no mine still needs work plus before diving into a 4runner that has parts from 84 to 90 parts he has to get his feet wet 
what to look for in a 4runner
- Thread starter justbecause
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I'm with the landcruiser crowd, keep the fj40. If you're like me, you'll end up looking back in a few years kicking yourself for selling something when you really didn't have to.
I for one, do not understand the love for first gen 4runners. Yeah, the top comes off, but its not really a convertible unless you're in the back seat.
What you get is a truck that is ultimately too small, has horrible seats, rides like a corn cob, with a narrow rear axle and a 4 cylinder engine. plus, the '85's are so hard to find, you will probably end up with a carburated engine (gasp) and the weaker (g52?) 5 speed that is more like stirring soup than shifting.
my suggestion, especially with a tight budget, get a second gen.....or even a cheap third gen, use it to camp and hit a few trails, and keep the fj40 for your project.
I will probably catch some hell for those comments, but they know I'm right........
I for one, do not understand the love for first gen 4runners. Yeah, the top comes off, but its not really a convertible unless you're in the back seat.
What you get is a truck that is ultimately too small, has horrible seats, rides like a corn cob, with a narrow rear axle and a 4 cylinder engine. plus, the '85's are so hard to find, you will probably end up with a carburated engine (gasp) and the weaker (g52?) 5 speed that is more like stirring soup than shifting.
my suggestion, especially with a tight budget, get a second gen.....or even a cheap third gen, use it to camp and hit a few trails, and keep the fj40 for your project.
I will probably catch some hell for those comments, but they know I'm right........
well i like the 4o too but the are not too easy to find around here if you do find one for sale it is rotted and they still want 25oo to 5000 for it and all the things you said about the 4 runner can be changed so i am not giving you crap but my 84 has 90 seats 87 engine and trans and am planing to put 86 rear under it soon the best part of owning it is working on it
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- #25
going by that mines on the more expensive side ($4000) but its not rotted has a few minor upgrades and except for my throttle cable being loose at the moment (little fix just dont have the time to trace down the problem) shes in good running order
but im not dieing to sell her i have never even driven a 1st gen 4runner so when i do find one i may find out i dont like them... i just like the style and the size of it
and i would want to get the SR5 so that id have the sunroof/moonroof w/e that thing is... so that makes it a little bit more like a convertible... just thinkin out loud...
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- #26
and i have the 4spdyea the earler tranny sucked buit still is much better than the 40 3 speed
the rest
i got all the bells and whistles you can get except the A/C (PO took it out, im 99% sure it had it @ one point in time... idk if that really makes a difference or not though)
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- #28
i guess thats the Q i should have asked the first time around... except i dont NEED a solid front... unless you tell me the IFS goes to hell really quickly... im NOT going to try and make it intoa dual purpose DD and trail rig (said that aobut my last vehicle that i ended up lifting six inches...
)but yea just for mild mild off roading... im talking about like going down an old dirt road kinda mild is IFS that bad?? dont get me wrong i love my solid front axle in my 40 but i dont rock crawl so i dont see if i really NEED it.....
am i right or wrong about that??
It's my understanding that the IFS will actually be better for what you intend to do... it should absorb bumps better. My intended use is to build a street-able rock truck.
I've owned both ('85 and '90), and agree with you. There are tons of 2nd gens out there for sale, so good values can be found.
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85 22RE/5speed is what's all hot and bothered, but I agree with these guys, go find a nice truck 86-95, then buy a front axle and stick it under it...
If you find an 85, it's gonna be 24 years old, and you're gonna want new front springs, and crossover steering... Just like you'd need to do a SAS.....
If you find an 85, it's gonna be 24 years old, and you're gonna want new front springs, and crossover steering... Just like you'd need to do a SAS.....
X2 and IFS does fine on most general trail rides
:whoops: crossover steering is a must when you are turing it into a rock buggy
i agree with most of what they all said except you do not want to flex the ifs to hard tweeked my frame on an 87 could not get it back into alighnment but the only way you could tell it was it would eat the front tires.
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It took 3 months of searching, and driving all over the front range of colorado in rush hour traffic to find mine. I almost gave up.
Look for a truck from the southwest. Texas, new Mexico, Arizona. Trust me.
I'm from Minnesota, and my 4 runner spent most of it's life in Arizona. Disassembling things is 1000x easier when the bolts don't break.
Ifs or Solid axle doesn't matter much. If you intend to use it for harder wheeling later on, you would have to weld in a new crossmember for your springs with a solid axle truck too, and you would have to get a new steering box.
I found mine cheap with a blown motor. I spent about $1,500 putting in a new short block and I've got what feels to me like a new truck.
Look for a truck from the southwest. Texas, new Mexico, Arizona. Trust me.
I'm from Minnesota, and my 4 runner spent most of it's life in Arizona. Disassembling things is 1000x easier when the bolts don't break.
Ifs or Solid axle doesn't matter much. If you intend to use it for harder wheeling later on, you would have to weld in a new crossmember for your springs with a solid axle truck too, and you would have to get a new steering box.
I found mine cheap with a blown motor. I spent about $1,500 putting in a new short block and I've got what feels to me like a new truck.
Mine sit in a scrapyard for 5 years i have not had a bolt break yet. Knock on wood. Although i did and still do need to do body work to fix rust. Sometimes i think that letting any vehicle set is worse than driving it.
Well maybe i should have typed junkyard instead of scrap yard
Why do you feel you can't keep the FJ?
Where I am (Oklahoma), tags for cars of a certain age is $25/year and liability only insurance runs $10 a month. How much are you really spending on the FJ to keep it legal?
In exchange for this tiny sum, you can confidently leave one vehicle tore down for however long it takes to do repair and maintenance, and still get around.
If you're going to have a classic, it's very handy to have backup wheels. Unless you can get your stuff done with public transit.
I suggest you keep the FJ, dump the Jetta, and buy an unmolested 1st or 2nd gen 4Runner. Take your time, IFS is plenty durable for all but the most hardcore wheeling.
For the 1st gen, AFIK you need to look for the SR5 trim to get the sunroof, which I highly recommend! My '88 SR5 has power windows, locks and mirrors; cruise; rear heater; and 6-way adjustable sport driver seat.
Where I am (Oklahoma), tags for cars of a certain age is $25/year and liability only insurance runs $10 a month. How much are you really spending on the FJ to keep it legal?
In exchange for this tiny sum, you can confidently leave one vehicle tore down for however long it takes to do repair and maintenance, and still get around.
If you're going to have a classic, it's very handy to have backup wheels. Unless you can get your stuff done with public transit.
I suggest you keep the FJ, dump the Jetta, and buy an unmolested 1st or 2nd gen 4Runner. Take your time, IFS is plenty durable for all but the most hardcore wheeling.
For the 1st gen, AFIK you need to look for the SR5 trim to get the sunroof, which I highly recommend! My '88 SR5 has power windows, locks and mirrors; cruise; rear heater; and 6-way adjustable sport driver seat.
my '88 IFS truck has been extremely durable, and I don't baby it at all. the rust holes are big enough to stick your head through, but the frame is solid. found mine from a guy selling it for parts, played hell getting a title, but it was worth it.
but I'll tell you after a day on the trail in the 88 IFS truck and my '95 solid axle, all pro sprung 4runner.......the IFS has me beat down, and the plush 4runner has me looking for more trails..........of course that might be the better seats in the second gen........
but I'll tell you after a day on the trail in the 88 IFS truck and my '95 solid axle, all pro sprung 4runner.......the IFS has me beat down, and the plush 4runner has me looking for more trails..........of course that might be the better seats in the second gen........