Looking at '01-04 Tacomas, some tech questions...

[MtnToys]

There are a decent amount of 5speed 4runners once you start looking for them. 4runners seem to be a good bit cheaper then tacoma too. I picked up my 97 3.4 5speed with every option but the elocker with 150,000miles for $3500. My dads 97 3.4 5speed sr5 TRD w/locker 200,000 miles was $2200 and it came another complete elocked axle.

My 4runner gets shit for mileage around town. I get 22 consistently on the highway with 33" AT. In the montana i was getting 23.

http://www.themccumbers.com/States.htm

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/ ... 66321.html

Hub swap
http://www.sonoransteel.com/includes/te ... alHubs.pdf

This 3.4 5speed look perfect for you
http://www.beltwayauto.com/shared/photo ... %3d6174350


The difference in the taco and 4runner frames.... This is my dads 4runner. Up until last year it spent is whole life in Massachusetts. The frame is in great shape. There is slight surface rust on some of the welds but no flaking, holes or major pitting. Most of the frame looks new. The bumpers, rockers and receiver hitch didn't escape the rust.









These are the worst spots on the frame.

[VerticalTRX]

Thanks for the info and pics. Its pretty easy to see the difference in frame quality. I did find a nice low mileage 4runner with a 3.4/5spd down in NC, might have to go look at it. They do seem to be cheaper than comparable Tacoma's, not sure why since they were more expensive originally.

Right now I'm still going back and forth between tacoma vs 4runner, they both have their advantages and disadvantages for what I do. If I could only find a nice 2.7/5spd 4runner that might make my decision easier

[Arya Ebrahimi]

Toyota pickups are always in high demand, especially in Mexico(not joking). 4runners not so much, that's why the prices are that way.

[MILLER]

Buy my 85, good frame and a flat bed for versatility

Actually I have some real input. I dont know how bad the problem is, but 3.4L '02-'04 4Runners and 3.4L '03-'04 Tacomas have had an issue with the Throttle Angle Control (TAC) system. I don't know how big of a problem it is, Krantz never had it on his, but my motor swap did, but here is a link for guys talking about it on TTORA

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=13283

10 pages, lot to sort through, but to sum it up the Accelerator Pedal Position Sensor (APPS) on the front of the throttle body tells the computer how much you push in the pedal and the computer tells a little motor on the back of the tb to turn the throttle valve. There is a TPS on the back of the tb to tell the computer what angle the valve is at. If the APPS and the TPS become out of whack, the computer throws the truck into limp mode and you can only open up the throttle 1/3 of the way. Sometimes this happens all of a sudden while you are pulling out into traffic.

Now I am not certain how bad this issue ended up, it has been a few years since I read the thread posted above, but then there was no solution to the problem, besides dropping almost a grand on a new throttle body assembly. However some believed it was isolated to guys using superchargers, which may be the case. I think mine happened because I had removed the APPS during the motor swap. Some guy in that thread thought he had fixed it (an electrical engineer) but the problem came back. I came up with a mechanical bypass to the throttle by wire BS but I do not know how it has affected performance or mileage.

I am not saying to avoid any truck or 4runner in these year ranges, but I would be aware of this issue and ask the seller of any 'weird acceleration issues'. I have been meaning to get back on that thread and read up out of curiosity, maybe I will get to that in the next couple of days.

[VerticalTRX]

Thanks for the info Miller, tips like that are always appreciated.


A few final questions for yall;

I think I'm narrowing down my search to '96-99 4runners with the 3.4/5speed.

How is the longevity of the 3.4L compared to the 2.7? I realize the 2.7L might last a little longer due to being an inline motor, but maybe the difference is negligible?

How involved is the timing belt change? Does it really have to be done every 60k? (Are these interference motors?)


Thanks for everyone's input

[MtnToys]

At the pick and pull i saw multiple 3.4s with 250,000+ that were turned in for cash for clunkers. 3.4 is non interference. My belt at 155,000 and another 4runner I changed at 140,000 were in decent shape. The one I changed on my buddy's 2004 taco with 220,000 miles was all cracked and chunking. It's not a hard job. I have the tool to compress the tensioner on the truck if you ever want to borrow it.

[VerticalTRX]

Thanks for everyone's advice, I just picked up a nice '97 4-runner (3.4/5spd) today. I've spent the last week and a half looking online and at various dealers/private sellers. Drove about 1000mi total looking at different vehicles, most of which were either overpriced or junk. I can also see why Toyota is paying 150% of KBB on these tacomas, it seems like that is the going price for them. I looked at a couple and decided a 4runner was a much better buy. I looked a a few '97-99 ex. cab tacomas (4cyl, 5spd) and about $9K was the average asking price, most places wouldn't hardly budge off that amount either.

Found this 4runner about 30mi north of Charlottesville (which is a 230mi drive for me), one owner, no accidents, 171K, almost no rust. Plan on doing some small modifications to it to make it better for work and light wheeling/exploring.

A new set of 265/70-16 All terrains, OME suspension, lockout-hubs off my tacoma, receiver hitch, maybe some sliders and a roof rack. If I get into it and it looks interesting enough I'll post some pics of the progress in the rigs section.

[MtnToys]

Nice 4runner, looks identical to mine. I have a factory roof rack in my basement I'll sell ya for $15 (what it cost me from Crazy Rays).

[BadnewsCJ]

Good looking truck ya got there Grubb

[VerticalTRX]

Thanks, it was tough to find one without all the fender flares, running boards, etc etc. I like the clean looks of them without all that.


Hippie, I might be interested in a stock roof rack, I haven't quite decided what to do on that yet. I was thinking of something like the Front Runner slim line rack, but those are big $$$. Just need something sturdy to haul the occasional plywood, 16' lumber, as well as carrying stuff on longer wheeling trips (spare, hi-lift, ramps, etc).


As per usual, the first 'drive' I went on was off-road

Not a whole lot different from my tacoma, the extra low end torque of the 3.4 was instantly noticeable when crawling however. Definitely need to rig up some sway bar disconnects, it's pretty rigid stock

I'm a bit worried how soft the rear springs are for hauling and towing. This is the main reason for looking at the OME suspension, but if I go with the heavy or expedition rate rear coils then I'm afraid it will limit flex. Ideas?

Also, is there any adjustment on the free-play on the clutch on these? The dealer put a new clutch in it and while it holds good and seems to work well, the clutch engages about an inch off the floor. Maybe it's ok, just not to my liking.

[MtnToys]

You can adjust the clutch pedal where it connects to the pushrod to the master cylinder. The tit inside the bell housing that the fork between the slave and throwout bearing pivots on is also adjustable.

I removed the front sway bar on mine.