Advice on a 1st gen 4Runner for offroading

I wanted to introduce myself. I am from California, specifically the SF North Bay Area. I am 16, turning 17 towards the end of July. I currently drive a 2004 Range Rover that my grandpa found too rough to drive and too tall of get in and out off all the time.

Why I am here: I am here to ask advice about buying a 1st gen 4runner, I love the looks. I also want this to be my weekend offroading truck. I have a budget of around ~$2,200 for the car itself plus some extra for a lift and possibly bigger tires. I am looking to put in around ~$3,300 into this truck.

 

Thank you for the warm welcome, glad to be here. I have found a few on craigslist, going on a trip on the 28th so I might get it when I come back.

So far this is what I have found to be semi promising. 1. A Red 1st gen, manual with 380k miles, needs brake shoes and possibly a engine rebuild soon. Also found some others, I allowed to link them?

Slso should I get a V6 or an Inline 4? I have heard the V6's are more unreliable, but I think the extra power will help.

 

The 4 can b rebuilt and cammed up for extra horsepower and still remains super reliable. This is the route I went with mine.
Purchase price $500
motor work $2300
33in tires and chevy rims $700
having a wicked awesome 1st gen 4runner priceless
In low lock power does not become a question it's only on the hwy. @70+mph that the power loss is . I run a 33in tire and still keep up in the hills of the Ozark mts in Missouri without to much down shifting.

 

welcome! I am not too familiar with the 1st genners, but they do look good.

I suggest @RedRunner87 he knows his first gens.

 

Vince, get your ass in here.

 

I am also from the Bay Area. I just bought my first T4R '96. It's got 4x4 and I have the 3.4 v6. My dads '04 Tacoma has the same engine. Mine has close to 300k on it and my dads is running around 150k. neither of them have given us a problem. Im sure most of the 4R owners will agree that about the only thing that goes wrong on these trucks are the seatbelt reals.

Especially for our area, I wouldn't spend your money on a lift or bigger tires yet. Put the money into getting 4x4 with a locking diff. These things have plenty of clearance as it is.

Take a look at some of the 3rd gens! Good luck on your search!

 

With that kind of budget expect a lot of maintenance to go into it. They are awesome rigs but even at a decent price they are pretty rough. The 22RE is a great motor, will practically last forever.85 is the most sought after since it was the only year with the solid front axle. 86-89 has a torsion bar set up.

There are a couple cheap and easy lifts, first is cranking the torsion bars up. Cheap(=free) but you lose flex and ride quality. I ran a ball joint spacer and loosened the torsion bars and lowered it to stock height. More flex and be the ride quality. He best lift for the money is the blazeland kit. Best flex and lift.

Do not get a 3.0...like avoid with the plague! The auto is also terrible, in the 22RE and 3.0.

 

I wish it emailed me when I get tagged

 

About a decade ago I sold my '86 with 300k miles and a blown 22RTE for $2,800. Sold it the day I posted it on CL for full asking price (still regret not asking more!). Actually, I regret selling it at all, but as they say: happy wife, no trail rig... Wife still talks about how it cost her a job when she was 22 because that happened to be when the motor blew.

Anyway...

If you can, find a mostly stock one as they can wheel just fine 100% stock. I basically had the torsion bars cranked up a bit in the front, and a custom redneck leaf pack (nissan+toyota frankenstein leafs) rolling on 32" BFG m/t's. This thing did the rubicon like that. I still remember pulling fully built jeeps with on-board welders (etc...) out of a hole with my rig.

These things are old, so guaranteed you'll need to do a bunch of maintenance on them anyway. So I wouldn't worry too much about modding the crap out of it right off the bat. Just try to find one with good maintenance records. You're 16/17, so just drive the thing, wheel with it, and while you're saving your taco bell money you'll start getting a better idea of what kind of mods will suite you specifically.