2nd Gen 4Runner

I have done a little searching, and probably should ask this over at the 4Runner forum, but I don't have an account over there, and I know a lot of you guys have experience with them. So:

My boss has a 1995 4Runner with the 4 cylinder and a manual transmission. He has talked about it here and there over the past year - sort of indicating that he might get rid of it someday since it doesn't get driven much any more (it has ~240,000 miles on it). I have joked with him and said if he ever sells it, to let me know because I would like to take a look at it. Yesterday, he stopped by my office and asked if I was serious. I said sure - I would love to look it over. He said that sometime between now and Xmas, he will bring it in and let me drive it for a week.

This would be for my son. He is 12 years old right now, so it might be kind of a cool little "project" vehicle for us to work on. I like that it has a manual transmission. I know that manuals are going to be a thing of the past, but my wife and I are making all of our kids learn to drive manual transmissions (my oldest drives a 2001 Nissan Xterra with a manual, and our younger daughter will hopefully be able to have a manual also).

My boss says that it runs fine and doesn't have any major issues. Also, the best part is that I think I could get this thing for a song. I just wanted to see what people here thought of this combination. Personally, I have had great experiences with the 2 4Runners that I have had (2005 and 2016 models), and I have always thought the 2nd gen 4Runners looked awesome.

Any input would be great. Known issues, stories, etc.

Thanks!

 

Rust, rust, and bad mods. The 3 Toyota weaknesses.

 

do it, especially with the 22RE/5-speed combo. my first car was my 93 4Runner, and i still have it (almost 17 years later)

 

These, if in decent original shape, will be modern classics! Do it!!! Watch for rust and mods!

 

You really can't go wrong with it... that 22re/speed is amazing with so many after market options for its crazy

The 22re in the second gens are actually a little hard to find. They are better then the 3.0s and are damn near bullet proof other then their timing chain guide issues. As a first car/daily driver, I would not hesitate for a second.

 

I haven't seen it, but it is a New Mexico truck, so I am hoping that the rust is minimal to non-existent. Also, the truck is bone stock.

 

Listen for the timing chain.... or ask el jefe about it.

if you catch it.before it it goes nuclear, there normally isn't any damage

 

I just had a thought. Do you have emissions testing where you live(if not, disregard the rest of this)? Will this Truck pass if so? It would suck to have an issue with a non-issue, due to local laws. With that many miles, that could be something on this one.

 

Not where I live.

 

GET IT!! if you don't I'll need your bosses phone number

 

Gooooooood!!!

 

Hmmm - looking a bit more, it looks like airbags weren't added to the 4Runner until 1996? Is that correct?

 

I have had 2 pickups with the 22 RE. The only problem I had was self induced. I was changing the timing chain for the first time and I thought I pulled all of the bolts from the timing chain cover. Nope I was prying and pulling snap broke the cover at the top. After you pull the valve cover there is a bolt about 20 or 24 inches long that goes through the cover down to the oil pan if I remember correctly. Lesson learned.

It's been almost 30 years is that accurate @Thegr8punkin?

 

I don't remember it being that long... but it's the one hidden under the cam where the distributer goes.... it's the head bolt Most people forget.

 

Sounds right. I think most toyotas didn't get them till then.

 

Well, that sucks. I'll have to think on that one.

I mean, I didn't have them growing up, but.....

blech.