Choose elocker or retrofit?

McFinnigan

McFinnigan

New member
I've been in the market for a 4Runner that last 3 months, and I'm having a real hard time tracking down "the one." I have to specifics that I've been looking for: low miles and factory e-locker.

Fast forward to tonight, when I found a 98 5speed with 105k miles but no locker for $7500.

Now, it could be the lack of sleep, or the fact that it is actually within 5 hours driving distance, but this seems like a decent deal.

My question: is this a deal worth taking and maybe doing a elocker retro fit down the line, or should I be more patient and wait for "the one?"

Thanks

McFinnigan
 
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Over here in California 5 spds are rare. That has really low miles for a 98, I would definitely carfax for piece of mind and if it comes out clean I'd take it (With some price negotiation). $50 unlimited for a month and you can run everyone's 4runner just for fun. Hahah.

Rust free?
Maintenance history?
I sold my 97 limited elocker for my current 2000 5 spd. However I cheated because I swapped the elocker from my 97 into the 2000 before I sold it. Lol. The mid gen upgrades in 99 were a nice treat.

It's easier to swap in an elocker than do a manual conversion. I LOVE my 5 spd.
 
McFinnigan said:
I've been in the market for a 4Runner that last 3 months, and I'm having a real hard time tracking down "the one." I have to specifics that I've been looking for: low miles and factory e-locker.

Fast forward to tonight, when I found a 98 5speed with 105k miles but no locker for $7500.

Now, it could be the lack of sleep, or the fact that it is actually within 5 hours driving distance, but this seems like a decent deal.

My question: is this a deal worth taking and maybe doing a elocker retro fit down the line, or should I be more patient and wait for "the one?"

Thanks

McFinnigan
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IMO i would wait and find one with a Factory locker in it... To retrofit you are going to have to modify the rear axle to fit the locker in, and then wire it up, and also make sure that the gearing is the same on front and rear. Or you could just do a full axle swap... I looked into it with my last 4runner and decided it wasnt really worth the time, effort and money unless you were going to swap in like an ARB Air locker or something like that. But that is just my opinion... I would research it out alot with the swap and retrofit to see if it is really something you wanna do before committing to buy or not to buy. There are a bunch of threads on the retrofit/axle swap as well if you search for them that would be helpful.
 
And i just saw you are here in Utah.. Where about? Maybe i could come look at it with ya if ya wanted, or help with whatever. I know there are a bunch of us here in Utah County that wouldnt mind helping out with some things.
 
Wikki said:
And i just saw you are here in Utah.. Where about? Maybe i could come look at it with ya if ya wanted, or help with whatever. I know there are a bunch of us here in Utah County that wouldnt mind helping out with some things.
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It's actually in idaho, and I didn't notice until after I posted that it's actually in the classifieds on this site.

Anyone in Utah county familiar with retrofits? I called someone up north. They quoted me $300 to install a full axle, but had zero experience with retrofit
 
Wikki said:
IMO i would wait and find one with a Factory locker in it... To retrofit you are going to have to modify the rear axle to fit the locker in, and then wire it up, and also make sure that the gearing is the same on front and rear. Or you could just do a full axle swap... I looked into it with my last 4runner and decided it wasnt really worth the time, effort and money unless you were going to swap in like an ARB Air locker or something like that. But that is just my opinion... I would research it out alot with the swap and retrofit to see if it is really something you wanna do before committing to buy or not to buy. There are a bunch of threads on the retrofit/axle swap as well if you search for them that would be helpful.
Click to expand...



I've found a lot of info on the retro fit, very little on full axle swap. What concerns me is finding one with matching gears. I'd prefer to not have to also switch out the front diff if I can't find a match
 
That 5 spd likely has 4.10 gears. Most e locker are 4.30.

Keep that in mind with your decision. I swapped front abd rear axles when I did mine, but considering it "free" I didn't mind.

I've heard 5 spd elocker are more common in mountain areas.
 
McFinnigan said:
It's actually in idaho, and I didn't notice until after I posted that it's actually in the classifieds on this site.

Anyone in Utah county familiar with retrofits? I called someone up north. They quoted me $300 to install a full axle, but had zero experience with retrofit
Click to expand...

Not sure with retrofits down here. You would just have to ask around. There is another local forum as well you may be able to find if someone else has had any experience with the retrofits in there.

Utah DesertRunners T4R is the local forum for Utah guys.

Where are you out of exactly?
 
Wikki said:
Not sure with retrofits down here. You would just have to ask around. There is another local forum as well you may be able to find if someone else has had any experience with the retrofits in there.



Utah DesertRunners T4R is the local forum for Utah guys.



Where are you out of exactly?
Click to expand...


Cottonwood Heights. At the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon
 
If you have the right tools and a friend retrofitting is a pretty easy job. I spent a lot of time researching the ins-and-outs of what is required though, to the point of memorization.

Having an oxy-acetalene torch or plasma cutter would have shaved several hours of slow grinding with an electric cutoff wheel and been a much faster job to clean up the housing afterwards.
 
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McFinnigan said:
I've been in the market for a 4Runner that last 3 months, and I'm having a real hard time tracking down "the one." I have to specifics that I've been looking for: low miles and factory e-locker.

Fast forward to tonight, when I found a 98 5speed with 105k miles but no locker for $7500.

Now, it could be the lack of sleep, or the fact that it is actually within 5 hours driving distance, but this seems like a decent deal.

My question: is this a deal worth taking and maybe doing a elocker retro fit down the line, or should I be more patient and wait for "the one?"

Thanks

McFinnigan
Click to expand...

Be sure to take the T4R member's discount that seller is offering. Though it is $7500 on Craigslist, he is asking $6900 in the classified section of this forum.

I'm flying up to Idaho from Dallas to buy one next week, but saw this one today and it looks real nice and price is right for that amount of miles.
 
When these trucks were new on Dealer lots in SL County, trucks with the 5-speed were common. Quite a few also had the factory E-locker.

The biggest hurdle is that people that have 3rd gen 4Runners, tend to hold on to them.
 
alico268 said:
Be sure to take the T4R member's discount that seller is offering. Though it is $7500 on Craigslist, he is asking $6900 in the classified section of this forum.



I'm flying up to Idaho from Dallas to buy one next week, but saw this one today and it looks real nice and price is right for that amount of miles.
Click to expand...


Didn't notice the price difference. Thanks!!
 
I did the retrofit in 1 day no problems. I would say stay away from the torch personally. It can cut inaccurately. A plasma would be best but kinda pricy to buy lol. If you took a bare axle tube to a Machinist though it would be well under a full shop hour to cut. I spent maybe 20 minutes with a grinder using a cutoff wheel. That is the easy part. I think ensuring you drill straight holes is much harder unless you rig a drill press. Tapping the holes is easy too. Wiring it up is time consuming but simple. AFAIK the inchworm will light the dash light but I do not know for certain. A buddy made my harness. Apparently they aren't hard but I suck at wiring so I wouldn't know.
 
Kryptoroxx said:
I did the retrofit in 1 day no problems. I would say stay away from the torch personally. It can cut inaccurately. A plasma would be best but kinda pricy to buy lol. If you took a bare axle tube to a Machinist though it would be well under a full shop hour to cut. I spent maybe 20 minutes with a grinder using a cutoff wheel. That is the easy part. I think ensuring you drill straight holes is much harder unless you rig a drill press. Tapping the holes is easy too. Wiring it up is time consuming but simple. AFAIK the inchworm will light the dash light but I do not know for certain. A buddy made my harness. Apparently they aren't hard but I suck at wiring so I wouldn't know.
Click to expand...


Drilling the holes is what concerns me the most about retrofitting. That, and accidentally leaving some shavings To get chewed up.
Wiring is a little intimidating, but manageable.
 
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