Thinking about an early 4Runner.

Hey guys recently I have been thinking about an early 4Runner again. I used to own an 82 Toyota truck, and loved it, but I want/need a back seat with my kids now. I would love an 84/85 model, with the 85 being the "white whale" of sorts with the fuel injected 22RE, and solid front axle, but I know I won't find one in the condition I want in a reasonable price range. So I am not too picky, and will take any from the first few years (maybe 84-88 I think) in mostly stock configuration.

I found what looks to be a nice one in GA on the Ih8mud forum, but the retina burning red interior is a bit of a turn off. the rest of the truck is great, and just what I want, but man that red is bright!

So help me out GRM, I want an early 4Runner that hasn't been ruined or hacked up. Oh yeah and I want a manual trans. There is a sweet turbo model on ebay now, but it will get pricey I bet, and it's an automatic.

Thanks,

Chris

Good luck with your quest. These have always piqued my interest too. I have a 99 2WD.

I used to see one near my old workplace, but haven't seen it for a while. It was very clean and never saw it for sale.

In reply to Mazdax605:

Great rigs Have had 2 You are right though 85 is going to be really tough to find at a decent price. Good luck with your search.

BBC

Good luck! I had an '86 4x4 pick-up, so I've always had a soft spot for early 4Runners. I remember back in '87 when a guy I knew bought a brand new Turbo model.

Unfortunately, most of the ones in the Northeast have returned to earth, so finding a clean one is near-on impossible. Even 2nd gen versions have mostly gone away around here.

They're some of the best trucks around. '85 is the best with the solid axles, the generation after that has IFS and some have chain-driven TCs but they're still pretty good, the generation after that is a big step down towards mommytruckdom.

Things to watch out for: Rust, rear spring sag, front subframe damage on IFS models, rust.

The 22RE has bulletproof internals but some fragile fiddly bits on the outside, and it guzzles gas like there's no tomorrow. There are a lot of good swap options, like the Toyota 2RZ and Mercedes OM615/616 so if you're up for that, you might want to consider one with a dead engine.

4Runners seemed to stick around a little longer than Toyota pickups of the same vintage. I guess they didn't have the same seam above the rear fenders that took out the trucks so quickly. That said, it's still been a while since I've seen a good one around here.

Toyota really nailed the styling on those late 80's trucks.

Test drive a few before deciding. Especially, get it on a uphill grade at speed. The downshifting required to maintain a rather pathetic speed can be frustrating to some.

I drive an RX-7, REPU, and Mitsubishi vanwagon. Power isn't something I am used to. I have the Suburban for that. this isn;t a daily driver, so I don't really care about shifting, and such. My old 82 truck was just fine power wise.

They won't be as fast on the street as your average overpowered American pickup but they're not painfully slow overall. Offroad they accelerate plenty fast enough and you won't have to slow down thanks to the proper suspension.

Mazdax605 wrote: My old 82 truck was just fine power wise.

I understand that. It's a weight issue.

There are three main weight groups, 2wd, 4wd, and 4runner. Each weighs several hundred pounds more than the previous, and that weight increase appreciably kills acceleration and hill climbing speed.

I've had & been around a number of Toyota trucks and a few 4runners, the effect is substantial. It bothers some not a bit, others find it all but unacceptable. Try it first before deciding.

As for the solid front axle, I drive my IFS through all kinds of mud and slop without any problems. It's an easier driver than the solid axle is. Maybe (only maybe) I can't wrangle through the toughest of boulder fields with an IFS, but for any "normal" 4-wheeling, the IFS does just fine.

4runners aren't unusually heavy, pretty average for a truck that size. Still it's a berkeleyton of weight by GRM standards, 3700~4000lbs.

Have you considered a Jeep Cherokee (XJ)? Solid axles, bomb proof engine... easier to find...

No I haven't. Don't like Jeeps. No particular reason, but I just don't like them.

In reply to Mazdax605:

Can't argue with that. I don't like a lot of things!

I dive an 87 4Runner. Do yourself a favor and find one without rust. I got mine from Montana. Still has factory black paint on the frame. It also has 426,702 miles on it.

You'll find its sprung a bit stiff. Easy to work on. Parts aren't the Chevy cheap, but not outrageous, either. You can add the turbo bits later. The red interior is awesome. Way cooler than soul-less tan or gray. Top comes off in the summer.

I don't have much to compare it too as I came from a 95 Caprice. I pull 19-20 mpg in town. That's not bad, considering the 9C1 only got 17 and that was on the highway.

Yotatech.com is your friend. I picked up the 88 factory manual on PDF for free using their links. Lots of good info there,

I paid $1000 for mine and I know its last 3 owners. The whole front end has been re-built, so that was nice. Wouldn't hesitate to drive it back to Montana tomorrow.

Unicorns. Huh.
Unicorn.

Dr. Hess wrote: Unicorns. Huh. fayar.craigslist.org/cto/3441357191.html

Oh yes convertible model!

my friend had a nice 5 speed 85 4 runner about 5 or 6 years ago, leaked oil bad (like a quart every 2 days bad), on some longer trips he actually had to stop to top off the oil. But it ran reliably and the body wasn't too teribly bad. We loved to take the top off and drive it around the wilderness areas.

he put it for sale for something stupid like like $500, and the day the ad ran in the paper, he got a call from a guy that said "Yeah I have cash how soon can I come pick it up." It was then that he realized he should have priced it a bit higher. None of us knew about the whole solid axle/22r thing at the time and that those trucks were somewhat sought after.

Hey, since you are local, take a cruise up Route 105 toward Halifax. There's one sitting in a yard on the right side after crossing over the town line. Not sure what kind of shape it's in, but it's got a vinyl wrap on it with a crap-ton of horses prancing around on it. It looks like an earlier one.

I want a turbo one.