3RZ Runners Only

[Red October]

3rd gen 4Runners are all pretty similar when it comes to suspension setups, armor, body mods, etc. But us 3RZ guys have a unique set of problems that are inherent to our engine. I think this thread could be a good place for some of the unique info that we need. Things like gearing for a specific tire size with our venerable 4 cylinder, Engine mod dos and do-nots, maintenance concerns specific to our powerplant, etc. And maybe just a little group within a group of guys and gals that have a little less rotating mass than the masses. :crazy:

 

[Red October]

I can start us off;

...Hello, Im Red October, and I have a 4 cylinder 4Runner...

Red is a '97, 5 speed, 4wd. She has been with the family for just under a year. She has (currently) 212 K miles, with 10 K on a rebuild due to poor maintenance by the PO.
She has a 3 inch lift, 4.56 axle gears and 265/75 Pro Comp XATs (load range E), I like the gearing/ tire combo, even though it is a little short I think that it makes the truck a little peppier, and makes up for some of the lack of ponies under the hood.

Build thread linky

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/181247-building-red-october.html

Also, pic, because; awesome

 

[IBallEngineer]

I can start us off;

...Hello, Im Red October, and I have a 4 cylinder 4Runner...

Red is a '97, 5 speed, 4wd. She has been with the family for just under a year. She has (currently) 212 K miles, with 10 K on a rebuild due to poor maintenance by the PO.
She has a 3 inch lift, 4.56 axle gears and 265/75 Pro Comp XATs (load range E), I like the gearing/ tire combo, even though it is a little tall I think that it makes the truck a little peppier, and makes up for some of the lack of ponies under the hood.

Hello I'm an IBaller, and I have a 4 cylinder 4Runner.

She's Imperial Jade 2000 with an automatic and 2wd. Just over 2 years with her and creeping up on 190K. I bought her to convert to a rock crawler, but I've since found myself in a job that I drive all over for, and I got married, and I owe the Guvmint, so things aren't advancing like I hoped. My wife's 3.4 Tacoma would smoke me in a drag race, but both of us prefer driving the runner.

:hungry:

 

[owyheerat]

I'll add mine to the list

99' base model 4wd with 5 spd tranny and 209k. 2 owner, bought it Jan 2014 with 197k on it. Original owner had it the first 14 years, 2nd owner had it less than a year. Both P.O's took very good care of it. It was bone stock when I got it, and had no rust!
I replaced all the fluids with Redline synthetic, new plugs and wires, and a few other small things. Drove it stock for about 6 months, then started modding. I installed a 3" lift, (Tundra coils, OME 890 and bilstien 5100's), new duratrac 235/85r16 tires, Stubb's sliders, AOR plate front bumper with Warn M8000s winch, full set of Shrockworks skids (including gas tank skid). The Ol' gal has put on some weight! I am currently working on fabing a custom rear bumper (Bandit Runner design), so she'll be getting even heavier.
This truck is SLOW! But I don't mind, it's not my DD. My next mod will be 4.88's and ARB air locker and 33's (255/85r16...I love pizza cutters)
I have owned several 4wd's (including 3 other toyota's), and for some reason, I like this one the best. This is also the first vehicle I have ever modded! I hope to get a lot more miles out of her...even if she has put on weight:wink2:

 

[GSPRunner]

99' base model 4wd with 5 spd tranny and 209k. 2 owner, bought it Jan 2014 with 197k on it. Original owner had it the first 14 years, 2nd owner had it less than a year. Both P.O's took very good care of it. It was bone stock when I got it, and had no rust!
I replaced all the fluids with Redline synthetic, new plugs and wires, and a few other small things. Drove it stock for about 6 months, then started modding. I installed a 3" lift, (Tundra coils, OME 890 and bilstien 5100's), new duratrac 235/85r16 tires, Stubb's sliders, AOR plate front bumper with Warn M8000s winch, full set of Shrockworks skids (including gas tank skid). The Ol' gal has put on some weight! I am currently working on fabing a custom rear bumper (Bandit Runner design), so she'll be getting even heavier.
This truck is SLOW! But I don't mind, it's not my DD. My next mod will be 4.88's and ARB air locker and 33's (255/85r16...I love pizza cutters)
I have owned several 4wd's (including 3 other toyota's), and for some reason, I like this one the best. This is also the first vehicle I have ever modded! I hope to get a lot more miles out of her...even if she has put on weight:wink2:

Sounds cool, throw up some pics!

 

[Scramble]

:worthless

 

[UnderFire]

The beast that lurks underneath my turd's hood.

Super stock, I'm sure that'll change once I run out of other stuff to do.

 

[owyheerat]

Pics!!!

3RZ, powerful enough for the deepest of river crossings! :wow:


And the steepest of hills!:laugh:


Here is the, mostly completed 'Bandit Runner designed', rear bumper! My first fab project. I am very happy with how it is turning out!
:happy:

Durwin

 

[Mc1337sauce]

1997 3RZ-FE/A340E 2WD, original owner (parents bought the truck new). Now turbocharged, running 31in BFG All-Terrains and stock 2WD gears (3.73 I believe), still not fast from a stop but can run with my friend's SC 5VZ-FE Taco from a roll without breaking a sweat. Mint condition inside and out, and slowly adding JDM parts to create a LHD Surf clone.



Pics:

 

[UnderFire]

1997 3RZ-FE/A340E 2WD, original owner (parents bought the truck new). Now turbocharged, running 31in BFG All-Terrains and stock 2WD gears (3.73 I believe), still not fast from a stop but can run with my friend's SC 5VZ-FE Taco from a roll without breaking a sweat. Mint condition inside and out, and slowly adding JDM parts to create a LHD Surf clone.

LHD, eh? Did a 3RZ powered LHD surf eveer exist? I thought I heard that the 3RZ wasn't an option in Japan or Australia in the Surf.

Otherwise nice truck, you should consider swapping the 3.73's to a 4.10 or 4.30, it would make a huge difference with those 31's.

Edit: Disregard my stupidity, I just realized Left had drive is stock, LOL.

 

[Jbot]

Greta Idea

This thread is an awesome idea. Yall give me hope for my stock 99. Sub'ed to this thread to keep an eye on the progress

 

[UnderFire]

This thread is an awesome idea. Yall give me hope for my stock 99. Sub'ed to this thread to keep an eye on the progress

You just have to think of it as a big Lego kit, in the end of it, going from this:

To This:

Wasn't really that hard at all, just took lots of time.

 

[MTD]

You just have to think of it as a big Lego kit, in the end of it, going from this:

Wasn't really that hard at all, just took lots of time.

Not gonna lie I don't remember selling you that badge... God I was stressed out then lol.

 

[Mc1337sauce]

LHD, eh? Did a 3RZ powered LHD surf eveer exist? I thought I heard that the 3RZ wasn't an option in Japan or Australia in the Surf.

Otherwise nice truck, you should consider swapping the 3.73's to a 4.10 or 4.30, it would make a huge difference with those 31's.

Edit: Disregard my stupidity, I just realized Left had drive is stock, LOL.

I see you were thinking RHD, but yes, there were 3RZ-powered Surfs in Japan - in fact, from what I'm told by friends in Japan, it was the most popular engine choice next to the 1KZ. It was also the only engine option for the Hilux Surf SportsRunner, which was a factory lowered and aero-kitted 4Runner (ugly, but the wing is one of the nicer OEM ones).

I really want to swap to a 4.30 third, but I can't find an open OEM Toyota one for a decent price, and I would rather not purchase aftermarket gears and pay for setup, as that would be even more expensive.

 

[Kryptoroxx]

Guess I oughta chime in on this thread lol.

98 3rz 4x4 5spd base model running 4.30 gears on 265/70 r16 tires. Modded rear axle to accept the elocker. One 906 in the rear and 99 tall coils up front. Netted 2" to 2.5" all around which is perfect for what I'm after. She's not a laser beam but she will run with a 3.4. I did a snorkel with a custom airbox holding an amsoil dry filter with pieces of a kn air filter lol. On the back end I have the lce header and full exhaust on 2.5" piping. Helped wake the engine up although I really want to pull the trigger on the afm tuner from underdog racing.

Trying really hard to keep the build as light as possible since I do not have the ponies to spare. A 2" body lift and drivetrain lift will let me flat belly the rig and move the gas tank to the rear. A tube bumper will be built and I am planning on retrofitting a 2nd Gen tire swing to the back to keep the weight down. Front bumper will be a hybrid of sorts but sliders and the belly pans will come before then.

So far I have made my own top rack and shackle mounts but much more is coming.

Currently working on a rear shelf mod and rear disc brakes with a tundra brake upgrade tossed in for good measure.

 

[Red October]

Here is the, mostly completed 'Bandit Runner designed', rear bumper! My first fab project. I am very happy with how it is turning out!
View attachment 167175:happy:

Durwin

This looks great! I wonder how much it weighs?

 

[owyheerat]

[MENTION=114711]Red October[/MENTION], I'm not exactly sure, but I would guess 115-120 lbs.

Durwin

 

[poorwhiteboy]

I am a HUGE fan of this thread already! I hear so much about the 3.0 and the 3.4L and hardly anything on the 3rz's. so this is my work in progress.. not much now and nowhere close to where I want it but its a long way from where it came from and im proud to call her mine!

98' 4x4 5 speed manual got her with 180k miles and currently have 220k on the old gal. im planning to freshen her up this winter with a complete motor rebuild and new header and exhaust...

right now its sits on a toytec 3" boss lift 650# coilovers up front and superflex HD 650# coils w/ billi 5100s in back... 265/75/16 tires which if all goes well will be changed out to some 285s soon...

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

My 1999 4Runner 3RZ over the years

TRD supercharged, gasket matched intake plenum, K&N intake, LCE street header with 2.5 full exhaust, otherwise stock at 235k

 

[UnderFire]

[MENTION=25058]ChildrenOfBodom[/MENTION]

Hadn't seen your runner with the new trail wheels, looks great, dare I say better than the split 5's.