Trade my 4runner for a 80?

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White Stripe

White Stripe

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Jan 6, 2012
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I have a nice 99 supercharged 4runner that just got hammered with golf ball sized hail. Mechanically it's perfect. I am waiting for insurance to meet with me. I like 80s but it stinks the rear window doesn't roll down on a 80, and the 1fz gets bad gas mileage. But a redeeming quality would be if a 80 had a ls swap which gets better fuel mileage than a 1fz by like 5MPG. I found a ls swapped 80, but it needs a front driveshaft, AC hooked up, cruise control, and gauges hooked up. It just has scan gauge. The reason ls80 is appealing is that it could do well in the snow, good power, and I could tow my FJ40 with it. Should I do the 80 or fix the 4runner? I can always borrow a relatives truck to pull my 40 or buy a cheap old pickup too.
 
Ouch. Had that happen to an Armada that the (ex) wife was driving. Insurance came out and took a look at it and recommended pointless dent repair. I flatly stated that was a fantasy, couldn't be done- I mean, this thing did t have a body panel that isn't get hammered.

Apparently, the guy that they sources for it made a living doing this I the Midwest during hail/tornado season. He would just travel around doing job after job on vehicles just like mine, and made a very good living. They ended up replacing the hood and roof because it was cheaper and easier (the roof on an Armada is a panel that is epoxied on; who knew?), but the rest was done by the guy with pointless dent repair. And you know what? I couldn't tell the difference- it looked like nothing had happened. Even the dents on the a-pillars came out. It was amazing, but this guy was something special- most of the guys that do this stuff are half-asses, the same kind of kids who go around fixing cracks and chips on your windshield (when I lived in Phoenix they used to hang around at gas stations and car washes and accost people there).

Long story short, there's hope for your 4Runner. The 80s are just a different animal altogether, and I love both (and luckily, have both!) but you really need to consider what you do with the 4Runner and what you would do with the 80. I'll tell you the obvious: 80s are much more expensive to work on, and you will have a much harder time finding spare parts at a salvage yard. And because of many small (and some big) changes that occurred through the 80s span, you won't necessarily be able to use parts from a different year. This isn't really as much as an issue with 4Runners.

What area are you in? I'd love to have a crack at the 4Runner if you don't want her :grinpimp:
 
You part with that 4Runner and I promise you will regret it.
Its awkward when grown men cry, so I go for keep it.
 
I don't think an 80 is the right tool for towing a 40, no matter what engine you put in it. I know people may do it, but a 40 on a car hauler is heavy. Unless you aren't going very far and only do it very rarely, I'd leave the towing chores to a different rig.
 
Yeah I wouldn't buy one with a different engine swapped in unless it was done professionally by a well regarded outfit that does alot of them. Otherwise it will be hell to work on since everything will probably be some sort of one off custom hack job. The one you're talking about sounds like the latter.

You get an 80 because you want solid axles, possibly factory lockers, and 3rd world reliability. If towing and mpg are your main concerns, get something else.
 
4runnerd said:
Ouch. Had that happen to an Armada that the (ex) wife was driving. Insurance came out and took a look at it and recommended pointless dent repair. I flatly stated that was a fantasy, couldn't be done- I mean, this thing did t have a body panel that isn't get hammered.

Apparently, the guy that they sources for it made a living doing this I the Midwest during hail/tornado season. He would just travel around doing job after job on vehicles just like mine, and made a very good living. They ended up replacing the hood and roof because it was cheaper and easier (the roof on an Armada is a panel that is epoxied on; who knew?), but the rest was done by the guy with pointless dent repair. And you know what? I couldn't tell the difference- it looked like nothing had happened. Even the dents on the a-pillars came out. It was amazing, but this guy was something special- most of the guys that do this stuff are half-asses, the same kind of kids who go around fixing cracks and chips on your windshield (when I lived in Phoenix they used to hang around at gas stations and car washes and accost people there).

Long story short, there's hope for your 4Runner. The 80s are just a different animal altogether, and I love both (and luckily, have both!) but you really need to consider what you do with the 4Runner and what you would do with the 80. I'll tell you the obvious: 80s are much more expensive to work on, and you will have a much harder time finding spare parts at a salvage yard. And because of many small (and some big) changes that occurred through the 80s span, you won't necessarily be able to use parts from a different year. This isn't really as much as an issue with 4Runners.

What area are you in? I'd love to have a crack at the 4Runner if you don't want her :grinpimp:
Click to expand...
Thx for the info. Here is a pic b4 the hail...
IMG_20150924_235226.webp

Supercharger, water meth, 7th injector, leather, rear locker.
 
DARKNESS said:
Yeah I wouldn't buy one with a different engine swapped in unless it was done professionally by a well regarded outfit that does alot of them. Otherwise it will be hell to work on since everything will probably be some sort of one off custom hack job. The one you're talking about sounds like the latter.

You get an 80 because you want solid axles, possibly factory lockers, and 3rd world reliability. If towing and mpg are your main concerns, get something else.
Click to expand...
Well I don't mind cleaning up fab work as long as it's not so bad that it's a total loss. The price of the ls components to da a swap is expensive. So if all the basics are their then I could just clean it up. I have towed my 40 with a fj60 with a old 350 TBI sbc with vortex heads, it worked fine except for the Aussie locker made for funny handling around curves when it would decide to engage or disengage. I just took it easy, it wasn't a duramax, but it did the mountain passes ok. I use a car dolly with brakes so it's lighter than a car trailer.
 
Seems to me like you would be money waaaaaaay ahead to just keep the 4runner and drive it and not care about the body anymore. Or sell it to me and buy a pickup to tow with.

Personally I wouldn't want to inherit someones project, sort through all the crap until you figure out what they have done, fix/complete the job, and then be constantly fiddling with some non-stock vehicle to pull my other non-stock vehicle.
 
Usually in these situations, though, you are asking because you want someone to confirm what you have already set your mind to (I know that's how it goes for me). If that's the case I would be most concerned about the braking capabilities of the 80 when towing. If you got those ironed out an LS powered 80 would be an expensive, OK tow rig. Or you could get a 2wd f250 and have a cheap, good tow rig.
 
BlueCruiser84 said:
Usually in these situations, though, you are asking because you want someone to confirm what you have already set your mind to (I know that's how it goes for me). If that's the case I would be most concerned about the braking capabilities of the 80 when towing. If you got those ironed out an LS powered 80 would be an expensive, OK tow rig. Or you could get a 2wd f250 and have a cheap, good tow rig.
Click to expand...
Yeah Im leaning toward just keeping the runner. Its very reliable and fits most of my needs except towing.
 
A 3rd gen 4wd 4runner, with supercharger and elocker could probably sell for enough money to build an LS swapped 80 if you wanted to do it yourself.
 
Having gone both ways, the 4Runner definitely makes for a better daily driver. A little better road manners, cheaper parts, less need for parts and PM, and cheaper on gas. I'd take your insurance money and pocket it, keep the runner and who gives a hoot if it's got hail damage. Or if you really care that much, use the insurance money to fix the hail damage.

Also, just judging by the "look" of that runner (very handsome truck, btw), you're not really in need of the 80's off-road prowess, which is the only factor that made all the expensive tradeoffs worth it to me. I'm assuming that's what your 40 is for. If I hadn't stumbled upon this truck (and sometimes I wish I hadn't), I might very well be in my 3rd 3rd gen. :)

I would be VERY VERY cautious about a V8-swapped 80 being sold as an unfinished project. That is a sign the owner bit off more than he could chew and probably cut corners and didn't know what he was doing up until the point he gave up. If you really want a V8 80, skip this one. Buy an 80 with mechanical problems and take it to a pro or do it yourself so at least you're aware of the corners cut and can make that judgment call yourself.
 
My opinion/advice; keep the 4runner. I had a 1998 4runner, 5speed, rear locker. I regret letting it go. I think the gas milage of an 80 will frustrate you.
 
My 4runner got totaled and that's how I ended up with the lc, I love my lc more than the 4r now, But if the 4r was running I wouldn't make the change just because. The 4r was super reliable.
But hey I'm a big dog now driving an lc80!
 
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