with a cheesy moustache LOL!
Anyway, I represent an oddity. I have an '85 EFI 4Runner and am going to swap for a 90's 4 door. The two doors and a baby thing just isn't working and when I told my wife I was considering buying a second gen and doing a solid axle swap she replied, "well you are allowed to have a toy you know." Love her more everyday!
Not buying the '94 with 57k miles on it on eBay may prove to be a mistake. Then again, it was in Chicago and that's an awful long haul to get to western Colorado. Aren't there any '90-'95's out there that were bought by people like me that wanted just a truck? Piles of v6s and automatics and I wouldn't have either on a bet. I've had a 4x4 with an auto, a chain drive tranny and have no affection whatsoever for the failed Toyota experiment called the 3.0. Is my frustration showing yet?
Anybody out there, preferably in eastern Utah or western Colorado or thereabouts that has what I'm looking for and just happens to be trying to find the highly desired '85 EFI 4Runner please let me know. I have about $6k+ worth of work under the hood and around it counting the JET Chip upgrade, but due to TWO different mechanics not setting the TPS right it ran rich too long and washed out the rings. If I was keeping the truck, I'd do a quick overhaul for rings and bottom end bearings. It also has some recent 31x10.50 MTRs and a list of new parts I can send or refer you to another post of mine.
Anybody? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

 

The V6 isnt all that bad is it?

 

Although experiences seem to vary, the general line on the 3.0 v6 is poor fuel economy, sluggish power, bad headgaskets and bad wristpins. I've been surfing around for months now investigating whether or not to get one with a v6 and with as many horror stories as I have come across I don't care to risk it. Too many times I've come across stories of blown headgaskets and hassles with the dealers over the service campaign and the even worse "ticking to slight knocking sound in my motor" posts that eventually wind up with somebody sitting on the side of the road with a piston blown to pieces and a block ruined from a wristpin letting loose.
Besides, the v6 comes with a chain drive transfercase that can not have a gearing modification and sounds like it is not as strong as the gear driven transfercase that comes with the 4cyl. Having had a chain drive transfercase in the past, I'd never have one again personally.
I would be interested to hear about the power band on the v6. One thing I like about the 4cyl is they will lug well and when you need what little power you have to offer, they'll run right up the rpm ladder and give you what they have.

 

heh- I'll trade you strait up- my 90 4runner for yours- although mine is v6- no ticking, knocking, nothing- and im in colorado!

 

Close!
4cyl is a must though. Too bad too since I'm going to be meeting with a guy from Boulder in a couple weeks. I sold him some of my toys with a little "t" and they'll almost pay for the SAS on my next Toy with a big "T"

 

Wow you are right, those seem to be pretty hard to find. I didn't find any 90-95 4Runners in SLC area with a 4cyl..

Strange..

 

Found one in Idaho
click here

Tons of miles though! But it has a 5-speed and no power options.

 

Your reading too much on the 3.0. Bad experiment? how can you call an engine that regularly goes 250+ thousand miles a bad experiment?

I have 167k on mine and running strong. the 3.0 makes more power than the 22re will even after a few hundred in mods. mine has plenty of power, even with 36x14.50 swampers and 4.10 gears. I never even lost any gas mileage with this setup. dont knock the 3.0 untill you try it.

 

Like I said, >>experiences seem to vary<<

 

Keep in mind people only post bad experiences on the web. Yes, the 3.0 is underpowered but has never given me a bit of trouble. I get 22+ MPG on the highway and other than a battery and alternator I've never spent money on repairs on my truck. All my money goes to preventative maintenance and mods. The 3.0 is not enough engine for the weight of a 4Runner but the 22RE is even less than that! I can't imagine driving on long grades with a 22RE at highway speeds!

 

I have been on the same chase. My 90 4Runner is starting to show it's age and I toyed with the thought of a newer one. We found a really nice '98 LTD in great shape, 89k with rear lockers for $16k, but I couldn't pull the trigger. Partly it's the unknown, from the 22re + 5spd that I know and trust to the auto, 6cyl, moon roof, power everything... it all sounds expensive to fix. Thinking about just getting this one painted, new carpet & seats, etc and trying to get another 5 or 10 years out of it. The 230k miles on mine don't bother me, as it has been trouble free for the 4 yrs 50k miles I've put on it.

I'm a little envious though, there seem to be a lot more 4runners for sale in CO. Most here are 2WD. Autotrader had a 95 4CYL, 5SPD a few weeks ago that I almost called my friends in Denver to go look at for me.

 

Would that 95 4cyl have been the white one? If it wasn't for the power windows and door locks I would have driven over myself and gotten a look at it LOL!
I'm holding out still for a 4cyl, 5sp and no power options. I have slightly changed my plans and am looking more towards the '94 or '95 instead of anything in the early 90's. It sounds like they have a little extra pony and the side impact beams in the doors are something to consider with a baby in back. So far, the price on them seems pretty reasonable too. The one on ebay in Chicago that only had 57k on it, sold for slightly under $6000. If I could find one locally with that sort of mileage, the checkbook would be out in a flash!

 

whats so bad with power windows and locks? i love mine! the only thing i would change on my runner for stock equip. that toyota put on it is a sunroof, i love sunroofs! the V6 isnt a bad motor, i only had to put a radiator, alternator in mine, i dont even think the timing belt had ever been changed(might have in the HG replacement). I had the HG recall done and ran fine after that until the distributor froze which sheared some teeth off of my timing belt. toyota wanted $1100 to fix it and even though i could have fixed it for about $400 i decided to put in a 3.4l and am hopefully going to supercharge it. all in all i got 254,XXX miles out of my motor with fery few parts that had to be replaced and i think that they are pretty darn good motors(apart from being gutless). just what i think.
Thanks

 

I'm happy with my 22re ,it's a good motor,simple,easy to fix,not expensive,good gaz milleage,

No need of 250hp when the 4 wheels are on snow.(big winter in Quebec).

I do some trail(no hardcore wheeling) and it's enough powerful for me.

depending of the purpose .

 

I'm a "just a truck" kind of guy. I want a vehicle that is made for use. We use the '85 for going on hiking, backpacking, and car camping trips and nothing is more annoying than always having to get a key to open or close a window or unlock something. When I first bought the '85 I was immediately sold on it until I walked around back and started looking for the crank to roll down the window (like they had on the old Blazers). When I saw it was a power window I considered walking away from it, but I had already driven around 300 miles and as much as I don't like the power window in the tailgate I figured the rest of the trucks features made up for it.

 

For Gods' sake man!!!!! We're talking about Toyotas here. Holy crap!!!! Gimme a break!!!! Power or not....who the hell cares anyway! Go buy a 1972 Ford F150 if you want a truck and quit bitching. LOL

BTW......V6, 5spd, PS, PB, PW, PL, AC, Cruise, Sunroof, Power Antenna, Heated Mirrors....It all just works. That's why we buy them.

 

Hehehe--->http://members.aol.com/mfinja/ben/93.jpg

'93, 4cyl, 5sp, no power door locks, no power windows, no cruise control, no heated seats, heck no air conditioning (not even plumbed for it, it still has the plugs in the firewall), 113k, $5200 and 600 miles of driving to get it.
It took some looking, but I found one in the end. 8yrs newer and only costs $4 more per year for insurance than my '85 EFI 4Runner LOL!
Let the "desert banger" begin!
We used the old Runner for car camping a lot and not having to get keys out every time something needed to be opened or locked makes a huge difference. The only thing that could make me happier would be a crank down rear window
The only hard part now is selling my '85. I've had it almost 12 years and have put about 120,000 miles on it. Gonna miss my Toy

 

Congratulations! I think it is eaiser to find a 4cyl in a 3rd Gen than a 2nd Gen, I have looked around myself. I agree with your thinking on the 4 cylinder.

 

Hey Tulsa90sr5!! welcome to the boards!! I am from Tulsa as well. What color is runner and all that good stuff...i am sure i have seen you around..welcome again and enjoy your stay.

Fahrenheit no means to hijack the thread..good luck on your search!