Buddy's new truck

[ctracy5]

Hey guys my friend Matt just bought a 95 4runner SR5 3.0 V-6 automatic. Just wanting to know what the Toyo guys on here have to say about them. Any suggestions on first mods etc. Any potential problems that we need to address on a stock rig before any major wheeling? It is completely stock except for some Dynapro ATM 31's. I guess my first real question is it has some kind of automatic locking system for the 4x4 but not in the hubs how does it work and is it durable?

[glacierpaul]

He may want to get sliders/skids and perhaps a winch. 2 of my Jeeps have no manual locking hubs, never had issues. I am sure Toyota has a good setup, but Toyo guy's will obviously know more. Guaranteed he will have fun with it!!

[Brody]

Hey guys my friend Matt just bought a 95 4runner SR5 3.0 V-6 automatic. Just wanting to know what the Toyo guys on here have to say about them.

The 3.0L has a (in my opinion) non deserved bad rep. This is due to a couple of things:

The head gasket had some issues with it blowing out. Chances are if there haven't been issues with it to date, there won't be in the future.

It isn't the power plant the 3.4L is and, although it does a lot better than the 4 banger that preceeded it, isn't the best engine that Yota built in terms of power vs cylinder displacement. Reliable, though, like most Yota engines.

It does not respond well to any 'power additions'. Forget about 'power chips' for Yotas. They are a paper weight. The two best things that you can do to that engine, and about the only two power enhancements that actually work, are a better free flow exhaust and better air intake. These gain you a gear on most hills and are a seat of the pants boost. Forget headers, too, as the 3.0 actually will lose some grunt with headers. Go bigger from the collector back and you are good.

I had one in my heap before I did the 3.4L swap for a couple of years with no issues.

Any suggestions on first mods etc.

You can do a simple torsion bar crank and add a leaf/shackle for a basic 2"+ lift. You get much more than that you are into expensive drop down bracketry for the front crossmember. Speaking of which, you should be able to find used drop down stuff cheap and this is all stuff that goes when people do an SAS.

Sliders. TG offers the cheapest ones on the market, bang for buck.

Any potential problems that we need to address on a stock rig before any major wheeling?

No, not really. Just a basic fluid check/replace, tune up. Stock front skid plate is a POS so you may want to replace it. If you have a receiver on the rear, it hangs down too low and is a rock magnet.

Front IFS is relatively weak, so watch for hard turns and wheel binding and you will be fine./ The combination of the two shells CV axles. Luckily, these abound in the junkyard, so it worthwhile to grab a spare set and learn the dirty and fast way to change them out on the trail. In the Yota TECH Make and Model links. That said, I had an easy locker in the front of mine for two years before doing the SAS and it was in it when I got it. It had been wheeled pretty hard with no issues and the locker added additional stresses.

It is completely stock except for some Dynapro ATM 31's. I guess my first real question is it has some kind of automatic locking system for the 4x4 but not in the hubs how does it work and is it durable?

Auto locking hubs are durable enough, but if your friend is going to wheel it, it would be worth a junkyard trip to find some IFS hubs for cheap. Thing is the manual hubs for the IFS aren't a hunter item so you should have good luck finding them. the manual hubs for the straight axle are the prizes, even though the only difference is the inner pieces-the straight axle is bigger diameter. Simple swap over.

Hope this helps. Have your friend get in touch if he has questions. Happy to help.

peterbrody4@gmail.com

[glacierpaul]

How did I know Pete would have info?!?!?

[ctracy5]

Thanks guys, gives us some really good ideas for what goals to make for this summer. Just making sure there wasn't any persistent problems we would need to address before we started taking it out.

[ctracy5]

How did I know Pete would have info?!?!?

You act like your surprised. lol.

[ctracy5]

27043

Any ideas on how to get more (any lol) movement out of the front end? He is hesitant to take of the sway bar, advice of yes or no on that.

[RidgeRunner]

Attachment no workie for me.

Being IFS, you won't get a lot of travel out of it. My .02 is ditch the sway bar. If he doesn't like how it drives on the street without it, put it back on. My solid axle 4Runner doesn't have a sway bar and the springs are soft -> leans a lot in corners but I don't mind. Can't imagine that it would be that bad without it.

[ctracy5]

Sorry about that I keep forgetting that every time I try the thing up top it doesn't work.

[ctracy5]

I pulled the one on my trooper and can barley notice a difference on the road, I think he is just nervous about his new to him truck. he got a front and rear bar but the back seems to flex alright so we will run this weekend and see. But when we took these pics and jacked it up and pulled the wheels to check the brakes etc the front barley moves. To stiff of springs or shocks??

[RidgeRunner]

Ha, no problem. I wasn't sure if it was just my comp or not. All the Avatars and post headers are way off to the right on my desktop leaving a big blank space above each post. Wife's laptop displays just fine. Oh well.

Ya, I say ditch the sway bar. As for other mods I'd say front and rear recovery points, rock sliders, and some kind of budget boost. I don't remember, does that have coils in the rear? Crank the torison bars a bit and add a spacer in the rear. After that there all kinds of stuff. I'd probably go for a locker of some sort. Depends on what he wants to do with it, build more toward wheeling or more toward street manners with occational wheeling.

[RidgeRunner]

To stiff of springs or shocks??

The front has torison bars rather than springs. They just don't flex that well up front.

[ctracy5]

good to know, just wondering if anyone had a quick way of getting any play in the front so some mods are in the future so not a big deal.

[Backcountryislife]

I'd tell him to find some quick disconnects, especially if he's going to torsion lift the front. They're not that pricey, and will allow him to gain some articulation in front while still having good road manners. He saved enough on that truck he can afford some!! :D

[Michael4rnr]

I like that generation of 4runners. They are good cars.

[Brody]

good to know, just wondering if anyone had a quick way of getting any play in the front so some mods are in the future so not a big deal.

IFS (http://www.4x4spot.com/ifs.htm)

MinuteMod: More IFS Travel (http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/minutemods/ifs/)

Toyota IFS articulation improvement (http://www.4wdtrips.net/forum/showthread.php?2435-Toyota-IFS-articulation-improvement)

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/techarticles/suspension/131_0509_toyota_truck_ifs_lift_kit/index.html

Rather than than go on and on....and on...have your buddy either go to the Toyota Make and Model link on this forum, the Pirate 4x4xToyota FAQ, or to simply Google " Toyota IFS Travel Mods". There is a huge amount of information out there dealing with this and more has been added every year since Yota started putting the IFS in the front of rigs....back in 86 or so...

[Chris]

For anyone that hasn't picked up on it, Chris' buddy signed on yesterday - migli is the owner of this 4Runner.

[Brody]

Aren't you guys GONE yet? Damn....Barb had you all packed up a couple of hours ago....

[Chris]

:lmao: Only because tomorrow is all tied up with grand kids and we'll get absolutely nothing done.

[Backcountryislife]

For anyone that hasn't picked up on it, Chris' buddy signed on yesterday - migli is the owner of this 4Runner.

Good to hear, he was a fun guy to get out with, look forward to the next time!