Been looking to get a 4 runner and was wondering what was the last year they came with the solid front axle, and also have a V6. Also are some years better than others.

4Runners had solid axles in 1984 and 1985. 84 had a carb and 85 had EFI, both 4cy, v6 wasn't available until 1988.

Read up on the history of 4Runners here


http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist.html


If you want a V6, you can do like I did and buy a 88 4Runner with a V6 and convert to a solid axle

www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/88/sas

Not a whole lot of differences over the years besides the obvious front suspension changes. 86 and up got a 3" wider rear axle, V6 trucks got bigger brake master cylinders and slightly stronger rear differentials, and I think 87 on up had body mounted bumpers as opposed to frame mounted ones. Those are the MAIN differences, besides some minor cosmetic changes. Oh and there was a turbo 22re model from 86 and 87, but they all came with auto trannys which kills any power gains.

We're talking 1st gen 4Runers here, 1984-1989. Lots of differences in the newer ones.

Thanks Adam, now on your runner you did the SAS conversion, was it expensive, and hard to do for the weekend garage project.

Depends on what you consider expensive. It's going to cost you more than a few hundred dollars, but considering your changing out the entire front suspension and steering setup, it's relativly cheap. Look to spend maybe 2-4 grand depending on if you have to buy tires, gears, lockers, and stuff like that.

It's really quite simple. If you have a welder and a cutting torch, your set. That is the only "difficult" part of the job. I had a friend do the cutting and welding, and I bolted everything up myself in one weekend.