I'm stoked. I just picked up an '86 4-cyl 5-spd 4Runner with 99k on the clock for $1200. Runs perfectly, and just passed smog with flying colors.

The catch is that the outside is beat to crap. It looks like he drove it along a brick wall and bounced it off a few snowbanks (it was the cabin vehicle at the house in Tahoe they just sold and I guess he slid off the driveway a few times). There isn't a panel on there that isn't dented and scratched down to the metal. Missing the right side view mirror, and the lower half of the back seats. I figure I'll paint over to prevent rust, find a seat, put on some decent front and rear bumpers and call it a day. It will be off-roaded mildly, but I have no plans for bigger than 31" or major mods.

Quick questions:
1) It seems to have a lower first gear and higher second gear than the same eng and tranny on my '92 pickup. Is that my imagination? I prefer the pickup gearing... how hard is it to change?

2) I don't know what ignition timing it started with, but to pass smog the mech had to retard it from where it was. It definitily lost power, most noticeably at low RPMs... I'd like to put it back to where it was, but don't know what that is. What timing do you recommend for optimum performance from a 22re?

Now who wants to buy my 92 pickup?

 

Bumping to the top because I'm hoping to get to the bottom of why the 22re and 5-spd in this runner don't feel anything like the 22re and 5-spd in my 92 4x4 pickup.

My pickup has faster throttle response, MUCH better low rpm torque and power, smoother transmission despite having an extra 100k on the engine (pickup is at 190k, 4runner is at 99k). My pickup is also a bit louder and rougher, and somehow also has lower gearing (I think both are factory stock) but doesn't feel at all underpowered. The 4runner feels downright slow and weak... to the point I'd consider not keeping it because it's too difficult to get up to speed in traffic and almost undriveable on the highway.

 

Have you given it a tune-up? Plugs, wires, cap/rotor, seafoam? Have you checked the timing? I know my '94 ran much better when I changed the timing gear and chain, along with normal tune-up. Is the throttle body black and filthy?

 

It's at the shop right now. Timing chain has never been changed, and the smog-guy put the ignition timing back to factory. Besides it runs way too smooth and quiet for the cam timing to be off.

Haven't done the sea-foam and plugs yet.

I'm starting to think it's the exhaust. Maybe the catalytic converter is plugged a bit. Hopefully talk to the shop tomorrow.

Not necessarily such a bad thing... an excuse for a new high-flow system. Any recommendations for a setup that isn't onoxiously loud?

 

Hiya, just bought essentially the same truck here in New Zealand and am finding the same thing, lack of power, expecially pick up and highway driving. Though mine does have 240k on the clock. Im coming to the conlusion that it is simply a 20 year old vehicle, with 20 year old technology and its associated shortcomings, running on high lift kit with bigger then factory tyres. Short of a tune up etc to make it go as good as it is going to, I dont think i will do much to it as it is an offroader anyway for me, my 1996 Surf 3.0L TD is my tavelling vehicle.

 

Yeah, but mine is bone stock (no lift, li'l tires), and is the exact same tranny and engine as I have in my 14-year-old truck that has twice the miles, and feels MUCH more powerful. My truck is downright peppy, and has no problem pulling from low RPMs. 4Runner is real sluggish and just about dead at low RPMs.

 

Got it back from the mech... it's perfect. The timing was super retarded, just like the dufus who smogged it. Now it's got full power, and is still smoother and quieter than my truck, though it doesn't have quite the throttle response.

So I picked up a one-owner, under 100k mi 4runner, with perfect compression, perfect alignment, and no frame rust, for $1200. Hell yeah. (Of course I still need to sort out the missing back seat and the scratched to hell body panels...)

 

I would change out the fuel filter next. See where that gets ya.

 

lets see a picture

 

another vote for "post some pics"

 

if the where pics

 

No digicam. I need to wrangle one from work to post the pickup for sale, so I'll snap some pics of the 4runner then.

Sorry to disappoint, but I'll warn you in advance, she ain't much to look at.