Opinion of 3.6L V6 in the 1st Generation Tacoma?

I may have located a good condition 1st generation Tacoma with about 150,000 miles. Looks very clean, and it's an automatic 4x4.

I'm in pursuit of several vehicles, and this would serve as a good general purpose pickup truck for light duty, some back country driving, camping, light hauling, etc. Also getting this would allow me to have more time to focus on a more heavy duty pickup which would be a bigger investment. I'd have a good basic pickup for little cash layout in the interim.

Was this a good motor and transmission matchup and relatively successful?

From my limited research it appears:
· 3.4 L V6 rated at 190 hp and 220 lb⋅ft of torque. Those numbers could be bumped up to 254 bhp and 270 lb⋅ft with an aftermarket supercharger.

The later 4.0 V6 had 236 hp and 266 lb ft of torque.

I also read where tens of thousands were recalled or had frames replaced due to the legal settlement over rusted frames. Any thoughts on that?

 

Do you the 3.4L?

Welcome to TW, by the way!

 

Dooh. Yup!

 

Also, I was one of the lucky ones with regards to the frame; I live in Southeast Pennsylvania, which has some pretty harsh winters...

My 2010 was purchased new in September 2009; The frame had some very minor surface rust and did not qualify to be replaced, but Toyota paid to have it covered in this rustproof coating back in 2017.

 

the 3.4 is the small block chevy of the Tacoma world. If taken care of properly many people get 400,000 miles out of one. Unfortunately most of the time these are hand me down trucks to grand kids and first time drivers who "improve" them. There have been subtle differences in the various years that the 3.4 was produced, mostly for emissions reasons. Some people have been successful in installing a Toyota supercharger but i.m.h.o. the problems just arnt worth it.
My 96 3.4 4X4 auto is kind of a slug... my 98 Prerunner 3.4 auto is pretty zippy but my 03 5 lug 2.4 5 speed is the most fun to drive and the mileage is unbelievable, 28 ish @ 55mph, it might actually get better but you cant drive anywhere below 55 without getting shit thrown at you from other drivers on the freeway.

 

A well maintained 3.4 auto is solid. IMO there are 3 weaknesses, 1: frame issues in salt road climates. They can eat it from the inside of the box out, and could be hard to see before they eat all the way through. 2: Lower ball joints should be replaced every 90k as PM, OEM part only. 3: weak leaf springs that can create axle wrap. A clunk when stopping too fast.

other than that, the 3.4l are very dependable. I just sold a 2001 taco that I believe is just as reliable as anything new.

 

My 3.4 threw a rod at 130k .. the engine ran for
17 years so though it wasn’t high mileage it still lasted a long time . I just put a new engine and couldn’t be happier

 

Low oil? The 3.4 and auto trans are absolutely BULLET PROOF!!! What's more bullet proof, the Ford 7.3 turbo diesel that everyone busts a nut over, or our 3.4 and auto trans? Our 3.4 and auto trans are simply indestructible... Given there's oil in the engine and fluid in the tranny.

 

Not sure might have been something the previous owner did.. I just put a new oem short block kept trucking along . Will never sell it so I didn’t mind