My 1995 4runner build

Here is my 1995 four runner the day I bought it. It is the 22RE w/5spd.

 

I will get some current pictures but since I picked it up a couple weeks ago I have installed 4.88 gears with detroit in the rear and ARB in the front. Ive installed Falken wildpeak MT 255/85r16 on 2020 TRD wheels. Someone in previous life put generic ignition switch into it that was not wired correctly. I have removed the running boards rear bumper and hitch. I picked up steel yesterday to build my own rear bumper with hitch and front bumper with winch mount. I ordered WARN VR EV08 to install on the front when I build the bumper. I have SAS'd several Toyota's before but I am not doing that in this one. I ordered BJ spacers and OME coils for the rear along with set of OME shocks. I also ordered a 1.5 inch body lift from 4Crawler and all poly bushings and new bolts. I am not building this for serious wheeling. I have a 1968 FJ 40 that's pretty built I wheel with. I am going to daily drive this one, that is why I searched to find a 22RE 5spd. The last thing I ordered yesterday was a set of Corbeau Trailcat seats and mounting brackets. I traveled 260+ miles down into Oregon to pick this one up with relatively low miles 138K. I have plans once the 22RE gives up I will install a 3RZ (hopefully not soon haha). I plan to use this for hunting as well mostly forest service/DNR roads but I hunt cougar/predators a lot and travel lots of these roads in the snow looking for tracks.

 

Nice truck but I’m biased. My wife and I were talking about Goldie and she said “I wonder which of our 4Runners will last longer”. If that 22re has been cared for you might have a long wait. Mine @260k runs beautiful and uses zero oil.
Did you know you have a gear drive transfer case, unlike the V6’s chain drive. You can double up with another case for a 5.1 reduction ……hint….hint(Marlin Crawler dual case adaptor). Even more if you go with a 4:1 secondary case for 9:1 reduction. Working on a deal with my financial supervisor to go that way. The second gen 22RE’s were the last Toyotas brought into the US with a geared case that I know of. I love that gear whine in 4lo. Essentially a 1st gen driveline in a 2nd gen body. Ours is basically stock except for the TruTrac in the rear end.
Your’s has the chrome package. Any other options? Goldie started life with none, no AC, PW, PL, CC…..zip nada.

 

I asked previously where you were located. I'm in Wenatchee and I'm a retired US Fish and Wildlife Biologist. One run I've been wanting to do is Colockum from Malaga to Ellensburg.

 

Nice 4 Runner... Mine has about every option I think minus tilt steering and sunroof. Like I said someone put some generic ignition into it and I went looking to return ignition to factory well I found a wrecked 1995 with same color interior and a tilt column so instead of ignition switch I took the whole column and now I have tilt steering as well. My 22RE runs really well. The only concern I have is oil pressure it doesnt smoke and now that I adjusted the valves it is nice a quiet, and the oil pressure gauge is in normal area just on the low side. I have built several toyotas for 13 yrs I had my own 4wd fab shop. I still have my account with Marlin Crawler as well. I agree on the t/cases as I have installed several doublers. I still had the gears and lockers I put into my current 4 Runner setting on the shelf at the shop. I debated really hard about solid axle swapping this one but I finally convinced myself I bought this to drive everyday and I have my FJ40 really built if I want to go four wheeling. It just doesnt see much pavement time as the tires being stickies wouldnt last 10k on the pavement. I am actually excited about not solid axle swapping this one. I have been looking at total chaos long travel kits-maybe one day...

 

I am outside Spokane between Medical Lake and Edwall. Out in ranch country. Bought a house and property out here in 1999. I am not familiar with the trail you are talking about. I know a few here on the Eastside and several in N Idaho.

 

Thank you.
I’m preaching to the Choir, you have done waaaay more 4wd stuff than me. Most of my experience (&$)tweaking wheelers is with my Dodge and still nothing compared to what you have done.
Keep the pics coming

 

no worries. I just noticed your signature line with 2004.5 Cummins I have 05 3500 quad cab short bed that just hit 100K and about the same color as my 4 Runner. I havent done much to it just intake, exhaust, leveling kit and 35's and I installed free/no spin hubs on it from Yukon Gear (basically installing lock in lock out hubs and getting rid of expensive factory front wheel bearings) It actually picked up about 3 mpg. My diesel doesnt get driven much unless its pulling or hauling.

 

Very nice setup on your Cummins.
The 2004.5 is a Bright White 2500 Quad short bed Laramie/sport pkg with 150K. Likewise, it is pretty much regulated to hauling and towing. I’ve only put 50k on it since 2010 when I bought it.
I got it from a rich/spoiled ranch girl, her daddy bought it for her new. She and her boyfriend would trailer ATVs to Pismo with it, one day her boyfriend decided to jump it and taco-ed the front axle. Otherwise the truck was pristine and documented dealer service-daddy kept records and I got it for a song.
I got it to drive the 300 miles home with the very tired front tires and sourced a new housing and rebuilt/trussed it. During the rebuild I added Dynatrac ball joints and free spinning hubs, Bilsteins, 09 steering linkage, Power Stop brakes all around, 295 Nittos(2nd set now) and a Mopar 6 bolt HD steering box. The driveline is stock with a rebuilt towing-priority transmission. I also installed a leveling kit but recently took it back off and removed the OEM ~1\2” shim out of the rear axle spring mount to lower the rear a little. I’m a retired senior and so is my best buddy(my dog) and we didn’t need a taller entry/exit at our age anymore.
If someone would manufacture free spinning hubs for the 5th gen 4R I would be the first in line.
It is by far the best upgrade I have done to the Dodge. More MPG and it drives like a 2WD without driveline wear.
It is a good tow vehicle but a terrible wheeler, that front end weight just makes it dive into any soft stuff. Goldie would run circles around it.
Both my sons have Cummins as well. My younger bought his 2yrs ago from a maintenance perfectionist friend, a 2001 HO 6spd with only 53k pampered miles for an unbelievable $10k. If he hadn’t have bought it I would’ve. Driving that truck is a raw diesel experience compared to mine.
The pic is prior to removing the leveling.

 

Tires wheels gears - still have to install lift and bumpers/winch

 

Sorry have no idea how it posted 3 pics of same thing….

 

I got every light working again from all dash back lighting to third brake light. Replaced ignition and it was a pain could not get key cylinder out it took wayyy longer than it should have but all back to factory now. Also replaced tailgate inside panel with a real one instead of a piece of plywood…

 

Coming right along.
What diff will you be using in the front?

 

I am running factory 7.5 with 4.88's I installed. It will never see bigger than the 255/85r16 tires so it should live ok.

Ive done lots of solid axle swaps and just chose to keep this one like 90% street and dirt road use. I live out in the country and my little work car (honda) does great till we get more than 5-6 inches of snow then it becomes the snow plow and I drive about 35 min each way to work. Once I have this finished I plan to sell the honda and daily drive the 4runner