Fortuner

[127.0.0.1]

Anything I can do to make it more off-road worthy?
I think the main weaknesses with my Fortuner currently are :
- FR 2WD (not 4WD)
- 2.7L petrol (not enough torque)

So anything I can do?

(oops wrong forum, just realized )

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

A rear locker will really help off road, but if you think you're really going to get into off roading, trading up to a 4WD is the best thing to do before you start modifying and spending money on your ride.

What size tires are you running?

What year is your 4Runner and where are you from?

[127.0.0.1]

It's a 2005 Fortuner not a 4Runner. They don't sell 4Runners here.

Size is stock 265/70/R16

And I'm from Indonesia

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Sorry, I had an idea you were from a far off place and thought there might be a language barrier. I had never heard of the Fortuner till now



Beautiful rig, I love the body lines.

Since it's an 05 this thread should be in the 95+ section. I'll move it, and do some more research on the Fortuner.

[127.0.0.1]

I know it's beautiful to look at (which is why I bought it initially) but the performance is abysmal IMO. I really wanted to buy a new Prado or FJ Cruiser but it costs $100,000 and upwards here (and in the case of FJ, they don't make a right hand drive version of it). The _only_ cheap solution is to buy a FJ40 which is cheap (and cheap to maintain as it uses the same parts as a Toyota Dyna truck), but is ugly and carries none of the prestige . Others like LR Defender are good and quite cheap BUT parts are very very hard to find.

IF I can somehow make my Fortuner more off-road worthy then I'm all over it. I don't need it to do extreme rock crawling or dune bashing here, but there are lots of mud and flooding even in daily driving.

BTW a 2.7L Petrol Fortuner costs around US$ 35,000, while the 2.5 D4-D version sells for around US$ 30,000. They don't sell the bigger engines due to the taxation system (which taxes any vehicles that has on and above 3L engine heavily)

And in case you were wondering, I'm fluent in English because I've lived in San Francisco for 4.5 years as a university student

[douglashuft]

Originally Posted by 127.0.0.1

The _only_ cheap solution is to buy a FJ40 which is cheap (and cheap to maintain as it uses the same parts as a Toyota Dyna truck), but is ugly and carries none of the prestige .

That is a joke right?
I would love to find an affordable fj40. As far as "prestige" is concerned the 40 would be the iconic Land Cruiser.

[Jetboy]

Looks kinda like an offroad version of an RX350:



What type of transmission does it have? What type of suspension? Toyota seems to use the same parts on a lot of vehicles, which means that it may be possible that the rear differential is similar to a front ifs from a 4runner and an air locker would be possible. Other than that, I'd be looking to trade for a 4wd version. If the 2.7L is not powerful enough, a Supercharger like this might help TRD>Supercharger Parts and Accessories for 1999 Toyota Tacoma Although I have no idea what 2.7 engine it is. Could also look for a turbo set up.

Good luck.

[127.0.0.1]

It's a 2TR-FE engine. The transmission is auto 4 speed.
It's based on Hilux platform. If I'm not mistaken the earlier Tacomas have the same engine, right? So your idea may be feasible. Now about the axles and differentials, I have no idea.

That is a joke right?
I would love to find an affordable fj40. As far as "prestige" is concerned the 40 would be the iconic Land Cruiser.

Prestige, as in, how other people looks and values at that thing. FJ40s are considered low-class here due to the old looks and cheapness of it. No offense, but it does matter a lot when you want to drive clients and business colleagues around. Plus, people here are all about appearance rather than the performance. I'm sure a fully modded FJ40 would be much better for off road (having seen quite a number of those in regular streets, like about 3%-5% of the vehicles here are FJ40s but strangely no FJ45s, 55s, 60s, or 70s)

Other than that, I'd be looking to trade for a 4wd version.

How hard it would be to change the transmission though? I'd prefer that to a trade since I already somewhat modded my Fortuner with complete audio system and some other stuff like Bilstein shocks and HIDs.

Remember, my needs are for it to tackle mud and flood only.

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

So what's your name SanFran 127?

How much mud and flood are we talking about here? How deep?

Some tires with an aggressive tread would be a good start. What brand/style are on it now?

If you have a camera, could you post up some pics? Especially of the rear axle and differential (center section) ?

Can you post a picture of, or post up any and all information on the vin plate, or info plate on the drivers door jam? That may help us ID the rear diff and figure out what if any traction devices might fit.

How far are you willing to go with this ride? Are you making payments? A manual trans swap would give you some of your power back. The auto just eats up power.....

[Jetboy]

It would probably be easiest, if you want to go 4wd, to find an auto tranny and transfercase from a 4wd version or even better a wrecked on that you could buy for cheap. Or, you could just fill a shipping container with 3 cherry rust free fj40's and send em to me for which I'll trade you my 4runner with a v6 and 4wd. Then you could just swap bodies and have power and 4wd. . . Assuming the same chassis. Anyway the supercharger would probably get you there power wise, if you have a rear solid axle with an 8" ring gear you could swap in a factory E-locker which would give you significantly more traction. That plus tires might be enough.

[127.0.0.1]

There are some 4WD Fortuners here, so I wonder what do I need to do the conversion? (remember, labor fees are super cheap here compared to the US, about 1% of what you pay for labor in the US) The 4WDs have a Torsen LSD at the center diff and is a full time 4wd design. However, we kinda got shafted by the taxation system which essentially ruled out the 3.0 turbo diesel version. We only got the normally aspirated 2.5 diesel (which is weak as poo, I know because a lot of Innova MPVs have it).

How much mud and flood are we talking about here? How deep?

Some areas have as much as 10-30cm of mud and 70-100cm of water (ok 30cm and 100cm is pushing it and only at very few areas, the low end of those range is more typical). The stock specs for wading depth are 50cm, approach angle is 30, breakover 25, departure is also 25 degrees.

Some tires with an aggressive tread would be a good start. What brand/style are on it now?

Standard, which is Michelin Cross Terrain 265/70/R16. Cross Terrain SUV: SUV/Crossover: Tires: Michelin Tires
Ride height is standard also, but as I've stated above, with Bilstein shocks, standard springs.

How far are you willing to go with this ride? Are you making payments? A manual trans swap would give you some of your power back. The auto just eats up power.....

Don't the torque converter in an auto actually delivers more torque at low engine rpm? Payments will be done in few months.

I'll get some pics tomorrow, hopefully. I still don't know how far I'm going to go with this ride. I might trade it for something else if nothing could improve the performance, or just relegate it to street use and buy another SUV = more payments :(

But hey, it works well for doing the mall-SUV thing because it has third row seats! Rivals mid-size MPVs for transporting people! Plus I've installed high end audiophile grade (almost competition grade) sound system in it... just add some DVD players and screens... lol... *sigh*

[bulldog-yota]

COnverting to 4WD might be very tricky and expenive for parts.

Teh rear diff is more than like the standard Toy 8", so an ARB for the 4Runner, Taco, FJC will fit. Get the ARB locker and some good tires for mud first. See how it goes then.

If you still need 4WD you will be better off to contact Inchworm to get one of their lefty transfer cases. It will require you to swap the rear end of the transmission to a 4WD end piece to fit a transfer case. You will then need front and rear driveshafts, different frame mount by the transmission, front diff and spindles with CV axles. You will need to cut a hole by the center console for the transfer case lever as well. This will add up a bit. With low range you should have penty of grunt.

I believe the 2.7 will be very similar to the unit in the new Taco here. DO you need more HP or just low end grunt?

[127.0.0.1]

Some pics
Rear axle


Stuff

[bulldog-yota]

The suspension setup looks like it is diferent from the PRado/FJC/4RUnner, but the rear axle looks like the 8" Toy mini truck axle.

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Definitely looks like an 8 inch axle, does the diff look like any of these?



If it is an 8 inch, then your options for traction devices are plentiful, which is good.

Here's a couple links you may find helpful.

Erik's Toyota Differential info

Gearratiosanddiffs

From what I could see of the front suspension, a 4wd swap may be close to bolt in.... does there look like room above the front cross member for a diff?

[bing m]

the fortuner you got it is the 2.7 liter 4X2 turbo with no intercooler. It is not as quick as the 4X4 version with the D4D 3.0 liter engine which is intercooled and has a variable turbo.
The ones we have are automatic with an constant 4 wheel system much like that of the 80 series. It comes with a limited slip in the rear which works pretty well.
I have a company vehicle which I have taken all over the Philippines and I love it.
Am also attaching photos.
Recently I took a 4X4 and a 4X2 model on a trip from Manila to Cebu. this were brand new units and so where the 2.7 ltr didnt have the same accelaration, but much the same top speed (160+/- kph). did some rough terrain, some mud, they did pretty well. No problems at all.

[PigHeaded]

The 2.7L engine is a pretty good engine with good low end torque. With a turbo, I would imgine that it would be even better, although some points off for the auto transmission. Still with the right gearing, a 2.7L does great offroad (I have a Tacoma 4x4 that I can just put in 4 low, second gear and just putt around hardly touching the gas pedal).

Really the only feasible upgrades would be better tires, a locker for the rear diff, and gears....of course, depending on what rear differential is in it.

A 4x4 conversion would probably be quite costly, and might justify finding one of thse cheap FJ40s for trail use. It would also save on body damage to the fortuner, which might be a bad thing if driving clients around.

That being said, there are lots of people with 2WD Prerunners with decent ground clearance, good tires, and the TRD package (rear locker) that can go almost anywhere a 4x4 can go.