Q for the Toyota Guys V3.0

[sixstringsteve]

My bad, I thought you already had a elocker. Fwiw, I've done a few elocker conversions, and its a pain imho (I'm not the greatest fabricator). Now I just try to find an entire axle to swap in since its easier than modifying a non e locker one.

 

[JL Rockies]

Kurt gave me the impression that he was going to present me with something that was ready to put in but I could've been confused by the multiple conversation he's able to conduct at the same time. He mentioned that he had 2 or 3 in stock, I'd have to invest in a bearing kit and viola... seemed really easy on paper, I just had to find out what gears I already had.

When I am on the freeway, especially going through the canyon on US 6, the tranny will downshift and the revs shoot up past 3K to try and maintain speed, so I lock out OD before the climb starts. On the really steep grades it shoots past 4K and still drops speed before cruise just completely shuts off. There doesn't seem to be any problems with the engine. Even on the drive home from work with the cruise set at 65 there's enough slope on I15 for the speed to drop to 60 before it has to rev up to get back to 65mph.

My KJ was a different animal I know but it was much heavier and it just locked in and went.

 

[JL Rockies]

I do acknowledge that perhaps my expectations are unrealistic.

 

[Greg]

Perhaps you're used the torque of a turbo diesel vs. a gas engine... ?

 

[Rot Box]

My 2000 V6 4runner (auto trans) has 265/75's right now and I plan to switch to 235/85's soon (should be nearly the same height). Right now it does not downshift or "hunt" for gears on the freeway, but I do turn off the overdrive anytime I start to climb a canyon mostly because I personally like to keep the rpm's up. I don't know what gears it has, but it does have an E-locker so assuming that ALL e-locker 4runners are 4.30 geared as stated above...

I think 4.30's are on the low end (numerically) of what you need and 4.88's are on the high end for that tire size. 4.56's may be the perfect solution, but it would be hard for me to spend the money on them plus installation when 4.30's are cheap and already set up if you get a used front and rear end.

Andrew

 

[JL Rockies]

Good points. Perhaps I should find out what Kurt has for me and accept that my 4Runner revs like my 2000 Celica GTS did. I have no problem accepting what Tripple S and R 2da B posted is accurate. Technically, I should be more concerned about the fact that my front sway bar isn't really attached to anything anymore which makes for other interesting drivability issues in the canyon.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Jelexpo. I'd be happy to look at the e-lockers I have in stock tomorrow and figure out their ratio. Regardless of their ratio I would recommend at minimum a bearing kit and overhaul as both were pulled due to noisy bearings or similar.

Check my tech for links on the swap:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_elocker.html

 

[JL Rockies]

Seems hard and junk. Does Crusier Outfitters offer installation service on the bastard Toyotas as well?

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Seems hard and junk. Does Crusier Outfitters offer installation service on the bastard Toyotas as well?

You bet. Its not something I can touch for a bit but I would be happy to handle the job start-finish. Give me a ring at the shop during the day and I can price it out for you. It goes without saying your going to save a bunch doing the axle mods and install yourself but I'm happy to do it and have all the needed parts here in stock.

 

[sixstringsteve]

This is only my 2nd 4x4 and I've not really bonded with it yet. The KJ and I were as one offroad and even though it didn't have a locker, I was able to will the rig wherever I wanted to go. I'd be thrilled if I can get the 4Runner to that point, even more so if I can say "this is much better".

I hope we can help you get to that point. Toyota's aren't for everyone, so don't feel bad if you can't bond with it. It's a totally different beast than your KJ. Aside from driving on the road, is there anything you don't like about your runner? How does it compare to your KJ offroad?

 

[JL Rockies]

I'd like to point out that I once worked for Toyota and with the exception of my pre-french Nissan which had a starring role in FnF2 (I do my own stunts) every vehicle I've owned had been a Toyota (all cars). I even learned to drive a manual in my dad's 1986 Toyota truck. I owned the Jeep because it was once a company vehicle and JL Audio refused to let me buy a foreign vehicle (US manufacturing supporting US manufacturing yada yada), I have no problem with Toyota. I sold the KJ because parts were getting harder to find and the day something broke it would be very expensive to fix.

What I like about my 4Runner:
Plus sized-friendly seating
Ground clearance for less
Parts available at NAPA
More aftermarket support (JL even has a Stealthbox)
I only paid $1800 for it
I could actually fit 33" tires under it
I am sorta accepted by Kurt now

What I liked about my Jeep:
Torque allowed it to idle over most stuff on the trail
MPGs
It was the only one like it in UT
Kick-ass stereo
It annoyed people when I called it the "Ultimate Jeep" (I think secretly these people agreed)

 

[sixstringsteve]

I still can't believe what you paid for that thing. I'd hope that with an elocker in the rear and the correct gearing you'd be able to tackle anything in your way.

 

[Rot Box]

What I like about my 4Runner:


I am sorta accepted by Kurt now

I pretty much hate Toyotas, but I do what I have to to be sorta accepted as well :-\

 

[JL Rockies]

Found the source of my coolant leak is actually the heater core. It's right at the nipple on the firewall so it leaked outside rather than inside. For now, I bypassed it an hope that we're done with cold until winter. When winter comes, I will probably hook it up again when overheating due to low coolant won't be a big issue or I leave it bypassed and get one of those 12V trucker heaters. Lame.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Is the nipple cracked? Are you sure its part of the heater core? There are two connector hoses that go from the heater core on the inside, through the firewall to the hoses on the engine side. The hoses are under $10 each if I'm thinking of the same ones.

 

[JL Rockies]

Rear axle seals . They let oil fly back in July after an offroad trip, I ignored and it's been fine until a trip this past weekend, oil everywhere and worse than the first time. Obviously, the wheels are getting tweaked on rocks and the seals are letting oil go.
This makes me sad.

 

[JL Rockies]

I fixed my leaky axle seals by replacing the synthetic gear lube with standard stuff.

The issue before me now is overheating. I've replaced the thermostat last week and the water pump was replaced last year with the timing belt. The hoses get firm so I know coolant is flowing and the coolant was replaced with the water pump and another gallon was added when the t-stat was replaced. So I am thinking that it could be the fan but since I've been back in SLC, it's not had a heat issue. I am thinking that it's due to the lower abient temperature here compared to SE UT and AZ where the problems sprung up.

There doesn't seem to be a technical way to test the fan, I've sat next to it idling waiting for the fan to get louder but the needle barely gets to half. I've tried poking the fan with newspaper and the fan didn't stop but then again, I didn't have much newspaper. The only things that have changed since my 1.5 yrs of ownership is I had to bypass the heater core because it started leaking. I am going to take her to the wash bay tonight and blast the radiator with hi pressure hot water to see if the fins are clogged.

Has anyone eliminated the clutch fan and bolted a flex fan directly to the 3.4 motor?

What else could

 

[Kevin B.]

Might wanna try toyota-4runner.org ... there's a lot of posers on there, but there's a couple of guys that really know their 3rd gens, too.

Yotatech or Toyota120 might have some helpful guys too.

 

[JL Rockies]

I finally located the source of my oil leak (loose filter) and the source of my over-heating (bad radiator) which is going to get fixed tonight. While the rig was up on the hoist, I noticed that the grease zerk on the rear drive shaft was missing at the slip yoke. I am not sure if it just fell out of if they forgot to put on in when I had the shaft rebuilt. Well, all the fittings we have in parts are way too big and NAPA doesn't have a spec for what fits. I could buy packs of 6 for $3.99 but I'd rather not throw cash at it to find the right one. Does anyone know what the spec is for the zerk?

 

[WillyLin]

you mean the grease fitting right?

http://www.harborfreight.com/32-piece-metric-grease-fittings-67569.html

I have bought this and only used like two, don't know what size toyota use but its got M6,M8,M10 three metric sizes. you can pick one up at HF for decent price...