Rant first. Getting closer every day on giving up on my '85 4Runner. Although they are certainly THE sought after rig, I've had mine for over a decade now and have been fighting with it for the last 3 years after sticking a new engine in it. As it turns out, the guy that put it in did not set up the throttle position sensor properly (had a big bore throttle body put in) and it has been basically dumping gas into the motor ever since. I had taken it to another mechanic and had them go over it to check for problems on the install and they missed it. Anyway, now I have developed hard feelings about my old rig and am considering parting with it. I just had the headgasket redone after once again getting stiffed on a bad bit of mechanicing. Unfortunately, although I have finally found a good mechanic I decided to go ahead and just go with the headgasket and not get the motor overhauled while it was apart. My mistake. It had overheated enough that the already washed out rings received more insults and now it belches smoke until about a mile or so down the road. The head had been overhauled while it was off including surfacing and seals. Short story continued to be made long, after sticking that fancy motor and odds and ends around it, I spent right at five grand under the hood and already have to have it overhauled. Thow in getting new suspension if I keep it and the tab keeps getting higher and perhaps the bad feelings increase. Two last major issues. The first one is now 5 and half months old and we plan on making him into a desert junkie like us and spending as much time as possible out there. So, getting him in the back of a 2 door model sounds like a lot of hassle while a 4 door seems pretty darn convenient. The second and perhaps real issue, I'm a bullheaded dumbass. If I get up against something I tend to have a very hard time letting go of it and will beat my heat against it until I feel I've gotten the upper hand. Now, I'm in the spot of trying to either quit being bullheaded and move on, or follow through, bite the bullet and get the motor overhauled and keep this one. So much for the rant. Now for the question put bluntly: are the 90's 4Runners any good at all? When Toyota first started putting IFS on their 4bys I was skeptical. When I kept seeing them on with the front ends broken down, my skepticism increased. Now, after doing some internet based studying on the 90's
4Runners I find that most are V6, automatic, chain drain, IFS, no locking hubs and stuffed with comfy plush options. I don't want a 6cyl that isn't an inline, want a 5sp, hate IFS, want real hubs and almost passed on buying a 4Runner in the first place when I discovered they had a power rear window. Power steering and power brakes are the only non-manual functions I want in a truck. While surfing last night I was finally able to find some early 90's with 4cyl engines. One thing I would like to know and still can't find a definite answer to is if the 4cyl engines come with the old gear drive transfer case and the quality of the transmission. I've come across a couple webpages now that mention the transmissions being weak as well as finding a couple for sale that already have had the transmissions replaced or rebuilt. What I'm considering is finding an early 90's 4cyl and switching the front end to a solid axle and sticking fj80 coils in the rear winding up with something around a 4 inch lift. Is it worth it to basically try and make a 4 door '85 4Runner? Are there other features on the 90's models that just don't make for a good desert banger? Any opines would be appreciated. Thanks.Chris whitewall junkie Mfinja's Hot Wheels with WhitewallsAll Small Wheels Error Cars