Considering a mini!?

[chicago]

Hey all,
Im Chicago, and Im looking into POSSIBLY picking up a 4runner or mini truck, and I was wondering what advantages/ disadvantages are between the 22RE and the V6?
Ive been lurking here for a bit, and the general concensus (ive found) is that the 22 RE is the top dog to be looking for?
About how much are these motors for a re build?
Looking around, there are A LOT with exisiting knocks, but theyre DIRT CHEAP to buy, and Im wondering if I were to pick one up, how much would it cost for a replacement engine!
What I PLAN to do is make it a designated CRAWLER!
I currently have a 62 that I built up, but in order to correct its short comings will cost BIG BUCKS and a LOT OF TIME!
Hence, Im looking into the options of the smaller rigs to achieve this!
Dont get me wrong...I love my Cruiser, but Im beginning to think that Im trying to fit a square peg into a round hole for the wheeling I want to do comfortably, safely and in the end NOT GO BANKRUPT trying to achieve it!

Thanks for the help in advance!

Chicago

 

[Mark W]

I won't say that the 3.0 is a bad motor. But I will say it is the worst motor that Toyota ever built. If I bought a rig with one, I would take the attitude that I was only using themotor while I waited for it to fail. And when it does need to be worked on it is the most cramped and difficult to work on motor that toyota ever put in the minis.

Power is not bad. Nice advantage over the 4 cylinder motors.

I wouldn't completely ignore a min with a 3.0. But then for me, fixing or replacing it when it dies would not be as big a deal as it would for most. And chances are I'd have another rig available to drive while I decided how to remedy the prolem.

The 4 cylinders are great motors. if you are geared correctly for you rubber, what you give up in power is really only a problem with big tires and deep mud/water. Better fuel economy, much easier and cheaper to work on (or replace if you ever need to. Set the rig up right and these motors will probably do 99% of what most people will ever do off road. Heck, probably 100% of what 99% of the people would ever really do with them.

Realize though, a quality rig, well built and capable of handling serious off road challenge over the long term is gonna cost you. No matter what you start with.


Mark...

 

[chicago]

I won't say that the 3.0 is a bad motor. But I will say it is the worst motor that Toyota ever built. If I bought a rig with one, I would take the attitude that I was only using themotor while I waited for it to fail. And when it does need to be worked on it is the most cramped and difficult to work on motor that toyota ever put in the minis.

Power is not bad. Nice advantage over the 4 cylinder motors.

I wouldn't completely ignore a min with a 3.0. But then for me, fixing or replacing it when it dies would not be as big a deal as it would for most. And chances are I'd have another rig available to drive while I decided how to remedy the prolem.

The 4 cylinders are great motors. if you are geared correctly for you rubber, what you give up in power is really only a problem with big tires and deep mud/water. Better fuel economy, much easier and cheaper to work on (or replace if you ever need to. Set the rig up right and these motors will probably do 99% of what most people will ever do off road. Heck, probably 100% of what 99% of the people would ever really do with them.

Realize though, a quality rig, well built and capable of handling serious off road challenge over the long term is gonna cost you. No matter what you start with.


Mark...

Thanks for the response Mark...
Youre everywhere on this board!

Im hoping that I can find a pre- built rig so I wouldnt have to start COMPLETELY over like I did with the 62...

So, youd say for ease of maintenence and longevity stay away from the V6!?

Chicago

 

[EVILSPOTTER]

Mark W is totally right, I have had two 3.0's, and several 22r's & 22re's. There isn't anything about the 3.0 that makes it unuseable, and I haven't seen one in a long time that hasn't already had the recall service done, but whether you are looking at swapping or just shopping for widgets, the aftermarket completely ignores the 3.0. The 22r however, enjoys buttloads of aftermarket support, lasts forever, and can be rebuilt in your driveway with a hammer and a pair of pliers. Also they look cool.

 

[84pickup]

YES for ease of maintanance and longevity stay away from 3.slow. my brother has a 95 4runner with a v6 that both of us dislike. he says he cant trust it but he would drive his 91 FJ80 3FE all over the world. i would definetley go with a 22R/E they are all ready pretty peppy when they've been taken care of, really easy to work on and if power is your goal you can get all kinds of things for it. for a price of course, some more than others. i've got an 84 22R with 193,400mi on it and i've done a head job and put new rings on but only because we loaned it to people who didn't know how to drive a standard with not much power and they were used to driving mustangs and other sports cars not a truck with 100 or less HP if you want a rock crawler truck it would be best to get one with a solid axle already in it otherwise you'll have to spend more money to put one in unless you want IFS.

 

[chicago]

The aftermarket support is one of the BIGGEST reasons Im looking to get a mini/ 4 runner...
Parts seem to be in good supply, even at the big chain stores.
Also, fun after market supplies (low gear, lifts, sas kits etc.)
Thank you guyz for the input on this topic.
I checked the one of the auto parts stores, and they can get a rebuilt 22re for 1200.00...
I didnt think that was TOO BAD!?
My wife is about ready to strangle me...She thinks Im nuts for even considering this option as much as I love my wagon...
I donno, well see what happens...Im really very TORN on this!
Ive got a SH*T load into the 62 already, and Im looking into about another 5-6K easy to get it where I WANT it to be, which the BIGGEST hit would be the manual swap and toy box...
I could buy a NICELY BUILT mini for that much!

KILLIN ME!

Anyways...there are worse problems one could have, so I should really count my blessings...

Thanks gents (and ladies) for the input!

Chicago

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

Do it!!! But don't bother getting an 79-85 solid axle rig unless it rolls out in front of you, you will just end up re doing the whole front end with high steer and probably move the axle forward anyway, so you might as well go for the solid axle swap. I'd look for something with a good engine/tranny/t-case (preferable with Marlin crawler gears already) and not a lot of rust. and maybe a locker in the rear would be a good start.