Hey all,

I finally after a long time looking and with some help for you guys on there I managed to find one which I think is a good truck to start with.

Description from CL ad:

1996 Toyota 4 Runner Limited Edition
185K Original Miles
4WD with Diff Lock
V6 3.4Liter
Automatic Transmission
Clean Inside/Outside
Fully Loaded

Carfax checked out so I decided to go for it.

It's got some issues though - most internal that I want to sort ASAP.

Needs new seat covers - ordering Wet Okole tonight
Needs a new windscreen - got an appointment booked for midweek to have it replaced
needs a steering wheel cover - ordering a wheelskin tonight

Those are the first three things I am going to try sort right now. It's missing a few items of trim which I am hoping I can pick up at a salvage yard.

I would like to do some upgrades to the exterior - nicer wheels, bigger tyres. I want to do a full service and get it all cleaned up.

Here are some pics from the CL AD:















I am looking for advice on what I should get done right away? I have a bit of money left over in the budget and I would like to improve this truck to make it a nice drive and last for years. It's all stock right now.

Nice truck, looks like a great start. I personally would address any repairs (leaks, inop components) and do all the preventive maintenace you can to keep it nice.

One of the best mods you can do is the Tundra brake upgrade. When you feel your stock rotors start to warp then you should look into it. You may need spacers to allow those rims to clear the larger calipers but then you're laughing. No more yearly brake jobs.

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Save yourself a lot of money and delete your user account here.


Other than that - figure out what you plan to use the 4R for (off roading, camping, or just DD use) and decide repairs/upgrades from there. Having a decent end goal in mind will save you money in the end. Your repairs/upgrades will be more effective that way.

True. I started 5 years ago with a 100 series we bought for my wife and wheeled it some. Read and looked at what other people are doing and bought myself a 4Runner recently. It's a worthwhile hobby if cars make you happy.

Change the oil, service the diffs, fresh air filter, fresh plugs, check brakes/rotors and make sure she's golden mechanically before adding wheels, lift kits, etc. Generally speaking, the "major services" tend to be neglected the most. A fresh coat of wax won't hurt.

If it needs stuff like new brakes, do the upgrades when you do the repairs.

When I was in buying my 4runner recently, the fairly high-volume dealer "finance manager" was telling me they had at minimum 1 vehicle a day in with a blown motor or tranny from neglect to change the fluids.

Here's my top 5 list of things in order of importance.

1) Replace lower ball joints with OEM ones. (Unless it was done already in the last 75k)

2) Replace radiator unless you have an external transmission cooler and the radiator is bypassed.

3) Timing belt

4) Take a good look at the transmission fluid. Proceed as needed there.

5) Since your probably going broke by now, here's a freebie mod — take off the running boards (unless you actually like the low-rider look).

I'd start watching CL and eBay for a good deal on a set of wheels. Personally I like OEM stuff, and there are a lot of reasonably priced options out there that look a lot better than the split 3 spoke wheels you have now.

If it's going to be a while before you replace the wheels, pick up a can of silver high temp paint, and paint the centercaps. You'll be shocked at what that will do for the looks.

As has already been mentioned, I'd take care of the lower ball joints and radiator as soon as you can. The timing belt would be on the list too, but they're known to go well beyond the 80k mile replacement interval, so I wouldn't be in a panic over it.

If you're going to lift it, I'd figure out how much before I started shopping for wheels and tires. No point in buying them twice.

Looks like a solid truck. Enjoy!

I personally would address any repairs

This is exactly what every new 3rd gen owner should do, especially #5.

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Agree with the above list..except #5

that's personal preference, where as other items listed above are more mandatory

I don't mind the look of keeping running boards, I think it looks more finished then seeing the frame.
For me, I left them on, I don't do serious 4 wheeling with this rig, but I bet I do more off road then many, I'm on old logging roads a lot, and drive a lot in snow and mud, ( we even had snow all day 4 days ago and a few inches at that), and the running boards keep my truck cleaner....act as big snow/mud flaps

If I was to get more serious with 4 wheelin, I would lift more than I have, go with sliders,ARB bumper, swing out rear and not worry about how clean my truck looks...or dents or mud

But doing things like lifted or sliders for trucks that rarely leave the city limits or the malls...just for "looks". I don't get it...but that's me

by the way...I am partial owner in a Taco, that's lifted, converted to dana axles, body is ruff, so if I really want to get nasty, I can grab that

the above mentioned taco

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I'd get it up to date on maintenance and then drive it until you start noticing short comings. So many of us (myself included) buy all this crap we don't need. @ShooterMcGavin showed a group of pretty heavily modified vehicles just how capable a stock 3rd gen is as he kept up with them for a day out in Naches. Maybe he can post a picture or two.

Flip through the build threads for some inspiration. There's plenty of it in there.

And I also agree that maintenance should be your first priority. These things are legendary at lasting long, but that doesn't mean they don't have their weak points as well as it's an old vehicle no matter how you slice it.