So I'm looking for a second rig so I have something to drive while I work on my pickup and I was thinking about a 4runner. I've been looking around on craigslist and saw a decent price on an 88 but I don't really know jack about them. Was curious how easy they are to put on a safari top, and other points of interest about owning a gem like that
Lookin at an 88
- Thread starter rjppunk
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topdown4runner
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Is this what you mean by a Safari Top?
This is a Soft Topper brand. About $550, and also the lowest priced one made for the 4Runner. Easy to use too.
Not exactly sure what kind of info you are looking for.
If your working on your truck, you are probably kind of a gear head anyway. Look for the usual stuff.
Head gaskets, compression, rust.
Steer clear of the 3.0 V6 Toyota's worst engine.
Also, steer clear of the automatic. With the 4cyl. engine, your 4Runner will have an even harder time getting out of it's own way.
That being said, the 22RE 4cyl. is one of Toyota's best engines. They run for ever. Just keep the head gasket changed every 200K miles or so.
Good luck! & post pictures!!!!
This is a Soft Topper brand. About $550, and also the lowest priced one made for the 4Runner. Easy to use too.
Not exactly sure what kind of info you are looking for.
If your working on your truck, you are probably kind of a gear head anyway. Look for the usual stuff.
Head gaskets, compression, rust.
Steer clear of the 3.0 V6 Toyota's worst engine.
Also, steer clear of the automatic. With the 4cyl. engine, your 4Runner will have an even harder time getting out of it's own way.
That being said, the 22RE 4cyl. is one of Toyota's best engines. They run for ever. Just keep the head gasket changed every 200K miles or so.
Good luck! & post pictures!!!!
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cometobanks
New member
Richard_
New member
and the 3.0 is every bit as good as the 4cyl. , since I own both , the 3.0 has more power , downside is fuel economy , if it is maintained it will go 250k and more , the 4cyl will blow head gaskets just like the 3.0 , don't pass up a good deal on a 3.0 , if you dont like the motor , it's an easy swap to a 3.4
Agreed. Proper cooling maintenance and heat reduction from the crossover and a proper headgasket job and you shouldn't have to worry. Hard on fuel but as said a bit more balls. The R motors have their share of problems too, plastic timing chain guides and headgaskets ocasionally as well.
The auto trans/chain driven transfer case combo will sap a lot of power on the V6 but the factory 4.88s make up for it quite nicely.
Don't pass up a good one because of the motor
I am new to the form but I own three runners. Two 88's and one 89 and I'm still looking for one more first gen( these toys are addictive). I have two 3.0 and one 22re with an auto trans for my daughter. Can't say I like the auto but it works for the mission. Both 3.0's work fine and I have over 220k on both of them. I have found a 3.4 for one of the 88's to make the swap and it does not look hard but there has not been any hurry. The 3.0 is no doubt a finicky motor but once you tinker with it a bit it will work just fine until you decide to swap it, replace it or drive it till it pukes. I think if you have no rust, it is straight, and most of the stuff works(ac, back window, switches, etc)good... then don't pass it up. Good ones like that are getting harder to find. And don't take any crap from some one on how they have put money into it. These are toy's not investments. Wheels, tires, bumpers, stereo, fancy stuff are just that...stuff. They have little or no value to the truck or your idea of cool stuff. You will most likely not like everyone else stuff over your stuff. You, like everyone I've met in this wacked out fun community of off roaders will want to personalize your runner with your own stuff. And the soft topper is king no dout(now that is my kind of stuff). Good luck have fun. Advice and parts re easy to find. A good runner can take a little time especially on craigslist. Look out for snakes in the wood pile there.
I am new to the form but I own three runners. Two 88's and one 89 and I'm still looking for one more first gen( these toys are addictive). I have two 3.0 and one 22re with an auto trans for my daughter. Can't say I like the auto but it works for the mission. Both 3.0's work fine and I have over 220k on both of them. I have found a 3.4 for one of the 88's to make the swap and it does not look hard but there has not been any hurry. The 3.0 is no doubt a finicky motor but once you tinker with it a bit it will work just fine until you decide to swap it, replace it or drive it till it pukes. I think if you have no rust, it is straight, and most of the stuff works(ac, back window, switches, etc)good... then don't pass it up. Good ones like that are getting harder to find. And don't take any crap from some one on how they have put money into it. These are toy's not investments. Wheels, tires, bumpers, stereo, fancy stuff are just that...stuff. They have little or no value to the truck or your idea of cool stuff. You will most likely not like everyone else stuff over your stuff. You, like everyone I've met in this wacked out fun community of off roaders will want to personalize your runner with your own stuff. And the soft topper is king no dout(now that is my kind of stuff). Good luck have fun. Advice and parts re easy to find. A good runner can take a little time especially on craigslist. Look out for snakes in the wood pile there.
the_dingman
New member
As for comments above, you're looking at a Toyota either way, and auto or manual, 3.0 or 4 Cyl, you're going to have a good engine/transmission.
That said, some info:
- The manual transmission will give more fuel economy and better power, especially on the 4 Cyl. (Not to say auto is bad, but it is a fact)
- The 3.0 does have a history of bad head gaskets, properly maintained and if the recall was performed, you won't likely have an issue.
- The 3.0 gives slightly better power than the 4 Cyl, however it's not as big of a difference as one would usually expect from a 4 Cyl to a V6, as the 22RE is a big 4 Cyl engine, and the 3VZE is a small 6 Cyl.
- The 22RE (4 Cyl) is a famously reliable engine, even poorly maintained. My original 4Runner with the 22RE suffered for 4 months and 1500 miles with a dry radiator (in the winter) with no damage to the engine (yes, I'm aware that it sounds like a BS story, it's not).
- There is a lot of selection out there if you take your time. If there is anything you should base you decision on, it's the quality of maintenance on the truck. Do not buy a poorly maintained rust-bucket and expect it to last.
That said, some info:
- The manual transmission will give more fuel economy and better power, especially on the 4 Cyl. (Not to say auto is bad, but it is a fact)
- The 3.0 does have a history of bad head gaskets, properly maintained and if the recall was performed, you won't likely have an issue.
- The 3.0 gives slightly better power than the 4 Cyl, however it's not as big of a difference as one would usually expect from a 4 Cyl to a V6, as the 22RE is a big 4 Cyl engine, and the 3VZE is a small 6 Cyl.
- The 22RE (4 Cyl) is a famously reliable engine, even poorly maintained. My original 4Runner with the 22RE suffered for 4 months and 1500 miles with a dry radiator (in the winter) with no damage to the engine (yes, I'm aware that it sounds like a BS story, it's not).
- There is a lot of selection out there if you take your time. If there is anything you should base you decision on, it's the quality of maintenance on the truck. Do not buy a poorly maintained rust-bucket and expect it to last.
