Love/Hate

I'm new here, and so far have been greeted kindly.

This is just a random rant. I love my 90 2Door Runner (and my 93 4x4 Xtra-Cab). But I absolutely hate the 3VZE's that are in these rigs...gutless, inefficient, hard to maintain, TuRD's. Don't get me wrong, they are reliable - as long as you go with ARP Studs after the headgaskets fail.
But for the life of me I can't understand why Toyota didn't offer up a version of the 1UZ in these models. Wait, I do know the answer to that...$$$.
Still, if they had done so, regardless of sticker-shock from buyers. These trucks and 4runner's would have gone down in history as the best ever built.
Again, this is just a random rant. I'd be interested to know what all the rest of You ToyHeads think.

Best,

Ninety2Door

 

If I wanted something fast, I woulda bought a corvette. I too, have a 1990 2door, 3.0, 5speed, 4x4. I got 525k on the clock and wouldn't trade her for all the whiskey in Ireland! I've put 100k+ on her and have spent less in 8 years, than my wife has paid in payments on a new Camry. I change my coolant every 2 years. Key to maintaining the head gasket. You can always swap a 3.4 in. $$$$$$$

 

I Had a 92 SR5 back in 92. I didn’t look at another 4 Runner up until recently because I always remembered what a slug that vehicle was. Yeah it was reliable but I was in my 20’s and hated it. It looked cool though. At the time I also had a 91 sr5 pickup extra cab with the same engine but it was a 5 speed. That truck I loved. I do however find the 5th gen 4.0 to be acceptable and wish I gave it a try sooner but that 3.0 ruined it for me for awhile.

 

It's not so much about speed as much as it is about not seeing the fuel guage go down as fast as the RPM's go up. Among other issues.
I had my 455 Cutlass, 390 AMX, 96 Impala SS, 05 GTO, on and on, for speed.
I've always owned a Toyota Pickup (my first vehicle was an 84 Xtra-Cab 22R) and I hope I'll never be without one...but I digress.
I'm not belly-aching, just making my point that Toyota "could" have used thier (arguably) best engine ever in what I personally feel were Toyota's best Trucks and Runners ever. Fortunately, it's an option...why on earth would someone spend the dough on a 5VZ conversion when they can have a 1UZ for around the same cash...doesn't make sense to me. NOT TO DISS THE 5VZ, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT THE 3VZ WANTED TO BE.

BTW, NICE 2DOOR! LOOKS GREAT IN WHITE. WE BELONG TO A VERY SMALL CLUB. Wish mine was a manual .

 

Yeah, I never understood why they put such a weak and gas guzzling engine in the 4Runner and Pickup. They would have sold so many more if they had put that 1uz in it. That said, my 3.slow has been uber reliable. Head gasket was replace under warranty back in 1996 and it has been solid ever since. Dealership did a fantastic job. Love the 2 doors. Wish I had one.

 

I bought a 1988 new with the 22R-E. Traded my 1984 Supra on it. It wasn't fast, and I didn't mind.

 

Hey Ninety2Door! I get about 15mpg, around town and average about 18mpg on the highway. On highway, I don't drive faster than 70mph/3500rpm, as my girl has a lot of mileage under her belt. I change her oil about every 3k, which is what I drive her in about a year. I use Mobile1 10/30 full synth. I find that I get a big increase in mileage, if the weather is rainy. Don't know why, but she likes cold and damp. We do belong to an exclusive club! I had a guy approach me at a campground, asking me if she was a 2door pathfinder. He was surprised that Toyota made a 2Door, after the body change, for the 2nd gen. Funny, I have a 1990 Jeep XJ (4door) and find that, she's just as slow (inline 4L 6cyl), and I CAN'T lay down her seats and sleep in it, like I can with "Patches"!

 

We bought our stripped bare bones 1990 22RE/5spd 4Runner brand new as a leftover, the 91’s were out and the dealer just wanted these 4cyl 90’s to go away. $12,999 + $650 for the factory AC kit and roof rack later it was ours. Yes it is slooooow…..but it has always got us where we were going and back with no drama.
At the time we were just starting a family and 4drs were the way to go.
Many other vehicles have come and gone in our family in 3+ decades but Goldie always missed getting cut because of its versatility, reliability and serviceability. I’ll race anyone changing spark plugs. About the only hassle in maintenance is changing the fuel filter, everything else is easy. In 280k miles I have replaced the clutch once, exhaust donuts, intake boot and the timing chain guide/crank seal . The head has never been off and burns zero oil and being a Kali/NV car, zero rust. Going to need throttle body shaft bushings someday as adjusting the TPS is a bit tricky to get right
The only real modification I have done to it in 33yrs is a Detroit TruTrac I bought for $40 off Craigslist. I love the utility of the four doors. The 2drs certainly look cool but to pack my shooting buddies in, 4drs are the ticket.

 

That's awesome - my 22r's were great for what they were.

I started this thread just to vent my frustration - PARTICULARLY W/ THE 3VZ - and Toyota Motor Corp's. Complete disregard for optimum power in it's trucks and 4runner's.

No offense to anyone...I just wish that they had utilized the benefit of Lexus engineers for these years.

 

If wishes and but's were candy and nuts...we'd all have a merry Christmas.

 

The thought of swapping in a 2.7 3RZ-FE has crossed my mind dozens of times but I keep going back to “why fix it, if it ain’t broke”. My mechanic-oldest son has offered to help with the swap and even go with a twin stick double transfer case. All I use this for now is local errands and wheeling so in reality the 22re is fine. I only drive the new 4R when my wife is coming along, only 3,700 miles in 8 months.
Goldie runs perfect, doesn’t leak, doesn’t burn any oil, If it was to blow up I would probably go to a 2.7 swap. I live right next to the Sierra Nevada range and it’s been across it a bunch of times, but never again, it is just too hard on it and I have other options to go with now.
My buddies have 3.0s and once they get it sorted they seem fine but really don’t offer a whole lot more power than the 22re and the in-line engine is much easier to work on. Back in 1990 our budget was pretty slim and I am thankful that no one wanted the then “red headed step child” 4cyl which allowed me to “steal” this one.
I wanted a reliable vehicle, #1 priority. The last thing I wanted is momma and the baby sitting beside the road. Power was way down the list.
My wife and I got married in 89 and she had a total pos Fiero and I had my beloved beautiful 86 SR5 Xtra Cab, both were 2 seaters so a 4-5 seater was required for the baby(#1) on the way, bye bye Fiero and truck. The timing for the inexpensive first year 4 door runner availability was perfect for us.