New 4runner owner :)

E

emaxxjunky

New member
Hello to all name is Nathan and I have recently purchased my first 4runner. It's a 1989 sr5 3.0 V6 picked it up for $800 with a blown head gasket drove it home (only 1 mile from home) everything else on the truck seems to work great. Haven't checked 4x4 as of yet gonna wait till I replace the head gasket for that. Been doing a little reading and seems the 3.0 has a kinda bad reputation for blowing head gaskets. Any tips or advice on a cure for the issue? I do plan to do a full rebuild while the engine is out from my calculations it will be around $1,000 for the rebuild kit,machine shop work for block and heads. Any brands I should or shouldnt look for? Any advice on picking up a set of decently priced headers for the 3.0? Read that the crossover pipe may be an issue with the head gasket ordeal. Also is the straight axle swap worth the hassle? The truck will see some trails but will mainly be my daily driver for back and forth to work. Any other tips towards building up the 4runner please let me know, I would like to do it right from the start. Thanks.
 
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If your going to be mainly driving your t4r as a daily the straight axle is not worth doing. The ifs is a very capable rig and has great on road ride. (In my opinion)
 
Doug Thorley headers... the crossover pipe IS the cause of BHG. Stick with the IFS. For your needs it will be more than adequate. Enginebuilder.com for rebuild parts. Many members swear by him.
 
You might consider an engine swap to the Toyota 3.4L 5VZE. Might cost you a little more, but overall it is a better engine and it bolts directly to your trans and motor mounts.

Agreed on the axle swap. The IFS really is tough as nails. If most of your driving is on road, definitely stick with the IFS. Even off road the IFS is great.
 
I agree with not doing the SAS as well. I have gotten my rig (when It was IFS) up stuff that it shouldn't have gone. Even locked in the front, I never had any issues with it.
As much as people dog it, Toyota IFS is very durable.
 
You are busted, sir. You did NOT purchase a 4Runner. How do I know...there are no PICS. :wink2:

:worthless:


Welcome to the fold.
 
Agreed on all counts--the IFS is fine for mild to semi-serious wheeling, the exhaust crossover is the primary reason for the head gaskets dying (too much heat on the rear cylinders, where the gasket typically fails), and headers are a good way to help prevent the failure (as well as adding much-needed power). Unfortunately, "decently priced" and "3.0 V6 headers" just don't go together--the demand just isn't there, so any header worth buying is going to cost a pretty penny, and then you'll need a new crossover further down, since the fuel tank design makes duals impractical.
 
Thanks for the information i believe I will leave the IFS as it is. Well almost, thinking of some manual locking hubs to install any suggestions on what brand to pick up? If I go with a 3.4 engine swap does it have the rear crossover issue also? If so are headers more readily available since my year truck did not come with the 3.4? What is a ball park figure to look to spend if I decide on the engine swap? Also with the 3.4 whats the maximum mileage you would look for the engine to have on it? I know with a chevy donor engine I wouldn't put it in without rebuilding it If it had over 70,000.
 
Manual hubs are a good idea, the vacuum ADD system seems to be a point of failure. Use the stock Aisin hubs, don't waste your time with anything else. Get them at a wrecker or find somebody parting out.

Headers aren't any cheaper for the 3.4, you'll spend thousands on a swap. If I were going to go to the effort of swapping a motor I'd rebuild it just on general principles, but you don't have to - the 5VZE regularly tops 250,000 miles without trouble.
 
5vze!!!!!!!! I love my swap. But the 3.0 is a good engine after you do the head gasket right, and the headers would be worth it if you dont want to do a swap. Good luck with it man!
 
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