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School me on 4Runners....

Good trucks overall HOWEVER the 3.0 v6's had a HUGE problem with blowing head gaskets. Get the VIN and have a local dealer check for outstanding "campaigns" and see if or how many times the head gaskets have been repaired. the extended coverage of the engine problem is over by now but you'll want to know about that part of it's history.
 
Never heard of head gasket issues ever with them. Mine had a waterpump issue that takes out the timing belt. That was the only thing the dealer or internet montioned when I had mine. I fricken loved it the whole time I had it. its a play toy. I wouldnt have one for a dd again myself unless it was around town only. 18 mpg hwy and cant tow chit. the newer ones have the 3.4. much stronger motor
 
There was a big problem with electrolysis killing head gaskets. I worked at a Toyota dealer for 15 yrs and during the mid 90's we were doing 2 or 3 repairs per day. The problem was so bad that Toyota issued a "campaign" (voluntary in house recall, not gov't imposed) that extended the warranty coverage for that failure to 10 yrs / 100k miles.

This problem also spilled over into the early 3.4's.
 
the same problem hit most cars in the 90s. had to have heads and intake replaced on grandmas lumina because of it. My toyota dealer never said a word about it to me:dunno: I never had an issue in that department. Just the messed up deal of the timing belt driving the waterpump. what a stupid idea
 
Head gasket issue isn't a "IF", it's a "when" for sure. My wife's same thing, driver's rear is where it starts. It's due to the Y pipe for the exahust, it goes behind the engine, and connects the two mannifolds right at that rear corner of the head/engine block before going down and to the back of the vehicle.

OTHERWISE, they're great rigs. My wife loved hers. There's a major following for those things, and they go for a lot, $2500 might not be a bad price. People sorta address the issue with headers, and running pipe down under the cab, and reconnecting to single pipe due to the O2 sensor, but it's expensive.

On that note. My wife's finally putting hers up for sale. I told her no more. Getting your hands in that engine bay to work is impossible. It's ridiculously cramped.
 
If you want a 1st gen then try to find a 4 banger. Not sure if they made the 4 doors with a 22re. If not spend the extra grand and shop for a 2nd gen with a 3.4 like said.
 
That's actually a 2nd gen, 3.4 would be 3rd gen.

Great rigs, but personally I would skip the 3.0 for reasons already mentioned. I would also go for a manual. 22re won't get you anywhere fast, but they're damn near bullet proof. 3rd gen Limiteds (leather, etc.) with 3.4 are well under $10k now and you can pick up used superchargers pretty cheap for them now. That one looks really clean for $2500. Being where you are I would scour the chassis for rust though.
 
I dont know about the "WHEN" part of the head gasket, (mine had 189k on it when I sold it to my buddy. He's still driving it 8 years later and still no issues). But My plans were to swap in a chevy small block. I even tried to buy mine back for twice what he paid me(I basically gave it to him) so I could do it and he said NO:rolleyes: Theres kits for it so its an easy swap. buy one, drive it till it dies then swap to the SB. :waytogo:
 
times a bajillion on the head gasket thing. I know some guys who have done them 3 or 4 times, although those trucks had alot of miles on them.

There is a reason they call them the 3.slow.

Auto bleh, if I was looking it would be for a manual trans 22re.

Other than that like some have said check frame for rust, they have issues.
 
blazinzuk said:
times a bajillion on the head gasket thing. I know some guys who have done them 3 or 4 times, although those trucks had alot of miles on them.

There is a reason they call them the 3.slow.

Auto bleh, if I was looking it would be for a manual trans 22re.

Other than that like some have said check frame for rust, they have issues.
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Ageed! We had a 91 with a 3.0...headgaskets went out.
I had a 88 with a 3.0 but sold it before I had any problems.
Had a 83 22 and 86 with a 22re beat the sh!t outta them... they were great!

Don`t get a auto/no fun.
But don`t get me wrong I had alot of fun with my 3.0 toys.

If you like I got some pics of my old Toyotas in my garage pics.
 
+1 for the cramped engine bay. If you're used to working on your K5, how jam packed the engine bay is is a real pain in the butt on those Toyotas.

That being said, I still really like my 92 pickup.

Get the 4Runner!

mrschaeferpants said:
Head gasket issue isn't a "IF", it's a "when" for sure. My wife's same thing, driver's rear is where it starts. It's due to the Y pipe for the exahust, it goes behind the engine, and connects the two mannifolds right at that rear corner of the head/engine block before going down and to the back of the vehicle.

OTHERWISE, they're great rigs. My wife loved hers. There's a major following for those things, and they go for a lot, $2500 might not be a bad price. People sorta address the issue with headers, and running pipe down under the cab, and reconnecting to single pipe due to the O2 sensor, but it's expensive.

On that note. My wife's finally putting hers up for sale. I told her no more. Getting your hands in that engine bay to work is impossible. It's ridiculously cramped.
Click to expand...
 
shady said:
Never heard of head gasket issues ever with them. Mine had a waterpump issue that takes out the timing belt. That was the only thing the dealer or internet montioned when I had mine. I fricken loved it the whole time I had it. its a play toy. I wouldnt have one for a dd again myself unless it was around town only. 18 mpg hwy and cant tow chit. the newer ones have the 3.4. much stronger motor
Click to expand...

Same mine never had an issue with head gaskets but a lot of them have issues with the water pump leaking. Timing belt and water pump should be replaced at the same time.

I had the opposite experience with towing. Towing was excellent better then my Blazer with a V8. Downside is the gas mileage isn't the greatest. I think I was getting 16mpg maybe. Seems like decent gas mileage until you consider a newer V8 gets similiar gas mileage.

I think the head gasket thing might be a specific version of the engine. I had the 3.4L V6.
 
we did this to my friends 2002 4 runner...

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Ok wait a second. Blazer=bad gas mileage, cant hall much. 4runner= not much better mileage, still cant hall $hit. Why get another suv thingy, get a pickup.
 
Like other said, the 3.0L is a less than sterling engine but I think it can be with the proper aftermarket treatment. If you are looking specifically for a 2nd Gen 4Runner get the 22RE. They are out there but rare…and gutless! The 3rd Gen 4Runner with the 3.4L is a fine machine with better front suspension with coil boingers rather than torsion bars.

This is a 1992 22RE rig we picked up this past February from the original owner with only 122,000 miles on it. All I have done to it is tune it up, paint the wheels and added new tires. This little thing is like a time machine back to the early 90’s all over again. It needs nothing….just more power! This is actually my wife’s off-roadster.

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Before powerwashing the engine and tuning it up
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The interior is flawless. Even the tape deck and A/C work :haha:
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The wife love it plus it matches my K10 well. Like mini-me
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