Heer_O
Well-known member
100% sure. Never gonna own another Toyota
Are you a manufacturer fanatic?
- Thread starter Cleandezert
- Start date
Kellyex1450
Well-known member
I think Toyotas roll out of the factory as the most reliable trucks on the road—but once Toyota stops supporting a platform, things go downhill fast. Third-party parts availability is all over the place. You can get good 22R parts, but they’re crazy expensive, and the economics are what push a lot of people toward GM LS swaps. Meanwhile, a lot of the other components that make up the vehicle are either nonexistent or don’t come close to original Toyota quality.
GM, on the other hand, has incredible support for their drivetrains—both from GM themselves and from the aftermarket. Sure, there’s still cheap junk out there, but it’s really easy to find high-quality aftermarket parts, and GM is still producing tons of OEM components.
Ford feels like it sits somewhere in the middle and tends to be more model-specific. I’m generally fine with any manufacturer for truck stuff except maybe Nissan. They aren’t as reliable as Toyota, and the parts availability is awful.
And I’ll be honest—I still have a deep hatred for Ford’s ’90s electronics (OBD1 era) from racing a 1450 Ranger 15 years ago. I’d have a hard time messing with another Ranger unless it was running a standalone system.
GM, on the other hand, has incredible support for their drivetrains—both from GM themselves and from the aftermarket. Sure, there’s still cheap junk out there, but it’s really easy to find high-quality aftermarket parts, and GM is still producing tons of OEM components.
Ford feels like it sits somewhere in the middle and tends to be more model-specific. I’m generally fine with any manufacturer for truck stuff except maybe Nissan. They aren’t as reliable as Toyota, and the parts availability is awful.
And I’ll be honest—I still have a deep hatred for Ford’s ’90s electronics (OBD1 era) from racing a 1450 Ranger 15 years ago. I’d have a hard time messing with another Ranger unless it was running a standalone system.
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Heer_O
Well-known member
I agree and here lies my problem. You have an issue with a Toyota, and out of the woodwork comes people claiming that it's user error because "Toyota reliability" and all the other associated nonsense. Then they will proceed to provide some anecdotal account about how they had the same / similar set up and they got 9 billion miles out of it and blah blah blah.
I genuinely wanted to like that truck. It was WAYYY underpowered ( but it's a 2.7 so I knew I wasn't winning any drag races) and the electronics on it were also a nightmare ( which I attributed to early OBD II). But all the issues I had couldn't be user error. First trans I scratched up to being a fluke due to not know the full history on the truck and yea, shit could have been abused. 2nd trans ( exact same issue) figured it could have been due to the gearing and tires so I picked one up from Tommy TT Motorsports that was being a 3.4l thinking it might be a lil more stout. Swapped the bell housing, new converter, flushed the trans and threw it in .. EXACT SAME PROBLEM. 3rd trans, was in a pinch financially and picked up one from the junk yard and threw it in. Lasted about 8 months and same exact issue. Had that one rebuilt. Lasted about 2 years and it took a shit ... Exact same issue every single time. I was running a large external trans oil cooler ( one with a fan for one go round, one without.... Moved the location of it numerous times) the clutch packs weren't burnt and it never over heated. So how can that be "user error". And with the steering racks and pumps I attributed that to the added weight with the suspension and tires.... But that only goes so far. And then to reseal the timing cover you have to take the damn head off.. fucking stupid.
And the aftermarket support is there ( kinda) for the 3rz, but it comes at a premium. And the final straw was when I was driving home from work on morning and it took a shit on me and I was in the fast track lanes. I wasn't going to risk it anymore, especially not for something that I take my kids in. So I sold it for dirt cheap just to me done with it.
I genuinely wanted to like that truck. It was WAYYY underpowered ( but it's a 2.7 so I knew I wasn't winning any drag races) and the electronics on it were also a nightmare ( which I attributed to early OBD II). But all the issues I had couldn't be user error. First trans I scratched up to being a fluke due to not know the full history on the truck and yea, shit could have been abused. 2nd trans ( exact same issue) figured it could have been due to the gearing and tires so I picked one up from Tommy TT Motorsports that was being a 3.4l thinking it might be a lil more stout. Swapped the bell housing, new converter, flushed the trans and threw it in .. EXACT SAME PROBLEM. 3rd trans, was in a pinch financially and picked up one from the junk yard and threw it in. Lasted about 8 months and same exact issue. Had that one rebuilt. Lasted about 2 years and it took a shit ... Exact same issue every single time. I was running a large external trans oil cooler ( one with a fan for one go round, one without.... Moved the location of it numerous times) the clutch packs weren't burnt and it never over heated. So how can that be "user error". And with the steering racks and pumps I attributed that to the added weight with the suspension and tires.... But that only goes so far. And then to reseal the timing cover you have to take the damn head off.. fucking stupid.
And the aftermarket support is there ( kinda) for the 3rz, but it comes at a premium. And the final straw was when I was driving home from work on morning and it took a shit on me and I was in the fast track lanes. I wasn't going to risk it anymore, especially not for something that I take my kids in. So I sold it for dirt cheap just to me done with it.
desert_steve
Well-known member
Definitely user error.
On the serious side - was the rear end not geared for the tires? 33s or 35s? What kept failing on it?
Heer_O
Well-known member
4.88 with limited slip and 285/75/16, then 295/70/17s. And it's not like I would or could tow anything with it. Fucker didn't even have a hitch.
And it would lose OD and Reverse. Which is scary when you're on the 15 fwy doing about 80 ( it was a downhill section) and the truck kicks out of OD and into 3rd.... Went for a lil wild ride. When I had it rebuilt, found out that the backing plate to the 3rd gear drum deleted itself from the group chat. The shop that rebuilt it tig welded the backing plate on the new drum ( factory it was only spot welded in place)
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4xFoorOffroad
Active member
Eh, dudes that say that kind of stuff just haven't worked on enough or old enough vehicles. Every vehicle has things that work and don't work.
Mostly Fords and Toyotas. Still have most of them - in order with my first car:
1965 Mustang Fastback, 289 / 4spd
1981 Datsun 720 'King Cab', 5spd 2x4 - folks bought new and passed it on to me. Lowered it 2". Sold for cheap before a move and regret it.
1991 4Runner, 3.0 5spd, factory 'big tire' - bought new
1971 F250 4x4, 360, NP 435 / 205
1998 Ford Taurus - company car I bought for $2500, ran a few years, and sold for $2500
2005 Honda Odyssey - totaled by ins when it was rear ended
2005 Ford Super Duty, 4X4, CC, LB, V10 - bought in '08 for cheap. Been a great truck.
2014 Honda Civic coupe - kid has it now
2018 4Runner - TRD Pro - with mandatory RTT and wittle ladder
1995 Bronco
Yes, the '91 4Runner 3.0 has a blown head gasket. It's parked in the side yard waiting for a 3.4 and a saguaro fell on it, of course.
1965 Mustang Fastback, 289 / 4spd
1981 Datsun 720 'King Cab', 5spd 2x4 - folks bought new and passed it on to me. Lowered it 2". Sold for cheap before a move and regret it.
1991 4Runner, 3.0 5spd, factory 'big tire' - bought new
1971 F250 4x4, 360, NP 435 / 205
1998 Ford Taurus - company car I bought for $2500, ran a few years, and sold for $2500
2005 Honda Odyssey - totaled by ins when it was rear ended
2005 Ford Super Duty, 4X4, CC, LB, V10 - bought in '08 for cheap. Been a great truck.
2014 Honda Civic coupe - kid has it now
2018 4Runner - TRD Pro - with mandatory RTT and wittle ladder
1995 Bronco
Yes, the '91 4Runner 3.0 has a blown head gasket. It's parked in the side yard waiting for a 3.4 and a saguaro fell on it, of course.
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