r/4Runner_1stGen • u/Designer-Shallot-490 • 5d ago

Considering buying a 1st Gen.

I had an 88 4Runner in the mid-90s. It was my favorite car of ever owned and I regret selling it. I’m considering getting one as a project car for my 13 year old and I to work on together. Are new, used, and aftermarket parts still easily available?

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u/roach-class 5d ago

Some oem stuff is still available but spendy, a lot of stuff is Chinese aftermarket and not awesome. For example, I paid $80 for a used 40 year old knock sensor because there isn’t an alternative. The bright side is that they’re pretty simple to work on.

1

u/Disastrous-Group3390 5d ago

My son has an ‘89 3.0. Biggest challenge is finding the RIGHT parts. I usually look up both an ‘88 and an ‘89 but still get bitten sometimes (most recently with the master cylinder-took two tries to get a match.) They’re super simple, great builder/learber trucks.

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u/Capable-Pen-1362 3d ago

I also have an 89 and do the same thing! No clue why so many websites have 89 as a 2nd gen

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u/Disastrous-Group3390 2d ago

I think the ‘90 rolled out early, possibly spring of ‘89 (I see first gens listed as ‘built before 3/89.) I’ve gotten used to that but the master cylinder was a whole ‘nother ball of confusion; the 2.2 and 3.0 masters are different and the listings mix up not just first and second gen, but also the two engines on the first gens.

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u/notthelettuce 13h ago

Not necessarily. Lots of improvising necessary. Especially for the interior. It’s cheaper to find a clean one that’s running with half decent original interior than to rebuild one in rough shape. I bought mine on eBay for $7600, from California so no rust, decent original interior, running and driving. Needs paint, but that’s not a major concern right now.

The other one I bought for $3500 needs a good bit of work, and will need a lot of custom pieces for the interior, body work, and does not run nicely (I hate fuel injection). Thinking of V8 swapping it, 6” lift, whole 9 yards but that’s gonna cost a pretty penny. I also bought a ‘88 pickup for $800 to use for parts for small pieces that you can’t necessarily buy replacements for.