1999 V6 Manual w/Locker

adkinsadam1

adkinsadam1

New member
I am in the market for a used 4runner and this seems to be my option! But if possible I would love to get some opinions of this truck from owners. Is it great off-road in stock condition?

Also, if I bought it at 200,000 miles, is it still good for at least another 150,000?

This truck seems rare as I can't find many, but I don't know why!

Thanks all, and I look forward to hearing back!
 
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I happen to own a '99 V6 Sr5 5-speed with a e-locker which might be up for sale next week! I am in the Denver area, so PM me if you're interested.

As far as the truck, I have owned two of them, and I liked the first one well enough that I bought another! I think the 5-speed really helps to make the most of the modest power of the 5vzfe and makes driving in the mountains a much more pleasant experience. My current one is around 180k miles and running strong. My last one had 200k and was running strong when it was totalled. The one with 200k had the original clutch (!) the one with 180k had the clutch replaced at around 160k IIRC. Both breezed through emissions. :)


The only quirk I've noticed with both the 5-speeds is that they can take some force to get into 1st gear when at a stoplight, for instance. I'm not sure if that is universal to this transmission, or just something that I coincidentally ended up with twice.
 
3rd gen e locker and 5-spd

Has to be one of the most coveted 3rd gens out there. Especially an E-Locker 99 with manual. E-lockers themselves are rare, and the 99 is the most coveted, because of the highest suspension (coils) than the other years, (if this option was chosen by the original owner from the factory). The manual transmission is extremely rare for 3rd gens especially when mated to the 5vz-fe. All combined, the rarest and most coveted!

AS for miles, I bought mine with 150k and 6 years later I'm at 240k and still going strong. One of the best motors out there IMO. There are quite a few 3rd gen owners on here with well into the 300+k miles. Easy to mod and fun to wheel. I say go for it! But, maybe I'm an over-biased 3rd gen owner...
 
Great offroad? My opinion is that a manual w/ locker is good offroad when stock. It will benefit from (larger) AT or offroad tires, skid plates, & sliders. Even better with a lift. If you get 33 or 35" tires, then re-gearing helps. Front locker seals the deal. With all that, very good offroad.

So, in short, good offroad stock, very good with significant investment & lots of labor. You wont get to great offroad until you move up to a solid front axle.

Also, some prefer to wheel automatics, some prefer manual. I'd say a manual offroad takes more skill. Just my opinion, I'd rather wheel an automatic...
 
white_n_slow said:
I happen to own a '99 V6 Sr5 5-speed with a e-locker which might be up for sale next week! I am in the Denver area, so PM me if you're interested.

As far as the truck, I have owned two of them, and I liked the first one well enough that I bought another! I think the 5-speed really helps to make the most of the modest power of the 5vzfe and makes driving in the mountains a much more pleasant experience. My current one is around 180k miles and running strong. My last one had 200k and was running strong when it was totalled. The one with 200k had the original clutch (!) the one with 180k had the clutch replaced at around 160k IIRC. Both breezed through emissions. :)


The only quirk I've noticed with both the 5-speeds is that they can take some force to get into 1st gear when at a stoplight, for instance. I'm not sure if that is universal to this transmission, or just something that I coincidentally ended up with twice.
Click to expand...

Mine is the same way. Every other 5 spd Toyota truck I have driven was this way as well. My guess is they don't use synchros for 1st gear.

Max
 
adkinsadam1 said:
I am in the market for a used 4runner and this seems to be my option! But if possible I would love to get some opinions of this truck from owners. Is it great off-road in stock condition?

Also, if I bought it at 200,000 miles, is it still good for at least another 150,000?

This truck seems rare as I can't find many, but I don't know why!

Thanks all, and I look forward to hearing back!
Click to expand...

I have a '97 V6, 5-speed, E-locker equipped 4Runner which I bought new off the lot in '97.

Is it great off-road? Well, it's always done what I wanted it to. It easily goes places the '93 SR5 V6 pickup I had struggled to go. I also prefer it to the '95 FZJ80 I had from '95 to '00.

The Landcruiser while having locking front and rear diffs, was bigger, and as a result didn't fit on some trails I liked to drive, unless you didn't care about body damage.

I wouldn't be preoccupied with finding a '99. Yes, they had slightly taller springs when new, but the springs on any original 4Runner have sagged a bit by now. Putting new taller springs on any year isn't a problem.
 
I was hoping to leave it stock. Obviously I would put some Geolander all terrains on it, but otherwise leave it stock. I do way too much cross country driving and storm chasing to deal with a modified vehicle all the time.
 
hrt4me said:
sorry to hear that

anything you can part out?
Click to expand...


Everything is up in the air right now. We are still dealing with the insurance company. I think she is going to send it to there yard until they figure out they are going to do. The frame is bend and the front end is pretty much munched.

Blue
 
white_n_slow said:
The only quirk I've noticed with both the 5-speeds is that they can take some force to get into 1st gear when at a stoplight, for instance. I'm not sure if that is universal to this transmission, or just something that I coincidentally ended up with twice.
Click to expand...

Oddly, my '97 5-speed does not have this trait. 262,000 miles. Going into 1st gear is pretty smooth and easy. The change from 5th to 4th can sometimes take a second try though. I suspect that a tranny fluid change could help me.
 
Okay so I have a few questions.

1. Is the only benefit to the 1999 4Runner vs a 2000-2002 just the fact that it has more standard ground clearance? I mean just an inch of difference?

2. Do I really need a manual? I know I want one, but if it makes my acquiring a 4runner so difficult, is it really worth it? Do 1999-2002 4runners come with a 5 speed automatic or just a 4 speed?

3. Which models have the diff lockers?

Thanks!
 
1- they get a little nicer as they get newer, but the differences are mostly cosmetic.

2- manuals command a premium. The auto is a 4 speed. It's not a bad tranny, I have one. But some people live and die for manuals and they are more rare.

3- rear diff locks were only available until 99 or 2000. After that, it's a center differential lock which isn't as effective or coveted by off-roaders.

I ended up with an auto, non-locked. The manual/locked combo is tough to find. I wanted the locker cuz it sounds cool but I don't think I would ever use it though (if I'm realistic)

Good luck!
 
If you don't plan to modify it very much (or at all) a newer one without the locker and just traction control will probably do you fine for what the vehicle will be capable of stock. Most people aren't a fan of traction control, but numerous times it has taken me further than the people I wheel with who have a single locker especially in snowy and icy conditions. Food for thought.
 
ShooterMcGavin said:
Oddly, my '97 5-speed does not have this trait. 262,000 miles. Going into 1st gear is pretty smooth and easy. The change from 5th to 4th can sometimes take a second try though. I suspect that a tranny fluid change could help me.
Click to expand...

Same with my 127K mile '97 5-speed. Smooth into all gears all the time.

I had the "tough to get into 1st" syndrome on my previous '91 4WD truck(W56 trans). Tried the 'miracle' Marlin shift seat...no improvement.
Turned out---according to the transmission shop that fixed it--- the loser that did the clutch right before I acquired it f'd up the pilot bearing and damaged the input shaft, which caused it to "never completely disengage", even when the clutch pedal was fully depressed. I suffered for several years with the hard shifting into 1st and some chatter.
 
I was looking around town the other day and noticed this one is listed as automatic but is definately a 5speed in the pictures. Unsure if it's locked but maybe worth inquiring about.

2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD 137K RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT JUST IN@@@@@@@@@


Where in CO are you? I fell into my 2000 5speed w/diff lock thanks to some friends at local dealers searching wholesale. If you'd like I could put in word for you and see if any are popping up at auction or come in on trade.

Good luck!
 
EatonKyleH said:
I was looking around town the other day and noticed this one is listed as automatic but is definately a 5speed in the pictures. Unsure if it's locked but maybe worth inquiring about.

2000 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD 137K RUNS AND LOOKS GREAT JUST IN@@@@@@@@@


Where in CO are you? I fell into my 2000 5speed w/diff lock thanks to some friends at local dealers searching wholesale. If you'd like I could put in word for you and see if any are popping up at auction or come in on trade.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Yes whatever word you want to put in for me would be much appreciated!

I went to the craigslist ad - I can't tell if it has a locker or not but it looks like 5 speed to me as well! I may go look at it - even though it has less ground clearance than the 99.
 
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