Bought a 4Runner wreck, now I have some questions.

[Singtoe]

I bought a 96 4runner and have some questions about it. The owner said it had a 3" lift but he did not tell by who or whom.

Here are some pictures that was able to take. Is the lift any good? Is it worth transferring to another 4Runner?

Right side

Left side

Rear

front shock

Rear Spring

Rear shock

Pan Hard Bar

Extra parts in the trunk

Any help will be much appreciated.

 

[Jon]

:wow:The spindle got ripped out! Holy crap!

Blue/yellow are Bilstein colors so guessing those are up front. Never seen a lock plate like that on the adjustable though. Weird. Dunno, hope some one can help with the ID on the lift.

I'd say the lift is good to go. Clean it up and give it a little rattle can action.

 

[KellyJ]

Mannn, judging by the look of that front right tire, I'd say that his truck was either way overdue for an alignment, or had incredibly bald tires and took a turn too fast, or both. Suspension parts in question look OK from pictures. Look like adjustable Bilsteins? Not completely sure. I'd say sandblast the paint/rust, protect, then re paint and install. Did he mention how long he had the lift installed for before the accident? Was that extra front strut not installed on the truck? That front left strut (shock/spring) might have gotten bent in the accident. I'd say you could at least use the rear lift parts. The front looks like a combo of a thick spacer lift and an adjustable height shock, which is fairly uncommon from what I've seen in the past. It's either usually one or the other, not both. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for the totaled 4R?

 

[J-money$$$]

that thing is messed up, the P O made that weird adjustable track bar contraption i take it.

Throw that track bar in the trash, but id assume the lift is okay, it all looks a little rusty and old, and its not that expensive to buy new things.

 

[steezemcqueen]

Those are the Downey coilovers. They do use a Bilstein but i am not sure what spring they had. Unfortunately Downey is now out of business

 

[Singtoe]

Mannn, judging by the look of that front right tire, I'd say that his truck was either way overdue for an alignment, or had incredibly bald tires and took a turn too fast, or both. Suspension parts in question look OK from pictures. Look like adjustable Bilsteins? Not completely sure. I'd say sandblast the paint/rust, protect, then re paint and install. Did he mention how long he had the lift installed for before the accident? Was that extra front strut not installed on the truck? That front left strut (shock/spring) might have gotten bent in the accident. I'd say you could at least use the rear lift parts. The front looks like a combo of a thick spacer lift and an adjustable height shock, which is fairly uncommon from what I've seen in the past. It's either usually one or the other, not both. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you pay for the totaled 4R?

I bought the truck from the wife of the OP. They bough it new. The OP was driving and hit a full size pick up truck that was towing a some type of collapsible plane, head on. It tore the drivers tire and knuckle clear off. The OP towed it to their house and it sat under a tarp for 5 years. They just put it on Craigslist for $600. I went to go look at it, and had no e-lock diff in it but bought it anyway. In the trunk, there was a brand new Cat pipe and it had the extra front shock and rear spring. I figure the lift kit and the cat pipe might be worth $600.

I had it towed home and I cut the grill support , front apron and radiators out. I put a battery in it and started it up. I had not been run for 5 years and it fired right up. It ticked for about 10 seconds and the then the lifters had all filled up with oil. Now, it starts up like normal and does not skip a beat.

 

[topdown4runner]

I bought my rolled '96 for a grand, but it had the E-locker, 3" OME lift, and an ARB bumper. I put all that but the E-locker on my '99.

I'd say the lift is probably fine, and if you part that thing out you should more than pay for the lift you will move over to another vehicle.
I'm up to just shy of 3K in parts sales and I still have the tranny & transfer case, all the A/C parts left to go...

For $600, I'd say you scored pretty good.

 

[Mauzer]

Those are the Downey coilovers. They do use a Bilstein but i am not sure what spring they had. Unfortunately Downey is now out of business

X2 If you get on ebay you can contact Jim (the owner of Downey) and maybe he can give you more info

He sells under the name TOJO Products:
Tojo Products items - Get great deals on items on eBay Stores!

 

[animal]

I ran the Downey CO's on my Tacoma. They have a HD Bilstiens. Those also look like Tacoma Springs. The Tundra spring are much thicker than that.