Decided on 3rd. gen. any advice?

[ericdg16]

Thanks for the info.
EDIT: Moving this to the 3rd gen. forum since I decided on that one.

Since that post I have done some more reading, and think I have decided to go with a 3rd gen. even though I'll have to do some negotiating to find one for 5K.

Sounds like there are too many problems with the 2nd gen. head gaskets and serviceability on that motor for me to want to fool with. Plus I think some said there is more power in the 3rd gen. v6's. Looks a little bigger though to me so probably needed the extra power.

I think I am looking at the OME 3" lift from Toyotec. Med duty springs with shocks. Diff. drop kit. and someone mentioned some 10mm spacers for the rear as well; though maybe someone could tell me what for?? and I didn't see them listed on the website.

All together I had it priced at about 800.
Anyone have any suggestions for backspacing to run a 12.5 wide tire??

Also looking for manufacturers of rear bumpers with built in tire carriers and shackle mounts. Any ideas anyone.

 

[DewRunner]

good choice on the 3rd gen! i had a little tacoma 4x4 before mine with just the 2.7 4-banger and it would take a 2nd gen v6 of the line lol. but as far as lift, 3" is getting close to the danger zone for the cv's. theres lots of info on here but when i do mine im planning 2.5 lift, and for bumpers i think that would be a custom order and if not were talkin some money non-tire carrier bumpers for us are like $1200. good luck! keep us posted

 

[ericdg16]

3" is getting close to the danger zone for the cv's.

Isn't that the purpose of the diff. drop kit??
Or do you still feel 3" is too much even with the kit?

I just want to make sure I can clear 33's at full stuff without rubbing.

I plan on an arb full winch bumper replacement for the front and some kind of tire carrying rear bumper for the rear. The weight may take away some of the lift depending on the stiffness of the springs I get.

 

[One_96TR4]

3" lift is fine. With the diff drop you'll have no issues. You should be able to run 285's on your stock wheels with little to no trouble. MAYBE a little trimming may be required.

 

[ericdg16]

What gears are stock in the T4R rearend??

Do people like to change them with 33's or do ya'll feel like the power loss is insignificant since you're only going up one size (I believe they came stock with 31's)?

 

[One_96TR4]

They were available with 4:10, 4:30 and 4:56 gears. Most people don't bother to change gears when tey step up to 285's unless there towing or something. If your really considering it. Checkout yotatech.com and ultimateyota.com. Search gears and you should be able to find anything you want.

 

[ericdg16]

Thanks for the info, not necessarily considering a swap, just wondering what the general consensus was on here since I'm new to yota's.

Those gears sound plenty tall for me, but It'll give me something to look for. I'll try to find one with at least the 4.30's. It would be rare that I would tow (There's a lot of mods to do before I can afford a boat) and I am still modding my ford ranger too.

Were there any models of T4R's that had 4 wheel discs?

 

[004Gunner]

If you want the 4.30s then you need to get the 3rd gen with the rear differential locker. '01s and '02s did not have this as an option so you need to look at '96-'00 SR5 and Limited submodels

 

[ericdg16]

Sweeeet.....That's convienient since I think 96-98 are the only ones in my price range when I begin shopping.

Don't really like the idea of a full time locker though would rather have an aftermarket selectable. I have had bad luck with full time lockers in the rain on the street. Were the 4.56's One_96TR4 mentions available without the factory locker? or only the 4.10's

I also think I heard someone mention that some of the limited edition T4R's were full time 4WD up to 65mph or so. Is this true?

 

[XJeepguy]

The Toy lockers he mentioned are selectable . Theres a switch inside the cab They work awesome !

Sweeeet.....That's convienient since I think 96-98 are the only ones in my price range when I begin shopping.

Don't really like the idea of a full time locker though would rather have an aftermarket selectable. I have had bad luck with full time lockers in the rain on the street. Were the 4.56's One_96TR4 mentions available without the factory locker? or only the 4.10's

I also think I heard someone mention that some of the limited edition T4R's were full time 4WD up to 65mph or so. Is this true?

 

[ericdg16]

NO Freakin way.........these trucks are lookin better by the minute. Is that only in the limited models? Or did the SR5's have it also??

Still curious about the full time 4WD in the limited models

 

[One_96TR4]

NO Freakin way.........these trucks are lookin better by the minute. Is that only in the limited models? Or did the SR5's have it also??

Still curious about the full time 4WD in the limited models

All the 4runners with a locker are electronic and selectable. As for the gearing I don't think there was a specific model that had certain gears. I have a locker and I'm pretty sure my gears are 4:10. The rarest is the 4:56 but there out there. As for the full-time all-wheel It was first available in the 98 limited's and then standard from the 99+.

 

[004Gunner]

This is a must read for information on 4Runners: Click Here