Its all fun and games until dad blows the engine

[Kb9lov]

First of all, the 3rd gen is better than the 4th gen in every which way except that the 4th has a lot of power and the ABS is so much better.

Driving on and off-road, the 4th gen feels huge and bulky. The 4th is about 9" wider and definitely gets scratched up a lot more than mine on the trails. 3rd gen seats are more comfortable- especially the rear bench. The 4th gen has been very reliable except the head gasket went out at approx 190,000 miles. The 4th gen's dash cracked when it was 9 years old. The 4th gen has a lot more rattles and squeaks than my 3rd gen. The 4th gen rides a whole lot better than my 3rd gen- it has an OME lift and i'm on stock '99 coils and KYB shocks. My ride isn't bad at all, but the 4th gen is so much smoother.

The 4th gen has so much computer controlled crap and when the battery is unhooked, the windows don't work correctly for a while (the computer has to re-learn the limits) and the idle is so wrong that it can die when idling at a traffic light- it even happened to my dad while taking off from a stop!

The interior of the 3rd gen is more appealing to me than the 4th gen. It has great cup holders, has 3 power outlets, and is set out perfectly. The 4th gen has none of those things...

/end of ramblings

Thanks for the input, I will definitely get a newer runner one of these days it's just a matter of when. Love my 3rd gen though, it has been very good to me!

I looked long and hard comparing a supercharged 3rd Gen and a V8 4th Gen. Obviously, I chose the 3rd Gen. The 4th Gen just has too much plastic and more things that will age/break with time than the 3rd Gen. Metal for me. The interior is a lot more updated and roomy if that's what you are in to but nothing beats the off-road capabilities of the 3rd Gens. Not to say a 4th Gen isn't capable, just doesn't have the same options and feel as the older ones.

You could also easily just buy a new motor and install a supercharger. The supercharger would cost twice as much as the motor though LOL. They are much cheaper to buy while on a vehicle than off, I paid roughly $1500 for my charger used if you factor it into the purchase price. Plus once you have forced induction from the supercharger, it's not hard to add fuel and air mods to further increase the power if you ever want to, unlike a the stock V8 in the 4th Gen.

Sorry about the hydrolock though, that really is a bummer. I hate that pain in the gut feeling you get when something goes terribly wrong. Recently had that on a rainy day while being stupid with the 4Runner (did I mention it puts out a good amount of power?) where I lost control on a turn. No one else was around but I almost plowed it into a tree. Could have been a lot worse.

At least there's no damage to the body and frame. How's the water damage on the interior though?

I would really love to find a mother with a SC already on it and slap some headers on and be done. I know thats not likely though! Everything looks ok on my runner, it wasn't in the water long. I got it in my shop yesterday to dry out, hopefully I can just shampoo the carpets and change all the fluids.

I don't care if my 4Runner had a 10 foot snorkel and pontoons strapped to it, if the water is deep enough to get over the door sill — I'm not going through it. Unless of course I'm being chased by some crazed man with a hockey mask, chainsaw and a boner....

Props to everyone with bigger balls than me. You guys/gals can have your water crossings and mud-holes from hell.

I'm usually the same, its always deeper than it looks though!

Now that's what I'm talking about...got the Wife, Boy, Dog and friends together out on the trails...good times...

If you decide to go the 1uz route, hit me up for all the wiring pinouts and the motor mount templates...I still have all that stuff laying around from my swap. I can also say, you will absolutely love the 1uz...

I also have a 200k 5VZ in the garage you could come pick it up for ~500.00 if you decide to go that route.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do...Personally I would revive the 3rd gen... It will pay you back a thousand fold in good times!!!

Thanks! The help would be great, how do you like the mannerisms of that 1UZ? I was wondering how the thing would act in a truck being taken from a sports car, sometimes the set up of the engine just doesn't fit. And what part of KY are you in?

 

[Singtoe]

Thanks! The help would be great, how do you like the mannerisms of that 1UZ? I was wondering how the thing would act in a truck being taken from a sports car, sometimes the set up of the engine just doesn't fit. And what part of KY are you in?

The mannerisms of the UZ is exactly the same as the 3.4 with the only exception is that it is more powerful.It starts with the same effortless motion as the 3.4. It is not any louder, it doesn't use much more fuel and it is easier to do oil changes on.

You can climb inclines that the 3.4 usually drops out of OD or even down to second gear while the UZ keeps chugging along.

Tires don't like the UZ at all.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Looks like good fun but I hate mud. No thanks. Rocks, sand, snow or the like is always better.

 

[KidVermicious]

Tires don't like the UZ at all.

I don't think it's the motor. I think tires just don't like you.

 

[Kb9lov]

The mannerisms of the UZ is exactly the same as the 3.4 with the only exception is that it is more powerful.It starts with the same effortless motion as the 3.4. It is not any louder, it doesn't use much more fuel and it is easier to do oil changes on.

You can climb inclines that the 3.4 usually drops out of OD or even down to second gear while the UZ keeps chugging along.

Tires don't like the UZ at all.

What about towing, ever have any overheating issues? 1UZ is begging to go in there......

 

[alanflies]

I'm running a new 4runner spec radiator with a thermostatically controlled electric fan on my swap. I've never seen the needle even try to flinch above normal operating temp, and the electric fan rarely kicks on. Even on the hottest days with the A/C kicking the fan will usually only kick on when stopped in traffic for an extended period.

Check out my build thread if your really interested in this swap. It's not really that hard if you have some basic fabrication skills and a good place to work. There are some little tweaks and mods you will need to work through to get it done right.
That SC looks fantastic though...and would make a great place to hide an imported 2JZ-GTE...:roll:

I'm just outside of Bowling Green Ky so a day trip would not be out of the question...

 

[thor999]

We're all growing gills here! Too many days of too much rain! Even 70 got closed down both ways in one spot for a bit 'cause of flooding. This weekend it's either mud or water or more mud. Have you seen Moonlight Racing's creek pics?

Though I don't like mud either it looks like you all had a fun family adventure minus the awful part. Bet the Jeep's highway tires were interesting at times.

Ha, dog peeing in background....

Were you there for the flood of '93? I had just gotten out of the Navy and immediately returned to Southside in my '78 Camaro lol good times

 

[habanero]

Were you there for the flood of '93? I had just gotten out of the Navy and immediately returned to Southside in my '78 Camaro lol good times

Yep, lived a little north of Gravois and River Despair back then. We did some sandbagging closer to Lemay & RP but it proved to be too much water for our bags. Hopefully it at least gave people a little extra time to get their stuff out. Nobody wanted to ship stuff to where I worked in Rock Hill because they thought the whole city was under water. :fish2:

A little over 9" of rain in 3 days, '93's getting mentioned a lot now. '78 Camaro....nice.

 

[Dubk_trd]

that snorkel

 

[sportscarfan]

Nice "garage"!

 

[Scramble]

Sorry to hear about your truck. If you have the skills go with the 8.
I dont like deep thick mud but water crossing are fun if they aren't too deep.
No snorkel needed here.

 

[A.Wilson013]

If I ever wreck my 4Runner I'll be looking at a 4th gen in shadow mica.

Love those things.

And they ride SO well.

 

[Kb9lov]

I'm running a new 4runner spec radiator with a thermostatically controlled electric fan on my swap. I've never seen the needle even try to flinch above normal operating temp, and the electric fan rarely kicks on. Even on the hottest days with the A/C kicking the fan will usually only kick on when stopped in traffic for an extended period.

Check out my build thread if your really interested in this swap. It's not really that hard if you have some basic fabrication skills and a good place to work. There are some little tweaks and mods you will need to work through to get it done right.
That SC looks fantastic though...and would make a great place to hide an imported 2JZ-GTE...:roll:

I'm just outside of Bowling Green Ky so a day trip would not be out of the question...

Awesome, this is looking like it could happen. I was thinking a LS-1 swap into the Lexus though :-D Any Ideas on recovering the cost of the donor vehicle? Looks like it will run me around 2K. Bowling Green is 3 hours from my place, definitely going have to make a trip down if I do this!

Nice "garage"!

Thanks! My shop is full, thats just the overflow ;-)

Sorry to hear about your truck. If you have the skills go with the 8.
I dont like deep thick mud but water crossing are fun if they aren't too deep.
No snorkel needed here.

Nice!

 

[Kb9lov]

Have to get this big beast out of my shop, then it will be full bore on the T4R.

 

[alanflies]

Awesome, this is looking like it could happen. I was thinking a LS-1 swap into the Lexus though :-D Any Ideas on recovering the cost of the donor vehicle? Looks like it will run me around 2K. Bowling Green is 3 hours from my place, definitely going have to make a trip down if I do this!

I would say you could easily make 2k in parts sales from that Lexus...you know they share almost everything with the MK4 $upra$ and OEM parts are very pricey for both...I could almost guarantee you would make money.

If you keep the SC and do the engine swap for it, then you got a more valuable car and you still got a big pile of parts left over, at least 500.00 in 5VZ stuff you can part with...

Or, you could buy this 5VZ I got sitting in my garage...500.00 drop it in over the weekend...problem solved.

Yea, we aren't far apart at all...I would be glad to help you any way I can.

P.S. Love that 340!!!

 

[Kb9lov]

I would say you could easily make 2k in parts sales from that Lexus...you know they share almost everything with the MK4 $upra$ and OEM parts are very pricey for both...I could almost guarantee you would make money.

If you keep the SC and do the engine swap for it, then you got a more valuable car and you still got a big pile of parts left over, at least 500.00 in 5VZ stuff you can part with...

Or, you could buy this 5VZ I got sitting in my garage...500.00 drop it in over the weekend...problem solved.

Yea, we aren't far apart at all...I would be glad to help you any way I can.

P.S. Love that 340!!!

Thanks, thought about driving the lexus for a bit and working some of the bugs out of it first. It has a substantial oil leak from the front of the engine somewhere, don't know if it is the oil pump, the crank, or what. What kind of condition is your 3.4 in? It had the blower on it right, any issues?

The 340 is a PITA, it's a bigger job than I usually take on. Ready to get her done so I can concentrate on more important things, like flying it ;-)

 

[alanflies]

Thanks, thought about driving the lexus for a bit and working some of the bugs out of it first. It has a substantial oil leak from the front of the engine somewhere, don't know if it is the oil pump, the crank, or what. What kind of condition is your 3.4 in? It had the blower on it right, any issues?

The 340 is a PITA, it's a bigger job than I usually take on. Ready to get her done so I can concentrate on more important things, like flying it ;-)

To be honest, the 3.4 ran great...no smoke or knocks...in the name of full disclosure, the engine has a very slight valve tick on the drivers side. Common for these motors. probably has a shim or two a couple thousandths on the loose side. Honestly, it would take a very discerning ear to even hear it. I understand this to be a non-issue for the most part but I would have probably re-shimmed at some point just to silence them.
Also, I have sold the blower already so it wouldn't be included. But there were no issues with it at all. the set up ran perfectly, I just had to have the V8...and the sale of the blower financed my swap...something about the rumble of a V8 just pushes my buttons...

 

[Kb9lov]

This makes me feel good about the day, and my 4runner

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

This makes me feel good about the day, and my 4runner

https://youtu.be/KQmHBsKTM-4

https://youtu.be/IBUyBgWghQ0

This would be a good time for you and the boy to get some wrench time. Small hands are good for tight spaces.

 

[kolelt]

Jesus how much water did you go in? You have a snorkle !