Hey Guys, Im interested in a 1987 4Runner 22RE Auto, the body looks solid and pretty clean but Im worried about the auto transmission. My plan is to take the top off, add bigger tires, maybe a couple of inches lift and do some light off roading, mainly trails for that matter. I often read that the 22RE 5Spd combo is the right one, but this one looks good for the Price. Let me know what you guys think or recomend:

 

Not knowing what part of the country your in or the price you might be paying .

Nor do you mention the mileage.

All things really needed to make a call.

To me with a 4x4 the body is the least of my concerns.

I am more interested in the drive train, suspension , steering, brakes ,

Some people are more concerned with how the vehicle looks and neglect the rest of it.

If you took it for a ride how did things work ??

Big puddles under the vehicle??

Strange noise or smells ??

 

I would not buy a 22RE auto transmission. Advantage of manual transmission:
(1) Can start the vehicle even if battery dies or even if your starter dies.
(2) Simpler to work on,
(3) Simpler to troubleshoot,
(4) Less expensive to repair,
(5) More fuel efficient.

Ball-park figure, I'd budget $2k-$3K to purchase, have same in reserve if anything goes wrong. For example in my case, I Bought my truck for $2700 with 180K miles and it ran really well for 2 years. Then, head gasket blew. Simply having a head gasket job and leaving an old bottom did not make sense to me so I spent around $4K to have engine rebuilt, replace all cooling system components, replace clutch, replace all seals, etc.

 

Hi, Wyoming hopefully this will help make a statement:
Im in PUerto Rico as the car is also
Their Asking price is $1700, local market for these is between 1500-3000 if they are running and depending on conditions.
Suspension, drivetrains, and everything else is stock.
This one mileage is 236k miles, Brake booster needs to be replaced and the registration need to be renewed(about $200 for registration).
Havent had the chance to ride it yet hopefully today or tomorrow I will get a chance to try it. My main concern is with the transmission because havent heard enough about the 22RE w auto trans... My concern with the body is that I rather get a stock solid body and spend $$ on engine, drivetrains or such, than to paid top price for a heavely modified truck than cannot be repaired by simply replacing stock parts. Im not sure If my point got across, but mainly I would like to get a usable running project truck that I could add on goodies as it goes..

** Important does this model could also be fitted with a 5 speed Manual trans?

 

1700 good price for running one. However, I wud not trust reliability of a converted manual transmisssion. Wud also cost some money. U might as well be patient and wait for the right one.

 

Maybe the first question I should've asked was what to look for on these models, what the most common fails on these, therefore I will be advice on what to look for...
A fríend already told me to check the engine for knocking between 1500-2500 RPMS..

 

Can you put it on a boat to my house? Lol

If it checks out I would buy it and gather parts for a manual swap.

 

Well, I went and test the 4runner aside from bad brakes, mechanically checks out. rear bumper is missing and the left from fender is bent. Issue is that both fenders, hood and rear door doesn't have the VINs labels or parts labels as we call it here, that being said it means the truck could be confiscated by the police if you happen to get caught in a road block according to local law. For me not a biggie, but my brother (advisor) too much a risk.

 

Wow that must be something just there where you are .

I have never seen and labels like that on body parts.

 

Price is going down it sounds like.

How do you replace a fender and door without risk of police confiscation?

 

these trucks don't have vin numbers on the frame, good catch by your brother on that.

do the passenger doors have the correct vin numbers?

 

Supposedly you need to buy either from a junkyard or autobody parts get a receipt and bring the car to the local DMV so they assing a new label and register it to the car file. If you get the part from a used car being parted, you must bring the original title of the parted car and the owner must register the car as its being junked so the parts can be a re-assigned to another running car... sort of Im on the quest today to go find out that if your original labels are faded or erase is there a mechanism to get them reassing or something.

 

Yes Passenger doors are ok, being a very old truck the chances of getting confiscated by faded or missing labels are minimal, supposedly ... that Im about to find ou today, hopefully. Both fenders seem original but labels are totally faded, hood looks lika a replacement part that never was registered. Do you know where the label should be on the rear door/hatch?

 

C'mon guys dont make me start another thread just to find out where the label should be located on rear hatch door.

 

Dark here now, I'll see if I can find the label on my '87 t-gate tomorrow.

 

Found this injected 22re 5spd for my nephew today...$2600



I hope he takes better care of this one, then his last toyota




Yea, It's the 4runner in my sig

Good Luck on your search.

 

How many miles? Looked at maintenance history?
Test drove it? How does it feel, sound, smell, look? (No taste test for a truck - LOL!)
There should be a list of things to look for before buying a used Toyota truck.
If you inspect it well, and see no major issues, that seems like a good deal.
Best of luck.

 

I can find the labels on my hood, front fenders, and both doors, but there is no label visable on my rear hatch. Perhaps it is concealed by trim.

Sorry I can't help more.

 

Thaks man!Thaths good enough, I'll keep asking around for the benefit of all.