Out of curiosity I’ll be looking at a 93 4 Runner tomorrow. AR5 with a 5 speed. From a quick scan of the outside it looks like a garage kept Highway driven specimen.

I’m out of my depth with these so what are the strengths weaknesses good bad? What about build potential and off road potential based on more modern versions?

How did they ride? Were the 93’s based on the truck platform or were they being based off the land cruiser platform?

Good rigs. based off the truck not the land cruiser. IIRC the 3.0 liked head gaskets.

Basic impression of what I saw was a pretty clean chassis with expected trace surface rust near mating surfaces and rear spring sag.

stick some 31x10.50 or bump it up to 33x10.50 if you can find them on it. maybe a spartan locker and that thing will be a little goat.

Back in 2014 we bought our daughter a 1996 4Runner. Drove it daily back and forth to college, at least 60 miles a day, and continued to drive it daily until 2020. That’s when she bought a new SUV, and the 4Runner has been her backup beater that she still drives a couple days a week. Thing is an absolute tank! Tougher’n hell with about 200,000 miles on it. It has it’s share of rust, but it dang sure don’t owe her or us a thing!

Doc_Holidude

What motor?

I’m not sure on the Motor. Will get all the details tomorrow. I’m not seeing any cancer and the paint looks 100% original on first inspection.

The 4 cyl is pretty lame. I have a 97, 2001, 2002 and a 2016 in my driveway. The 97 has the most miles. 320k.

Yes! I love 4 runners!

The 3.0 does like head gaskets but other than that they are solid rigs.

I had a 93 4runner, great in the bush. Back window gave me grief, it wouldn't roll up, I think it is a common problem if they get rusty.

I have owned 2 with the 3.0 engines, total POS !!

Stay away from the 3.0 ‘s

here's my '89 I bought new in '89......last of the 2 door series

had the 3.0 slow......yea a dog.....one warranty head gasket

Gave it to my youngest after 12 yrs.......had 180K miles or so

Was a fuggin chick magnet back then...even if some had hairy arm pits from Moab

Gotta do what ya gotta do right

The 4 banger is bullet proof.....22R IIRC

Not sure when the 3.4L started...much better motor

Although the oil filter was/is a PIA to change

The 2.2 or 2.4 I would not call lame. We had an’87 with the 4cyl. Only time it got stuck was my fault. 🤦‍♂️

It will have less power than a 6 (duh) but will crawl very well in 4L. I’d not be shy of the 4 cyl.

Lots of 4R info here.......

https://www.4runners.com/forums/2nd-gen-4runners-1990-1995.15/

I’ll post some details after I slobber over it tomorrow and actually know what it is.

Any particular frame areas that I need to eyeball?

I prefer the the 4R's bigger brother

not a land cruiser

That’s a nice set up TN.

Anyone recall the year they switched to the land cruiser platform?

I wouldnt want it with either motor, if its got an automatic in it. You have to spin those lil motors to get anything outta them.

It’s a five speed so that’s a check in a box on the right side of the page.

OP stated 5 speed.

the 4R was or never will be a LC platform

Closest thing a 4R is....Lexus GX 460 series in the States in later years

Marketed across the pond as the Land Cruiser Prado 150 series

GX/Prado built in Japan with much higher build quality & materials & workmanship

Your '93 may have still been built in Japan...not sure

Run the VIN # and get some history

https://www.vindecoderz.com/EN/Toyota/4RUNNER

Check frame closely...they have a propensity to rust through. Friend had one that was clean and ran great, but frame went and not worth putting the vehicle on a new frame. It might be a northeast issue due to salt on the roads, but just be careful.

if its got the 22RE, I can speak intelligently on that.. mine is a generation 1 that I bought new....

it won't win no speed races, but it'll get you there, that's for sure... and one tough engine...mine is a 5 speed, and the 88 Model year... last real year of that body style...that a few left over they labeled 89s, but they were really left over 88s.. that was when GM was bitching to Uncle Sam, that Toyota was undercutting their little Blazer POS.

I bought mine with 2 miles on it....still has the original trans and engine... which both were overhauled...

the trans at 430K, since 5th gear was rattling.... the lower end of the engine was overhauled after a shop cut a water pump gasket, so it would leak coolant into the oil pan....so he attempted to spam a complete rebuild off of me...he didn't get it... he was originally to do a valve job, which he didn't do but charged me $850 saying he did it, when he didn't do anything, but sabotage the water pump gasket...

replaced the original head, with larger valves and planed head 20thousandths. to up compression...at 537K...

right now it sits at the house with 587K on it....

not babied and not beaten... taken care of, and oil has been Mobil Delvac Synthetic mainly.. change ever 20 to 25 K and filter changed every 5K.

would get in it and drive it cross country with no hesitation.. and back...

if you pass on the 93, let me know where it is....especially if it has a 22 RE and is a manual.

if it has the 3.0 V6, save the money and replace it with a 3.4 or 4.0 and you've got a great rig.

Looks like the 2002 forward is where the association with the Prado started.

Thanks for the link. I’ll plug the vin in tomorrow. Per Wikipedia some of the Gen of the 93 were assembled in China and some in Japan.

Yep.. I had a '93 T100 and had to get the head gasket done with an upgrade gasket. It was a great truck otherwise. They are simple to work on compared to more modern trucks.

I’d definitely check the undercarriage for rust. Frame rails and crossmembers especially the rear.

Lol,so true!!

my 1988 4Runner has the 2.4 EFI motor and automatic. It has handled the swamps, flooded forest roads, deep sugar sand trails, and all the beaches with zero problems. It's not fast, but then in those places you can't drive fast regardless of what you have under the hood.

OP.........

just bid here

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-lexus-lx450-75/

I thought 4Runners had always been built in Japan? Looks like I've got some homework to do.

The vehicle is a Californian. Until about 2 months ago it was owned by the original purchaser. He moved to KY and sold it to the present owner when he purchased a full size pickup truck.

The interior is almost perfect including no tearing and minimal wear on the fabric. There are a couple dents on the outside but it’s really Uber minimal and literally just character marks.

It has the 3.0 with the five speed. It handles just right and is tight. There are no fluid leaks. Timing belt changes and clutch changes have been performed.

The original owner had it serviced with some basic front end maintenance and oils change. There is 3K miles on the change and no loss of oil. The odometer is showing 349k

There is no rust. The black paint is intact on the chassis and the points where the internal side of the frame rail is visible is rust free.

He is asking 5500 but 5k takes it. Thoughts? Concerns? Questions?

I had the 3.0L in my truck, while it never gave me any problems, the previous owner had just replaced the head gasket.

I looked into a 3.4L swap out. The crossover pipe and wiring harness were issues. You could buy a wiring harness for the conversion or do it yourself. Once I added everything up it wasn't something I wanted to do anymore.

$5K seems pricey to me for a '93 with 350K but everything is pricey to me nowadays. $5K won't put you in the poorhouse either way if its something you want.....

That’s kinda where I’m at. Short of a show vehicle or ground up restoration a 93 this clean isn’t gonna be easy to find. I was thinking drive it till it dies then convert. This is one that begs to have a mild build.

5K is a bit high but I’m thinking the one owner status and the maintenance it’s been through and the manual transmission are strong positives.

I would pass if it were me. For that money a guy can get into one thats a lil newer with the 3.4

You need a vehicle.......? $5K won't buy you a decent used 4x4 quad or SxS machine

Sounds like it's clean.....miles are up there......

You may look high & low for a newer 3.4L 4R and never find it with in your budget

I wouldn't be afraid of it...but I too have an '01 LC w/340K miles and it runs great !

As well as my built '03 LX 470 w/204K miles

UR choice...$5K isn't much for a DD & an off road project maybe later

Look through these ads.....Toyota prices in Utah vs KY will not be quite the same

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/8017660

10 yrs newer & equipped with the 4.7L V8....wonder how they built with the 4.7L ?

https://cars.ksl.com/listing/8026871

That is way overpriced for that many miles. Go on Facebook marketplace and you can look at a multitude of 96 or newer 4 runners with the 3.4L motor which is WAY better motor than the 3.0, and they have fewer miles on them,

97, 3.4l, 5spd, 250k $5k


https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/d/kerby-1997-toyota-4runner/7510705403.html

Guys. Thanks for the feedback. It looks like I’m selling my 14 IS 350. That’s gonna free me up to make a more desirable purchase.

I was involved in one of the Toyota threads last year where we discussed the Lexus GX and LX. Im gonna start planning for a GX. By the time Christmas rolls around and the recession is in full swing the prices may come down.

Where you going to find a clean 4x4 of just about any model for that price, with the 5 speed and what would appear to be a good frame?

Run it 'till it croaks, then do a rebuild or replace.

Speaking of which, anyone ever hear of swapping down to the 22R series motors? They're about one of the best motors of any mfg ever built, anywhere, any time frame. If one isn't towing bigger trailers, what would be the drawback? A little slower and less power on road? With the right gearing, they'll go about anywhere. Wish I'd never sold the 2wd '86 P/U we had for years. It would be my go to town for hay and scheidt truck now.

Good luck, whichever way you go with it. I know which way I'd be leaning.

Boy it must be nice to be able to run a car forever, until it actually wears out.
Which never happens if you maintain it and fix the junk as it breaks.

Can guarantee you there aren't any 20 or 30 year old Toyota's around here
I'd give 5 minutes to consider. Damn sure nothing with 250k on the clock.

Last Subaru had 240k, 22 years and needed tires. When (I think)the
fuel pump died, I ditched it. Someone had offered us a newer Impala owned by a deceased relative at a great price.

The Subaru body was blistered so enough that it made more sense to put $500 toward a $2800 car in great shape. Instead of investing in one that wouldn't pass inspection in another 2 years. (Without resorting to duct tape and cans of Great Foam.) .

While it was a good motor. If I was going to stuff a 4 banger into something it would be the 3RZ

What's a 3RZ?

I'm not up to speed on all the little abbreviation thingies.

2.7l 4cyl. Pretty much the "newer" 22r. Have been pretty impressed with it in my tacoma

Did not know they were called that.

I have one in my '01 Tacoma too.



Pulled that trailer full of 500+ lbs of hunting and shooting gear, along with another 500lb in the bed, from Washington to parts of Cali and Oregon and back too WA 2x a year. Up and down plenty of grades even. Has taken a licken and still keeps on tickin.

But, would it not defeat some of the purpose of having an older model, pre computer type, to install one of these in an early 90's vehicle?

hmmmmm

then it will be......GX 470.........or GX 460.......................?

pic.......wife's '11 GX 460 w/123K miles (Nevada native)

Newest car we own...rest are 20+YO.....'Yoda of course

I've had the 3.0 V6 in a truck. Myriad of issues and yes headbgaskets are an issue. I've also had several Toyota 2WD trucks with the 22R 4cyl engine and they are about the best engine to be had. I got many hundreds of thousands out of each 4cyl motor.

Here's my take. If your looking at an used 4x4 with miles you need to look at the bigger picture. There's lots of components getting it to work. You'll need to inspect ball joints, hub unit bearings, axel or transaxle and boots, drive line/u-joints, tir rods, drag links, track bar, steering box/sector shaft, and how the transmission was maintained. Those parts I listed will cost a lot to replace at a shop, up to thousands and on higher mileage vehicle your probably looking at replacement.

I would suggest bringing an little bottle jack and a pipe or bar and small section of 4x4 wood post. Jack up a front tire and check those by leveraging the bar over the 4x4 wood plank and having tip of bar under the raised 2" tire. This will allow you to see what you need to replace if needed and will give you an idea of what your looking at and how it was maintained. You can check also movement in the tie rods and also look and see if there's play or slack in steering. While under there inspect bushings.

I could go into motor and trans issues but it gets pretty long and involved. Generally a Toyota standard trans goes for an awfully long time and the only real wear component is the clutch.

Good luck.

So with the smaller Toyota V8 is there much to be gained through exhaust and intake?

Toyotas are fantastic...

With that said... Isuzu Trooper MANUALS are a real bargain and equally tough. I am working on Izzy 3 in the next week or so @ $1,400. Izzy 3 is black.

Lift it, gear it right, drop some big tires on it, ARB air lockers, Arb bumper and a winch and you will be shocked what it will do, even with the 3.0. My 92 is awesome.



But with that many miles I'd be looking for one with a 3.4, which can be supercharged. I saw a little newer crew cab with a canopy this weekend that sure tempted me.