3rd Gen 4runner experts... walk me through this
 

So I've had my apple carts upturned in the past month, and it looks like a fleet adjustment will be required to accomodate the changes. I am going to be staying at my mother's home for the winter while she's in China, and her home is on a particularly tough hill. Also, I'm buying a cottage next week, and I'd like to be able to drive in and out of its 2000ft driveway year round.

So, the fwd v70 is going to be retired, and I'm looking at 3rd gen (96-2001) Toyota 4runners. Initially, I was looking for a base model with the 22re and a 5 speed, but the more I've read, the more I'm leaning towards the '99-'00 4runner Limited, because:
- Leather interior is more washable/kid friendly
- "Multi-Mode" transfer case has a lockable center diff, so you can run it unlocked (awd) or locked (4x4). (only available 99-2002)
- electric actuated locking rear diff (only available until 2000)

The downside to the Limited is that they were only available as automatics, and I really prefer a manual transmission. Having said that, the selectable center diff in the transfer case makse quite a difference when you drive in a climate like ours, especially where this will become my primary driver for a year or two. A straight 4x4 is a handful in the snow when it's a commuter vehicle, especially on the highway.... being able to toggle between awd/4x4 might trump gettibg a manual transmission

What say ye?

3rd gen 4runners are great! I've had mine for 6 years now as my daily and plan on keeping it that way for a long time. I have a auto 4x4 and love it..I too wanted a manual v6, but they are tough to come by and the one I picked up was a one owner so I jumped on it. I haven't seen a snow the 4x4 can handle! 4hi is great but believe it's only rated up to 45mph.. Unless you plan on doing some off roading you really don't need the diff lock, and I do plenty 4x4 trails without it now. You should go for the 99-02 4runner as 99 brought in some updates that are very nice one of them being a better engine and power outlets in the front and rear of the truck.

Yours is an SR5 so it has the regular transfer case, as opposed to the selectable open/locked diff in the Limited's tranfer case, correct?

The locking rear diff is a $500-800 bolt-in upgrade in any of the gen3's, and a quick scan shows that they are readily available... but that "Multi-mode" transfer case in the 99-02 trucks is *really* appealing

I was surprised at how many 5spd gen3's I can find, but then again I am looling at cars 3000miles away and looking foeward to the drive home!

That's correct. I have put a link below from the forum that I like to hangout in for 4runner stuff. This link should provide you with everything you want to know! In 01-02 all the trucks got the multi-mode t-case so that should open the door up for you in terms of finding the perfect truck!

3rd Gen 4Runner Buyer's Guide - Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum

What kind of gas mileage are you getting? 18/20 seems to be about average

I had an 01 Sc'd SR5 2WD auto and I'd get 16 mpg on it, mostly city driving. I had cloth seats with Wet Okoles and hauled a lot of stuff in that vehicle, The Wet Okoles cannot be beat.


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...r/P1010056.jpg

I currently have 99 for sale in NYC with new timing belts , water pump , drive belts , spark plugs ,
Valve cover gasket, rear shocks and radiator .

This was posted today on FB 4 Runner group. $6500 in Atlanta Ga.

1995 4Runner
SR5 4x4

Engine 250,000 original miles
Rebuilt engine (less than 5000 miles)
New brakes front and back
New re differential seal
Air Conditioning and heat work
Power window power door locks
CD player, radio
Weather tech floor mats
Sun roof
5 speed transmission

Cell-404-788-2888

I have a 1997 4x4x Limited Edition Gen 3, with the 3.4 v-6 auto . Love it! It has a locking diff button on the dash as well. The only thing I added was the trans cooler. I bypassed the radiator cooler as there is a chance of "strawberry milkshake syndrome" should the trans cooler in the radiator end up sharing the same space. $70 later , no worries:)

is the current model 4th gen?

5th gen. Jake, here's a link to the 4 Runner FB page. You should join, rigs are posted almost daily for sale by enthusiasts who have taken care of them.....
https://www.facebook.com/groups/toyota4runners/

I have a 4th Gen I bought from 1WP over ten years ago. I think the 4th gen is a better car mechanically but I really prefer the looks of the 3rd Gen.

Hard to go wrong. Happy hunting!

That would be a 2nd generation, not 3rd. Pretty worthless if it's a V-6, unfortunately. One of Toyota's rare *swing and miss* vehicles. The 3rd gen fixed everything, especially the drivetrain, and was a great rig. The trick at this point would be finding one with lots of young miles still left on it.

I've given up on the notion of buying a US truck... by the time I pay the US/CAN exchange, taxes, duty and fees, it adds 70-80%.

I've also decided to only look at the 1999/2000 Limited version for the reasons noted above. This is going to be my DD, so the AWD/4x4 and locking rear diff makes it a perfect balance.

Also did some reading last night, and enough people have done a 5speed manual swap in the Limiteds that I am reasonably assured I can go that route if I don't like the automatic. There are plenty of rusty donor vehicles to be had for $1000.

There's an enthusiast-maintained 2 owner 2000 Limited in Toronto that I'm haggling on now. Binder of receipts, dealer maintained, Rust Checked every year. Fly in, drive home.

The gas mileage is going to be an adjustment conpared to ghe fwd volvo, but I'd have to buy a pickup otherwise. This saves me maintaining and insuring 2 vehicles

Thanks for the great advice.

PM me if you need a ride anywhere around town.

I didn't realize Toyota had produced the awd/4x4. It sounds like a great DD. I DD a newer Tacoma and we're in for a long winter here. Switching in and out of 4x4 to go between the plowed and deiced streets and the others where we've got thick snow and ice on the ground can be a pain. Hopefully your deal works out.

i'm fairly certain a locking rear is not the best thing to have in snow.

What's your thinking on this?
I can see at higher speeds a sudden throttle change may lead to over steer, but at the speeds one would use a locking rear diff, that wouldn't be an issue.
I drove an '87 4000 Quattro years ago and I must say the locking diffs (rear and centre) were greatly appreciated a few times. In fact the only time I locked the diffs was in snow. I never had the car in deep mud.

Best
Les

On my Toyota's, locking the rear differential only happens below 3MPH or when the truck is stopped.

Locking the rears is essential in some snow circumstances. Once out, back to 4HI.

If youre open to a Nissan, you need to look at the pathfinder. -

Mine is a 2001 with: 4x2,auto, 4-Hi and 4-low so no matter how much snow i have to deal with I never get stuck.

The best part is that the Pathfinder (In my opinion) is as good as that 4Runner but is like a 1/3 or 1/4 of the price.
The engine is that 3.5lts from Nissan that still in use with Infinity and Nissan new models so you know its reliable as it gets. This gen has a Towing capacity of 5,000lbs!! (that's more than any modern small&mid-sized SUV)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Pathfinder#Second_generation_R50_series_.28 1995.E2.80.932004.29

Note: do NOT buy the next gen up, so many issues..

Good luck!

If you are in Canada, you can easily buy or import a gen 3 4Runner (Surf) that has the 4 cyl diesel. I have one in my '97 and I love it! Mileage and torque are both better. Most importantly, the fun factor is MUCH better!

Great trucks!

Yep. Locking rear diffs are not a negative factor in snow. They are either designed only to lock when spinning one wheel, (such as the GM/Chevy type), or are driver activated and can be switched on/off at will.

That Audi 4000 Quattro w 5-cyl and 5-speed manual was a truly great car. Just a sweet spot on automotive history. I sold them new in mid-'80s, I wouldn't mind having one now if I could find a good one.

I second this. I've owned both, (Toyota and Nissan), both are extremely tough and well engineered for their purpose. My dad actually owned each generation 4-runner from 1-4 and I've owned a few Toyota and Nissan trucks plus a Pathfinder. The second gen Pathfinder is fantastic, my choice would be a manual trans 4x4 from before 2001. In '01, they got the 3.5 V-6 which has great power but was thirsty and uses premium fuel. Basically the Maxima engine of the time. Might as well DD a Suburban, it would be cheaper, (87 octane). The '96-2000 is sweet.

We had a poster here who imported a gen 3 4-runner front clip w turbo diesel from Japan and converted his U.S. truck. Not enough benefit/cost for me but a fantastic rig.

I was considering this route a few months ago, but now I have no fixed address, no garage, and this is going to be my DD for about a year... I need something I can drop off at a shop and pick up the next day, like a grownup. Once I have a workspace again I could see getting a JDM half-cut and doing a swap. I'm already reading up on a 5speed manual swap, but I know I won't be able to do anything like that for a year.

I *did* manage to find a heated workspace for the 911 and my tools.

The Pathfinders were on my list, but I've always liked the look of the 3rd gen 4runners, and they are plentiful. Finding a nice one is pretty easy, I think I have one on the hook now

No experience of 3rd gen but I've got a 1994 2nd gen 4Runner, manual box with 3ltr TD. 165k on the clock

It's my daily driver, 72 mile return trip and has safely and reasonably quickly taken my family and I across Europe many times.

Just returned this weekend from doing a 1000 miles in 2 days no problem

Chugs along quite happily at 75-80 mph all day, with snow tyres on in low ratio it will plow through 1.5ft of snow no problem.

It will be retired from daily duties but not for a rest but for major overland trips across Asia, Africa etc

Best car I've ever owned and will be the last car I own as its part of the family now.

a locking diff in snow just takes you sideways. a true locking diff. they are for rock crawling and situations where one wheel is off the ground.

This is true, strictly speaking but a ltd.slip diff is great in snow. My F-250 has LSD on rear plus 4x4. :cool:

They are GREAT when you struggling up a steep snowy/icy driveway like the ones I am going to be navigating the next year. Obviously not so great for driving around town, at which point it would be unlocked.

I find an LSD is dicey in the snow... inside wheel always wants to spin and you end up fishtailing around. Lots of fun, but not on a daily driver. That's why I like the selectable locked diffs when you *need* it, and then just AWD (or 2wd on dry roads) the rest of the time. Best of 3 worlds

That's my truck...the one pictured above.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1483568781.JPG
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1483568781.JPG

having lived w/ all the various AWD & 4WD systems that I know of
best was The Audi computer controlled system in my V8 Quattro
next would be the Toyota Torsen system in my gen 4, 4 Runner,
next was the old locking hubs strictly manual setup in an old Jeep w/ lsd in back

lsd is a 2 edged sword most of the time you do not want it,

the gen 4 AWd system in my truck has a Torsen diff in the transfer case, you have a choice of
4H w/ VSC off, this is normally what is used the Torsen directs power f/r as needed, or
4H w/ VSC on which locks the center differential
4L w/ VSC off ie the torsen is deciding where to send torque
4L w/ VSC on again this locks the center diff.

In addition the E-LSd can be turned on or off as desired, normally leave it off but turn it on if in a ditch or for extra low speed traction

there are some models of these w/ different operations like the more traditional H2, H4 unlocked, H4 locked L4 unlocked and L4 locked

I had a gen 3, 6 cyl 5 spd manual before this one, the gen 4 variable cam motors alone make them a much better choice.

good tires make as much a difference as the AWD setup

That was just mean.

Best
Les

Fixed the colour.

I was only half joking. It's a great winter car, with locking diff as I recall.

Maybe not practical to sell the 911 if it is 'in pieces'.

Ha, the 964 was a lot of fun to drive as a winter beater when it was used Subaru money. Once the value got carried away it became the downpayment on a house (that burned down) .

I think I'm about a year or so away from a 996 C4S, starting to see them pretty regularly in the 25-30k CAN$ range... again, Subaru money.

But for now, I need to streamline the fleet to combine the v70 and a 4x4 truck... the 4Runner Limited seems like the right balance

I agree with those who are saying the Gen4 trucks are better, but I'm seeing enthusiast owned & maintained Gen3's for 4-8k CAN$, whereas the 7-8k Gen4's seem to be the ones that are beat to piss. I'm closing the deal on a cottage tomorrow and it was a SQUEAKER. I'm starting a 14x30 addition as soon as the ground is thawed out, so I'm keeping the vehicle budget pretty low.

That's the kinda crap that people parrot back over and over who have never owned the 3.0L V6, or the automatic behind it. Trust me, I've had 3 early Toyotas, and the 3.0L auto 4Runner I had would walk all over the 22RE manual pickup I had. I beat the ever living crap out of that truck and engine, it was on it's lid in the middle of nowhere 4 or 5 times, and it always drove me the 300-400 miles home from a wheeling weekend. There's a reason that all of the 1985-1995 4Runners command a premium over the 1985-1995 pickups, while the 1995+ pickups command a premium over the 4Runners.

As for the discussion of locker and snow...
I had a full mechanical locker front and rear, with front manual disconnects. Driving down a very icy in 4WD, very steep road, tranny ends up in 2nd gear, speeds about 10mph. I manually dropped the auto tranny to "1" from "2", engine spins up, driveshaft spins up, axles spin up...tires break loose and I instantly do a 360 into the mountain wall, all at 10mph. The downshift at that speed was enough for the locker to lock, and that that point all tires instantly broke free and the truck pivoted. I would NOT run solid lockers with snow. Selectable locker, LSD or open differentials only.

Please tell me more of this engine swap? Is there a thread about it?

Mike, we owned a gen2 3.0 V-6 auto 4x4 from new, as well as all the others. I never said that that truck itself was poorly made but the power and economy sucked. If you think it was good, you are in a very small minority of fans of these vehicles. :cool:

the ones around here seem to have a bit of a rust problem.
is that a common thing?

In my opinion, all Japs vehicles rust faster than american cars..

But back to the point..
A 4runner diesel eh?? Not a bad idea..
I wonder where can you look (websites) for such animal?