late 80's 4runner

Can anyone tell me the expected gas mileage, used vehicle price with a lot of miles, and what to look for in regards to buying a late 80s model 4runner?

thanks.

 

late 80s.. 1st gen right?

So.. look for what you'd look for on any truck. I believe all the 4runners came with the 22re (check internet) if it has a carburetor, it's not original and not worth much.

those old 22 series engines like to blow smoke at startup when old, but should clear right up at idle.

They're a bit noisy under the hood. The clatter is just OHC.

If its in good condition you can expect to pay 1000-10000 dollars for it. They rust like MAD and weren't very popular when new (2 door). So they're getting quite rare and very collectable. Furthermore a lot of people lost or destroyed the tops trying to put em on and off. So that's even more rare.

If it has a lift at all, it's near worthless. They're IFS trucks, lifts are only put on by the ignorant or blatantly stupid and you can assume the truck is about to fall apart. Its a small low horsepower truck. Turning big wheels and twisting on top of big springs destroys everything. maybe 5-800 if it's not rusty at all, no matter the market.
Now if it has a solid axle swap done well and you plan on taking it off road.. that could be worth some money.

Gas mileage, automatic driven in the south like a dick? 8-12. 5 speed driven at 55 like a pro (in good tune) 20 or better. I've gotten 20 out of em anyway.

I can't think of anything particularly specific to 4 runners to look for other than rust.. pervasive, structure destroying rust. The spring hangers in the back like to crush into the frame. But really... everywhere loves to rust on them.

 

Good info, just what I was looking for! I'll look more into it. I pick up a 2003 Tacoma to replace the one I rolled Friday. Looks like a good truck.

Started to get excited about going with an old 4runner but need something reliable for now.

Thanks again for answering!

 

My mom had an '87 for about 300k miles and it averaged around 18-19 mpg. 22re with a 5 speed.

 

Nothing bad about em but the rust in my opinion. Little small seating for me, but still love em. Can't find one that's not about to break in half or lifted to the sky though.

 

I'm not that mechanically inclined but someday I would like to get one or an early 70's Bronco to tinker with. Something easy?

 

lol sold my 2010 to get a first gen 4runner

 

those are extremely easy to tinker on. My '83 had enough room under the hood to fit a couple of bodies lol.

My dad had an awesome '69 too lifted on 33's that we rebuilt the motor in. Very fun truck.

 

All 4Runners did not come with the 22RE. the first year, 84, had the carbureted 22R.

The chatter is not the over head cam (OHC) if the engine chatters it is the timing chain. The 22R/RE series engines have plastic timing chain guides that ware and cause the timing chain to chatter on the timing chain cover. Ask the seller about previous maintenance in this area.

The rust that you will mainly want to look for is on the frame rails. the worst spot for rust is at the rear portion right in front of the forward most rear spring hanger. make sure you check on the inside of the frame rail on the gas tank side (pass. side) right at the upward bend in front of the spring hanger. of coarse you want to check for body rust as well.

The lift comment, also completely wrong. Not all are IFS. 84/85 4Runners are solid axle. 85 being the most desirable because it is factory solid axle and fuel injected 22RE. The IFS, 86+, that do have lift can be done correctly but you will never get away from worn steering parts on the lifted IFS rigs of this model. The big tires can be offset with correct gearing so the small HP engine can turn them easier.

I used to get 24mpg out of my 22R. Drove it like grandma though.

the last statement is mostly correct.

 

my mom's timing chain did jump a tooth once because of worn guides. No rust out here in NM though

 

I Stand corrected, I didn't know they had a carbed or straight axle (stocK), i've only had or been around 88s. Figured, they all looked the same, must be the same.

But no, the OHC noise is there from new. All OHC cars have it. its not the timing chain so much as just a more exposed valve line system. Just always seems to be noisy. You're describing something that probably sounds much worse. I don't think clatter, which most use to describe valve noise, would cover it.

ANd I stand by my lift comment, though with the straight axles it's not as severe. But gears are ridiculous, on a road car anyway and regardless if it's been lifted for any time it would be clapped and, not worth a dime, though there's a bit of subjectivity to that. Lifts do kill trucks and ride for crap and nobody with any choice, money or experience would off road an IFS truck outside a properly set up desert racing rig. Which is a truggy anyway.

 

That sir, is funny! Thanks for that.

 

cuts close to the quick eh?

Ya ever own a coil spring solid axle vehicle? Even a leaf sprung one. You have long control arms right? what you got for flex? 10 inches, 8 in the front? Maybe a good foot with the sway bar off..

I was talking up my last tacoma at work when a guy said "i bet my bug can go anywhere your truck can". I held him to it.. and sure enough it could. But I can't follow my neighbor's jeep in my tacoma. Even if I put the money into it that he has in his. But guys in stock jeeps follow him.

Well, I probably COULD follow him. But it'd be rough on me and the truck.

Regardless...
It's a different thread.. and there's no way to objectively argue it past a point.

 

Previous '89 4Runner SR5 owner here, i sold it off in the late 90's so my memory may be a little hazy:

- Not all came with the 4 banger, mine had a 3.0 V6 that put out a 'whopping' 150 hp. Though it was a torquey beast compared to the I4's I drove around the same age.
- the '89 was IFS for sure, and I think '88 was as well. But most of that body style were straight axle.
- Some have auto locking hubs, mine did and it was a welcome feature to be able to shift into 4 rather than get out and do the walk around.

problems I experienced:
- bad sag in the rear, an add a leaf fixed it right up tho for cheap.
- rusty fenders. I ground down and sprayed all 4 corners with bedliner then covered up the mess with bushwacker extended flares.
- voltage regulator on alternator puked and I made the drive from Toronto to WI while smelling hot electronics and blowing dash lights left and right (probably not that common)

Good luck on your search, I have nothing but fond memories of that truck

 

You are right, there is no comparing IFS to Solid axle off road. To say no ifs vehicle can wheel is plain retarded.

 

A volkswagen can wheel. If you're traveling at walking speed anyway, why not walk, the argument isn't what can or can't... its why bother with anything but the best when they're the same price and utility.

Its a matter of if you're building it, there's good better and best.
THat's all. I've gone "wheeling" in a rented grand am. You can almost always get there. Its how you get there that matters. If you're looking for a challenge in mechanics or to get tossed around.. go IFS. Wanna go balls to the wall all day, go with a truggy or dune buggy. I prefer motorcycle. But I didn't buy a harley and put knobbies on it just because it had the right drive line. But I could.