need comments...Driving the 2nd GEN

[Joe Desrosiers]

What is it really like driving the 2nd gen? My 93 makes me wonder about what it was like when it was new. It passes smog (in California no less) but I wonder about compression and the CAT. I request comments for comparison on a few things...
-The truck has VERY slow accelleration from 30 to about 45. Once it is on around 65 or 70 she will do all day, but WOT required to get anything done in midrange.
-The truck is pretty torqey from a start but despite a lot of effort to run smoothly, the engine stutters at low throttle for a couple secs and then catches. After that I am good through about 25 MPH then the slowness fades in.
- The exhaust REEKS. It's either a early 90's exhaust smell or something else is up. No engine lights or codes pop. Smells like a 70's car in the winter in very cold weather....and I think it would kill me if I left the rear window open long enough at slow speed.
- With the exhaust reek but no codes, and a lot of metal popping noises once the engine is off as engine parts cool, how do I know if the CAT could use a replacement? As the engine cools, the metallic clicking noises are not alarmingly frequent, but seem more pronounced than a lot of cars I have had before.
- The truck is a V-6 automatic and I understand it is classicly underpowered. So what was it like new and what should it be like now?My transmission got a clear bill of health but shifts oddly from 3 to 4 sometimes and sort of glides through 3 some other times. The standard tranny would be different....once the truck was in gear I would know what the power avaiable was. This thing is classic "slush box." With the slow accelleration, the tranny seems to not be slipping, there just is very little engine power available to accellerate the truck, for maybe 20 seconds to get to 50mph.
- Please comment....anyone had a 2nd GEN from new and pure stock? I wonder what they were like for test drives when new on the sales lots in 1992 and 93.. I
- would like to add I replaced the worn 31 inch option sized tires with the 225/75/15 stockers to help gain some accellation, but would like to switch back....

 

[77'911]

These trucks are getting , and have a bit of miles and years on them now. The majority of which, probably need boat loads of maintenance and upkeep which has been put off over the years. I've been in the process of going through the families 1990 4runner(90k) and with every repair, the truck improves immensely. I just complete re-sealed the fuel injection system this year. The trucks suspension system has been complete rebuilt and upgraded where needed(urethane bushings, sway-a-way torsion bars, etc.). For a 1990 vehicle, it handles , drives, and performs exceedingly well for a truck of its age. Its dead quiet on the highway and tracks as straight as an arrow. I'll handle the timing belt in the fall which will probably help the torque curve to some degree, but it's acceptable now. I might attempt a header and exhaust install over the winter which would help the performance.
Having said that, I think you'll find any repair(driveline mounts, brake hydralics, etc) you do will yield big improves in the way your 4runner performs. This has been very true on the projects I've gone through to date.
regards

 

[Joe Desrosiers]

I reviewed the resealing of the injectors. Besides just needing to be done, what was your 'seat of the pants' impression? 20 HP?

 

[77'911]

Results from injector reseal:
1) better/improved acceleration
2) more torque in the hills/mountains
3) starts quicker(less cranks)
It definitely "feels" different in a good way. The engine actually sounds different when revving. The jury is still out on mpg, as it just has not been driven alot(not enough data yet to do calculations). My guess is, that will imcrease as well since the detination quality has been improved. Considering the age alone on these trucks, it's a no-brainer of a service/repair as the cost is relatively low.
regards

 

[Joe Desrosiers]

Sea foam in fuel tank yesterday w/ 14 gallons of gas. I think the fuel system is clean as it gets but one week from deployment it is time to chill and see if anything breaks on my 15 year old step daughter. Jan 2011 should mean fuel filter, tires, 97 alloy rims, and whatever else is broken. Fuel mileage is how I drive it, from 12 to around 14-15 MPG in mixed driving. I know from the smell of the exhaust all is not perfect, and I wonder if the timing belt installation was half-assed and timing is a little off...however I think I am not imagining that with the simple tune up, fuel system cleaning, fresh oil and tranny fluid and replacement of a cracked air inlet boot, the truck is running better and better with use...not ready for the injector reseal, but if I am going to reseal why would I not replace with new injectors while I am at it? Very low throttle is still an issue, but I saw something funny on here today, a 2nd gen guy described his engine as a "3.slow"
I see the o2 sensors and cat being replaced, but not until it fails California smog test.

 

[Nodd]

...The truck is pretty torqey from a start but despite a lot of effort to run smoothly, the engine stutters at low throttle for a couple secs and then catches...

Mine does the exact same thing (145k). I'm putting it in the shop in a few days. Will let you know what they find.