trentj2007
New member
I have a completely stock 2000 4runner (2wd) except for a cold air intake. Any suggestions on what I should do to it? I looked into making it 4x4 but it's just not worth it.
Upgrades
- Thread starter trentj2007
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
SkylineGTRracer
New member
What do you want to do with it?
t4r4life
Elite Member
sound system, video system, jaos spoiler, projector retrofit, led tail lights, clear corner lights, tint, this is all for people that have 2wd and not into wheeling
PalmettoRunner
New member
Spend a couple of hours looking through the picture gallery and build threads, I'm sure you won't have a problem finding stuff you want to do!
trentj2007
New member
what do you mean by wheeling?
Avarice
New member
Serious off-roading. Crawling rocks, mud, rough terrain etc.
2wd can get a lot of places, but for anyone serious about trying to make their rig more capable off road, IMO there is no point in starting with anything other than 4wd.
If that's what you're going for, save the money you'd spend modding until you have enough to sell your 2wd and combine the cash and buy a 4wd.
Sorry to rag on 2wd but when it comes to off roading, it's like if someone asked me how to go about drag racing their civic. I'd tell them it's an inherently bad place to start from.
trentj2007
New member
What exactly does a locker do for a 2wd?
trentj2007
New member
Carolinafan
New member
My 2WD does better than some 4WD jeeps I've seen. I had to pull one out and then go straight through what they were stuck in. So a 2WD will surprise you for sure! But is's still not a 4WD.
Sorry but I have to disagree with you on the drag racing a civic thing...
My friend has a 94 civic with 800+hp to the wheels. And not to mention it is a lot lighter than a v8 car.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Ahhh, "low range envy". All this stuff about 2wds keeping up with 4x4s is true as long as you're on a pretty flat road and only need 1/2 as much traction. But, I can assure you, a 2wd won't cut it on anything but fire roads around here.
The fact that 2wd doesn't have low range means that you will not have the climbing power to get over steep obstacles - period.
A locked 2wd will even the field a little, but low range is the big difference that sets 4wd apart from 2wd. More so than traction IMO.
I would also have to agree, making a dragster out of a front wheel drive car like a Civic isn't a great base to start from.
The fact that 2wd doesn't have low range means that you will not have the climbing power to get over steep obstacles - period.
A locked 2wd will even the field a little, but low range is the big difference that sets 4wd apart from 2wd. More so than traction IMO.
I would also have to agree, making a dragster out of a front wheel drive car like a Civic isn't a great base to start from.
Last edited:
t4r4life
Elite Member
i didnt wanna hurt people's feelings b4 when they brought this up (you know who you are lol) but brian is right
raidernation
New member
Why not? I did it to my 98 Taco in 2003 for around $1500 total. If you are even slightly mechanically inclined you can accomplish this. 2wd can't compare to the capability of a 4wd IMO. I've had experience with both.
-Trans w/Tcase $800-look at auto recycling yards
-CV/Front Diff/Vac lines/spindles $400 Look for someone who just SAS'd their Tacoma. They wont be needing the IFS stuff anymore.
-Front and rear 4WD driveshafts $200
-New center console piece $100
No special wiring and no need to worry about dash lights saying you are in 4x4. Shift into 4WD and go.
If you already have some money into your rig now and you don't want to try to sell and buy a 4x4, then just convert it. It really is very simple and there are tons of write ups about it over on Toyota Territory Off-Roaders Association (TTORA)
If you really don't want to convert, add a locker. Thats as close as you can get. But the 4WD Low range is still key as stated previously.
Last edited:
Dous
New member
Excellent point Brian. It's amazing what 4-Lo will let you crawl over!
Avarice
New member
Don't want to get this thread too off path but you seem to have missed my point.
I'm not saying that it's impossible to make a civc a drag car, I'm saying it's not an ideal platform to start with, even with the aftermarket support it has.
FWD is simply not a good platform to use for drag racing, with tons of modifications, chassis setups, and work, people have gotten it competitive. But it's simply much easier and more effective to go RWD.
I owned a 1994 Civic eg6 with a b18c1, TEIN suspension and Spoon wheels. It was tons of fun, and decently quick, especially in corners and in twisties, but I never fooled myself into thinking it would make a good drag car for the money I'd have to invest.
I'd still have her if a woman hadn't run an intersection and creamed my front end. She still drove perfectly, but it was an older car so she got written off. Drove it 5,000km after that before they took it lol, and I tried my best to beat on the thing. Reliability even after it was totaled, a true Honda until it died.
trentj2007
New member
so it's really not that difficult to make it 4x4?
and what exactly does a locker do for a 2wd?
raidernation
New member
Go over to TTORA (since Tacomas and 4runners are nearly identical in front suspension components and operation) and go to the advanced search. Search '4x4 conversion' and make sure its searching thread titles only. There are litteraly bunches of write ups and parts list to do it. Do your reading and really decide if its what you want to do or not. It's not hard. Hardest part is swapping transmissions cuz they're heavier than $H**.
Try this. TTORA Forum - Search Results
A locker will lock both your rear wheels and give you true 2 wheel drive from the rear wheels. Most 4x4 vehicles are really only "2 wheel drive" unless they have lockers front and rear. In extreme traction situations only 1 rear wheel and 1 front wheel will have power on an open diff 4x4. The other wheels are along for the ride. The difference between a 4x2 and a 4x4 is made when you have a front wheel, or both front wheels pulling you forward as well as 1 or both rear wheels pushing you.
Last edited:
trentj2007
New member
should i go 4x4 or just put a locker on?
trentj2007
New member
and what kind of lift kit?