I am really stuck between the two. I own a 1990 4runner with the 22re(which would need a rebuild) and my dad owns a 1999 4runner which he would be willing to give me for college. I want a rig that I can drive on the street and to the trails...rubicon, fordyce, hollister etc. I am pretty sure they will both perform the same but the cost is whats worrying me. I haven't started buying parts yet, so what should I do? Can someone break the cost down for me for both and maybe a pros/cons list. Why is the 3rd gen more expensive? I would be SASing the front, leafs in the rear, gears, lockers (ARB's), 35-37" tires etc. Nothing special. If I were to do the 3rd gen, it would be like 44runners rig and if I were to do the 2nd gen it would be similar as well but 37's. Thanks alot, any help would be appreciated.
-Pat

 

Nothing special huh? That is about as nasty as you can do up any truck. I have not done one, but from what I hear SASing a 2nd gen is much easier. Parts are going to be a little less, plus there is more 2nd gens in slavge yards then 3rd gens, so it will be easier to find used parts. I like the look of the second gen better, and I think it would be a better choice for you.

 

swap in a 350 in the 2nd gen then sas it but you will need the 3rd gen for driving on the road

 

Just buy the AllPro offroad kit for a 3rd gen coil-over SAS

http://www.allprooffroad.com/index.p...ask=view&id=80

 

First time I have seen that, interesting.

 

Schaeffer has done SAS conversions on both 3rd gens and 2nd gens.

 

Whoa... Cant wait to see people try that kit out.

 

there are many tacos on TTORA with basically that exact setup (coilover 3 link w/ panhard) and i think thats what SteveO did too. they just didn't get their parts in 'kit' form.

 

If cost is the only factor and you can do work yourself, the 2nd Gen wins hands down.

For a grand, you can get a front leaf kit plus rebuild stuff from Trail Gear. Add another grand for a regeard and locked front diff plus a grand for a front axle plus 30 spline Longfields. Let's add 500 bucks for "other" stuff like driveshaft work and a crossmember. That is $3,500 for a 2nd Gen.

On the 3rd Gen, there are no kits on the market. Any coilover kit will start at $1500, or so I would guess. Gearing and axle costs are the same, plus locker choice, but CTM's and chromo shafts add up quickly. $655 does it for the 2nd Gen, try at least twice that for the 44. It would be hard to do a leaf swap with a 44 geared, locked, etc. for less than 5k and that leaves a low pinion diff and a LOT of frame bracing/custom work.

Both rears will be a pain, but cost is similar on leaves.

I have done both. Neither is particularly cheap, the 2nd Gen being cheaper and easier.

 

As far as monetary cost, i think others have covered it pretty well

Consider that the third gen is going to be much harder to do, at least from stuff i've read. The 2nd gen is gonna to be a bit more cut and dried. With any project, the thing to bet on is that something, usually many things, will not go as planned, or just go wrong. The more simple you can make it, the better chance of not ending up with a useless truck thats not driving anywhere.

Also consider the third gen is nicer, has a good engine, and probably rides really nice. It probably has some decent value still. The 90, probably not so much. After you cut up the truck, and hang an axle, you will lose any value the truck had. Few people want to buy a truck with that kind of modification done to it. Not to knock you down, i'm sure you could build a great truck, but i personally would only trust one or two people i know to do a truck right, and anyone else, i'd never buy from.

Cut up the junker, and build it to beat on. Keep the nice truck nice. You'll have a reliable ride this way, so when the old one breaks, you've got something to get around in.

 

build up the 2nd gen. much cheaper, plus it's been done 5732075934569346 times... i doubt that 22re is going to be too hard to rebuild also...

 

OOOOOOOOOooo..... purdy.

ORS's kit should be out soon as well - just another option.

 

my brother (hyperlite) is doing his 3rd gen now...... cage radius arms or 3-link

this is the first i have seen of this allpro kit.......looks pretty simple and cheap to copy except for the coilovers...

 

thanks guys. I really enjoy everyones imput and help. The thing is, I really want whatever 4runner I build to be my daily driver and weekend rig. I do not know how to fabricate parts, but i can weld somewhat. If I were to do the 3rd gen, I would have somebody probably do it for me, most of it but the 2nd gen I could do myself. Thats basically it. I was also looking at the total chaos long travel kit for the 3rd gen, like Brucets's 4runner. I know this is an entirely different approach, but cost wise, how does it compare to the SAS? Thanks for the help guys.
-Pat

 

does anybosy have an idea of how much it would cost if i brought built axles to a shop and had them build me my 1999 4runner? Sas, etc...?

 

Call Steve, and check out this thread: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77194

He's charging 2500 to 3500 labor, so add parts to that...thats a good price, really, for good work, and done right. Since you're in CA, that wouldn't be too much of a drive. Give him a call, it'll be worth it.

 

sweet. Thanks for that. Is it basically the same work as a tacoma SAS? Because there are alot of people on the ttora forum who know whats up and I would like to ask questions if it is the same sorta thing. Plus, bentup does fabrication work too.

 

It's not cheap, to do it right, youll be pushing $10,000 total parts and labor to have someone do it for you.