Considering a 1991 T4R (5-speed V6 4x4)

[jadefox]

Hi All! My wife and I are looking for a 4x4 truck for fishing adventures in the outback and off-season in Maine. I've had great experienced with 4runners but not since the 1990s. We've found a 1991 T4R (5-speed V6 4x4) that appears to be in super shape with 150,000 miles on the current engine (not the original). Any thoughts about what we should be looking for when we test drive it? Ballpark price? Thanks in advance, and if we buy it, we look forward to being active members of the forum!

 

[priestsallore]

Welcome! I have a 92 4x4 5spd, its an amazing truck. 3.0 is a little underpowered, but it'll get you anywhere you need to go. It gets about 14-16 mpg. I have 330k on mine currently, original block & transmission, still running strong. Ballpark usually about 2-3k, but some can go cheaper if lucky, or good enough to be worth 4. All depends on your area, too. Check KBB.

Anything specific youre wondering about it?

 

[jadefox]

Welcome! I have a 92 4x4 5spd, its an amazing truck. 3.0 is a little underpowered, but it'll get you anywhere you need to go. It gets about 14-16 mpg. I have 330k on mine currently, original block & transmission, still running strong. Ballpark usually about 2-3k, but some can go cheaper if lucky, or good enough to be worth 4. All depends on your area, too. Check KBB.

Anything specific youre wondering about it?

Thanks so much. That's in the ballpark of what they're asking. We're curious why the engine was replaced (only 235,000 on the truck), but it is said to be in excellent shape and appears to be in excellent shape. We're going to go drive it Tuesday and have a mechanic check it out.

 

[priestsallore]

Hey, if the engine was replaced that could be a good thing, probably had alot of miles on the old.

But, its fairly easy to work on, just a tight space.

 

[jadefox]

Where are we looking for rust that could be problematic? The vehicle was a California vehicle for much of its life, so sun damage to the paint is probably the bigger issue.

 

[priestsallore]

Well, mine was a Cali truck as well, and it saw alot of highway miles. Didn't have much sun damage, and has no rust whatsoever.

Rust areas on this truck usually would be just around spots on the undercarriage. particularly I believe around the engine bay, but the general area of the underside.. Another buddy of mine can tell you more specifics on rust than myself.

It's an extremely nice truck though. The real wear on my truck on the interior though, has just been the front drivers seat, as you scoot across the lower side of it alot, and the middle center of the lower pad. That, and the upper side of the backrest. It also tended to rip on the carpeting towards the side edge next to the door. If you find one with rips in the seat, careful, as the foam likes to act like snow.

 

[reelal]

HI jadefox, retired old toyota mechanic here. The engine might have been replaced
because there was a recall on the headgaskets back in the 90's. Sometime the gasket
surface would be in such bad shape, pitted deep, that they, I did, replaced the short block,
and sometime one or both cylinder heads,
then you had a good engine. Good luck. Reelal

 

[jadefox]

We still have not pulled the trigger on a 4Runner yet, but we have two we like. One is a 2000 4Runner SR5 4WD described as:

"very good shape, clean, 207K. Black. New rubber, fuel and brake lines. New chrome front and rear. New 2" class III hitch. Power windows, locks and moon roof. Runs like a Yoda!! ALL SYSTEMS WORK WELL. NO FLUID LEAKS. NO OIL BURN." Additional information: the instrument cluster light doesn't work and "The brakes are good the rubber and belts are new. The guy before had the transmission rebuilt. No smoke, no leaks, no ticks. Interior good for 12+ years."

The other is a 1994 4runner SR5 4WD described as:

"a 1994 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6 5Speed 4WD" with 222K "but you wouldn't know it by looking at it, or driving it." This one has Downey headers on it,
an electric radiator fan, K&N Air intake, 1" lifted with air bags in rear springs. It has an All Pro Off Road custom rear bumper with tow hitch and KC Daylighter lights mounted out back. "Truck was originally from Californina, and has almost no rust. Frame is in awesome shape!" According to owner, "all fluids have recently been switched, performance front brakes, with drilled and slotted rotors, and EBC pads (they stop 30% better than stock)
and new calipers, all this summer. 32" BFG MT/km tires with 70% tread left. Bushwacker flares, and Mickey Thompson Classic aluminum rims." He told me there is "a small exhaust leak in the pipe somewhere. Not a big deal, but easy to fix. (welded likely)," but other than that he says it's good to go.

Does anyone here have a strong feeling on which one we should be leaning towards?

 

[jadefox]

And it begins....

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...-toyota-4runner-build-thread.html#post1279570