1996 Hilux Surf 3.4 V6 SSR-G

Look around your local city parking lots and you’re likely to see numerous third-generation 4Runners. These rigs are reliable, durable, and easy to service. Sadly most American examples have high mileage and have been ridden hard and put away wet. This 1996 SSR-G is special, touting a mere 72k verified and documented miles on the clock. Set off by a stylish OEM rear spoiler, OEM bashbar, dual amber driving lamps, an OEM spare tire swingarm, OEM rainguards, and the coolest period correct Terzo roof basket system this side of the Pacific, the Azure Blue (8L6) paint is in good shape aside from some minor dings, chips and scuffs associated with normal use. Competent enough to be daily driven year-round, these safe and practical sports utilities also make for brash beach cruisers and terrific trail trucks. Handsome, useful, and inexpensive to maintain, this Japanese Classic 4×4 is going to get scooped up fast!

The cabin is simple, nicely equipped, and ergonomic. Toyota sought to make this third-gen platform safer so they made ABS and dual SRS airbags standard equipment. The dashboard lacks any cracking or fading, and the center stack is close by and within arms reach. A massive Clarion touchscreen headunit fills the cabin with tunes, and above, the optional automatic climate control unit resides. A/C and heat work as advertised, and if you prefer more natural ventilation, the side windows power down, as does the rear glass, and a large power moonroof can retract or tilt upwards. To make daily driving more manageable, the pilot benefits from a tilt-adjustable steering column, optional lumbar support and electric locks and power-folding mirrors. All these items work as they should! The seats are trimmed in a durable Moon Mist gray cloth. The rear bench split folds, tumbles forward to create a flat loading floor, and 4 way reclines for optimal comfort. The headliner, is in good shape, as are the door cards, and aside from some light carpet stains its hard to critique the cabin. On the positive side, it does include the owners manuals and an OEM floor mounted rubbish bin for the new owner to enjoy.

Sharing a frame with the 4Runner, parts and service options are plentiful, modifications are easy to find, and don’t break the bank. The 5VZ-FE that powers this rig is a beast in its own right. Fresh off an oil and filter service, the 3.4L churns to life courtesy of a new 12v battery. A new engine air filter, new fuel filter and new spark plugs were installed as a past of our initial tune up. The coolant was flushed so that the powerplant stays cool, and that service wont be needed for another four years.  So all that fresh oil stays internal to the 5VZ, one of our trained techs replaced the weary old valve cover gaskets with new ones and also replaced the rear cam plug seals for good measure. The six-cylinder pulls hard as a horse to redline and is linked to a stout automatic gearbox. Its shifts as it should, and we performed a transmission fluid service to keep things that way. The pilot can choose between 2WD and 4WD on the fly. For loose surfaces, sand and snow, a center locker can be engaged, as can low range 4WD. This SSR-G sails up to highway speeds and is a comfortable cruiser. The suspension can handles the rigors of daily use and abuse and loads of ground clearance is awarded to the driver. It slows down quickly, and new front brake hoses and a fluid flush improve the pedal feel. New steering rack bushings were installed before this truck’s state inspection, and the power steering fluid was also replaced. The system is light and easy to articulate, and this VZN185 tracks straight as an arrow thanks to a fresh alignment. Lastly we installed brand new Falken rubber at each corner. The new tires look mean, quell road noise, and will last for tens of thousands of miles to come.