New to me old 4runner 98

[2020 Rocks]

Buying a 1998 4Runner tomorrow afternoon. My wife and I went and checked it out this evening and we were both pleasantly surprised on how good of shape it is in. It has 199k but drives smooth, shifts smooth, and is clean. Other than a new radiator and adding a separate tranny cooler, what are some other things that should be looked into or modified?

Flickr: tharman77's Photostream

 

[fightman]

Could try to find out if and when the Timing belt and water pump were done.......if not done.....you could probably replace those. They are apparently trouble items on the 4Runner.....

 

[2020 Rocks]

Here is a list of stuff that's been done, saw the stack of receipts today when I took it for a test drive. I think the guy (2nd owner) is an engineer or something, reminds me of my grandpa who kept little note books on his cars.

July 24, 2007 (169337)
Cost: $652
· Replaced timing belt
· Replaced water pump
· Replaced rear heater lines
· Flushed radiator and replaced coolant
· Cleaned rear brakes
September 18, 2007 (170469)
Cost: $27
· Balanced all wheels
November 22, 2007 (172139)
Cost: $10
· Changed oil (10W30)
March 15, 2008 (174760)
Cost: $15
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
· Lubed drive shafts
March 18, 2008 (174775)
Cost: $1,487
· Replaced A/C compressor
· Replaced struts and rear shocks
· Replaced driver side sway bar link
April 5, 2008 (175045)
Cost: $15
· Replaced wiper blades
August 1, 2008 (177877)
Cost: $10
· Changed oil (5W30)
September 13, 2008 (178579)
Cost: $86
· Replaced battery

December 7, 2008 (181129)
Cost: $19
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
March 5, 2009 (183359)
Cost: $260
· Replaced cylinder 5 coil pack
March 13, 2009 (183479)
Cost: $73
· Replaced spark plug wires
March 20, 2009 (183595)
Cost: $619
· Replaced spark plugs
· Replaced cylinder 2 fuel injector
· Cleaned fuel system
April 4, 2009 (183788)
Cost: $43
· Changed oil (5W30)
· Changed transfer case oil (75W90)
· Changed rear differential oil (80W90)
· Lubed door hinges
April 11, 2009 (183983)
Cost: $97
· Replaced passenger side sway bar link
· Lubed drive shafts
· Rotated tires
July 24, 2009 (186888)
Cost: $20
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter

October 22, 2009 (189520)
Cost: $789
· Replaced tires
· Wheel alignment
October 22, 2009 (189530)
Cost: $17
· Replaced wiper blades
November 10, 2009 (190108)
Cost: $14
· Changed oil (5W30)
January 18, 2010 (192263)
Cost: $718
· Replaced cylinder 5 coil pack
· Replaced front brake rotors and pads
· Cleaned and adjusted rear brakes
· Replaced all belts
February 22, 2010 (192707)
Cost: $979
· Replaced harmonic balancer
· Replaced timing gear
· Replaced timing belt
February 28, 2010 (192961)
Cost: $20
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
March 24, 2010 (193856)
Cost: $113
· Repaired rear differential leak
July 2, 2010 (195940)
Cost: $15
· Changed oil (5W30)

January 1, 2011 (198131)
Cost: $20
· Replaced air filter
January 29, 2011 (198804)
Cost: $25
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter






July 24, 2007 (169337)
Cost: $652
· Replaced timing belt
· Replaced water pump
· Replaced rear heater lines
· Flushed radiator and replaced coolant
· Cleaned rear brakes
September 18, 2007 (170469)
Cost: $27
· Balanced all wheels
November 22, 2007 (172139)
Cost: $10
· Changed oil (10W30)
March 15, 2008 (174760)
Cost: $15
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
· Lubed drive shafts
March 18, 2008 (174775)
Cost: $1,487
· Replaced A/C compressor
· Replaced struts and rear shocks
· Replaced driver side sway bar link
April 5, 2008 (175045)
Cost: $15
· Replaced wiper blades
August 1, 2008 (177877)
Cost: $10
· Changed oil (5W30)
September 13, 2008 (178579)
Cost: $86
· Replaced battery

December 7, 2008 (181129)
Cost: $19
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
March 5, 2009 (183359)
Cost: $260
· Replaced cylinder 5 coil pack
March 13, 2009 (183479)
Cost: $73
· Replaced spark plug wires
March 20, 2009 (183595)
Cost: $619
· Replaced spark plugs
· Replaced cylinder 2 fuel injector
· Cleaned fuel system
April 4, 2009 (183788)
Cost: $43
· Changed oil (5W30)
· Changed transfer case oil (75W90)
· Changed rear differential oil (80W90)
· Lubed door hinges
April 11, 2009 (183983)
Cost: $97
· Replaced passenger side sway bar link
· Lubed drive shafts
· Rotated tires
July 24, 2009 (186888)
Cost: $20
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter

October 22, 2009 (189520)
Cost: $789
· Replaced tires
· Wheel alignment
October 22, 2009 (189530)
Cost: $17
· Replaced wiper blades
November 10, 2009 (190108)
Cost: $14
· Changed oil (5W30)
January 18, 2010 (192263)
Cost: $718
· Replaced cylinder 5 coil pack
· Replaced front brake rotors and pads
· Cleaned and adjusted rear brakes
· Replaced all belts
February 22, 2010 (192707)
Cost: $979
· Replaced harmonic balancer
· Replaced timing gear
· Replaced timing belt
February 28, 2010 (192961)
Cost: $20
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter
March 24, 2010 (193856)
Cost: $113
· Repaired rear differential leak
July 2, 2010 (195940)
Cost: $15
· Changed oil (5W30)

January 1, 2011 (198131)
Cost: $20
· Replaced air filter
January 29, 2011 (198804)
Cost: $25
· Changed oil (5W30) and filter

 

[ken_79-fj40]

I clicked on the second page and was shocked for a second when I saw rust. Then I realized I was looking at a 60 series. Looks pretty clean. The wood doesn't look stock to me but it looks decent if it's aftermarket. My wife drives a 00 4Runner sport and we've had it since 02. Until just recently it's been the most reliable vehicle we've ever had. Just past 200k I replaced both front axleshafts, both front wheel bearings, and one rear wheel bearing. The rear wheel bearings are a major pita to change and I've got to do the one side over again soon. The axle seal keeps leaking and I've changed it twice already. But overall it's been very reliable.

 

[2020 Rocks]

When I met up with the seller today at the BMV he pointed out the two factory service manuals in the back seat. A smile instantly spread across my face. The wood seems to be original as it is worn and faded in spots from the sun. That rusty 60 you saw is currently being parted out.

 

[fightman]

I clicked on the second page and was shocked for a second when I saw rust. Then I realized I was looking at a 60 series. Looks pretty clean. The wood doesn't look stock to me but it looks decent if it's aftermarket. My wife drives a 00 4Runner sport and we've had it since 02. Until just recently it's been the most reliable vehicle we've ever had. Just past 200k I replaced both front axleshafts, both front wheel bearings, and one rear wheel bearing. The rear wheel bearings are a major pita to change and I've got to do the one side over again soon. The axle seal keeps leaking and I've changed it twice already. But overall it's been very reliable.

FYI, If you are continually having to change out the rear axle seals, try checking the rear diff breather. I replaced mine with a union fitting, ran some hose up to the gas filler neck, and put a breather on the end of that. The stock breathers clog up, thus blowing out your axle seals.....If you do the mod I mentionned above, you eliminate that problem permanently.

If you're not sure what I'm talking about, check my build thread or search it here or on T4R.ORG.

Good luck!