More ?'s for you yota experts

[ILVH8RS]

So being new to this, maybe this covered somewhere else but I've seen some 4runners with and some without (like mine) the swing to side spare tire mount. Was this a factory offering or do i need to pick up an aftermarket one? And how hard are they to actually install? Would really love to find a decent one to hold a tire and gas can if possible? Maybe even one that mounts to the hitch receiver to avoid major mods to the truck itself?

Also, Looking at combating the rear end sag without actually "lifting" the truck. Obviously I need new rear springs but if I do new coils should I also do these spacers I keep hearing/reading about and how difficult is the process of switching these out?

Last one I promise...I understand the 3.0's as in my 95 are not everyone's favorite. But mine runs like new and other then the K&N CAI and full exhaust with magnaflow cat and flowmaster T40 I'm not planning on any other mods to it. However, I have noticed that the mpg this beast gets is, well pretty crappy. With the above mentioned mods, and given the 31/15.50/15's underneath, what type of mileage SHOULD I be getting? and how can I improve it beyond the roughly 10-11 mpg I see now?

Thanks again everyone for your patience with the new guy.

 

[giro]

I think the swing arm spare carrier's were factory options in the 1st Gens and the first year or two of the 2nd gens. At least I think someone picked up a 90 or 91 2nd gen with one on it, and posted about it here in the last couple months.

For mpg's, it all depends on what you do with it. When I was commuting 30 miles each way, up and over a mountain but with no traffic and just 2 stoplights, I was getting 19-21 mpg. But lately, with the winter blend of gas, using 4wd a lot more, and in lots of short trips when it's around freezing outside, I'm getting more like 13-14, and this tank might be even worse.

There's a bunch of threads lately on bad mpgs. If yours is consistently bad, and you're not having conditions that would obviously be bad for mileage (say a mix of stop and go traffic, and driving at 80 mpg with a few kayaks on the roof), then look into some of them. Tires pressurized, no brake drag, bearings recently repacked, etc.

Good luck

 

[Footofgod]

For the record, understand that your runner already has a cold air intake from the factory and the an aftermarket CAI like K&N will just be a giant waste of money.

The tire carrier was an option in 90 and 91, you cannot just bolt one on to one that doesn't have it because there are all kinds of missing body supports.

As for coils, if you plan on lifting, go with OME coils and shocks all the way around with 1.5" ball joint spacers up front.

If you don't plan on lifting, just get a good set of stock replacement coils and get to driving.

 

[ILVH8RS]

Appreciate the info. Guess I need to look a little deaper into the mpg issue because I've definitely never seen north or 12 mpg. My daily commute is about 15 miles one way on relatively flat freeway's here in San Diego. Switched most of the fluids after I bought it to synthetics but still need to change plugs and see if that helps. Maybe a dumb question but has anyone seen a major diference between 87 to 91 octane?

And I guess I got lucky because the K&N was already installed when I bought it. And I am looking at new replacement coils and the ball joint spacers. THanks for the heads up.

 

[KidVermicious]

Maybe a dumb question but has anyone seen a major diference between 87 to 91 octane?

The short answer is no. You should google "myths about octane".

And the K&N is not lucky, you should get rid of it. The slightly increased air flow it might provide is not worth the drastically reduced filtration ability or oily crap all over your AFM that it will cause.

 

[parkay]

The short answer is no. You should google "myths about octane".

And the K&N is not lucky, you should get rid of it. The slightly increased air flow it might provide is not worth the drastically reduced filtration ability or oily crap all over your AFM that it will cause.

This.

You may get more air, but its not worth how much mor gunk goes down the intake. Had an open air K&N on a 90 T4R in the past and got tired of having to clean out my MAF sensor. Not to mention the fact that they are ridiculously overpriced