Diferences between years on 2nd gen???

[kc15842]

My son rolled his 92, with a little cleanup its still a solid runner. Its a V6 with a 5 speed. I'm looking for a 4R with a blown motor with a good body and use the 92 drive train to build a complete 4R with all windows once again. I hope to be able to harvest the best parts between the vehicles. I found a 94 with the same gray interior and an automatic also 4x4. I believe the gearing is 4.88 vs.4.56, is that true are the automatics 4.88? Do you all know some of the big and small differences between the years especially 92- 94.
I had been looking for 91's with the rear spare tire rack but to date no luck.

Thanks

 

[Red Leader]

I think the 94+ runners had the extra brace in the doors for better collision protection after the SUV collision tests showed that there wasn't much protection at all. Not sure how much better protection the new ones offered.

The 90-91s had the rear tire swing. I've got a '90 and it did not come with the rear tire swing, but I found one in a junkyard and will be doing a retrofit. Be advised that there is an internal bracket that was spot welded in place to shore up the mounting for the tire carrier on the passenger side. I had to rip open the side corner of the junkyard 4runner to extract the bracket. Getting installed in mine...well I'm not quite there yet:rofl:

I'm going all out and got the entire tailgate as well. You can retrofit the swing lock onto a regular tail gate, but you will at least need the latch from the gate. I think I have a spare latch.

If you were really serious about finding a rear tire carrier, I could always keep an eye out. I have actually seen a few in the yards. Shipping would be a bear, but you'd have all the pieces you'd need.

 

[fwak1234]

For the gears, have the seller take a pic of the door placard on the driver side then decode it from this site LC ENGINEERING Differential Tech . That is how I figured out my gearing.

 

[Dropzone]

on a 20+ year old vehicle I would be leary of trusting the gears to actually match a VIN code ID, JMO.. i have pulled gears from multiple rigs and found 5.29's in a truck that looked like it was an untouched stocker.
Heck, I changed gears from 4.10's to 4.88 to 5.29's in less than a year in my old 84

 

[kc15842]

Thanks, good idea on the tag. Stock wheels and suspension so I would guess stock gears.