'85 4Runner body swap

[TCinVA]

Finally got going on this project with help from a well equipped fellow club member. A rusty/crusty but mechanically sound stock 4Runner 22RE 5 speed. An '88 3.0 auto with a blown engine and no rear suspension but no rust and a nice interior. I'm going to keep it stock height and put some stock height wide street radials on it and use it as my daily driver. I have a modified/morphing FJ40 for wheeling. This truck gets 25 MPG and is plenty quick with stock tires and engine.

The red '85 stripped to the point it would still run to move it around.

 

[TCinVA]

The black '88 showing up to the party and getting off loaded.

 

[TCinVA]

The body being separated from the junk chassis.

 

[TCinVA]

The chassis wheelbarrowed out. Next step, get the red body off and wire wheel and paint the '85 frame. It was amazing how perfect the hardware and body is on the black one. The body mount bolts were still gold and shiny like brand new. This is going to be a great truck, I'm reaaly excited. The chassis sitting on the axle destined for my 40 later. I'll post up as progress continues.

 

[TCinVA]

More progress tyhyis weekend, My friend did the wiring while I did the grunt work.
grinding and painting the frame. It was in amazingly good shape considering how rusty the body was. This truck has no evidence to ever have been in mud, probably what saved it. When's the last time you saw an eighties mini truck still sporting 222/75/15's?

 

[TCinVA]

Both wiring harnesses were removed from both trucks, the only way to switch from a 3.0 auto to a 22re 5 speed. The '85 22re harness into the '88 body.

 

[TCinVA]

Tim made a template from his truggy project to make the booster and clutch master cylinder just like factory.

 

[KLF]

Very cool, thanks for the pictures. This is confirmation that I shouldn't have any trouble dropping my cab over the engine. Wish I had a lift for doing so...

What's holding up the radiator, without the front core support?

 

[TCinVA]

It's just holding itself up by the bottom support and the top hose.

 

[TCinVA]

We picked up the red body with a chain fall and an engine hoist, that might work for you.

 

[TCinVA]

pictures of the red body removal Tim did.

 

[Teamsobaco]

Wow I would like to follow and maybe start this same project as early as this weekend. I've got an 85 with shot body but the running gear (Suspension) is good, the 22RE needs a head job. I looked into the 3.4 swap with a sourced 99 runner but I think the body swap will be cheaper in the long run.

 

[Teamsobaco]

Ooops I forgot to add that the almost perfect original paint body is an 89 with a blown 3.0 and toated Auto. Some may not like going backwards in motor size but my 87 is a 22RE as was my first yota in 1988!

 

[TCinVA]

Sounds like basically the same project. The only hard part was getting the interior out and in to swap the wiring, thankfully my buddy Tim is very patient and skilled! Rolling under its own power, almost there.

 

[Jester]

It's ready to go!

Very doable project for those considering it, but it does take a lot of time, patience, and a basic understanding of how it went together the first time. Just take it all apart and put it back together -kind of like my favorite toys as a kid.

Really enjoyed working with Tony and his son on this. Now back to my truggy project, where nothing just bolts together and I have to do everything 2 or 3 times before it's right...

 

[KLF]

Very cool, congrats on getting it back on the road.

So.... Which vin & title do you register it under? The body, or the frame?

 

[85 t runner]

looks great, one question did the body from the 88 swap over on the 85 frame without any modifications. cause i know the frames are a little diff so i thought maybe the body mounts were a little different

 

[Jester]

looks great, one question did the body from the 88 swap over on the 85 frame without any modifications. cause i know the frames are a little diff so i thought maybe the body mounts were a little different

The IFS and solid axle frames are indeed different, but mostly where the front suspension is. Had no trouble with any body mounts lining up. Did end up using the solid axle steering column. The IFS column was about an inch or two shorter and didn't want to drill out shear pin in the steering shaft but probably could have made either work. Had to add the clutch master cylinder as you saw and a bracket to support the transition from hard to soft line. Also cut out the floor for the manual transmission and TC shifters - different shape hole on the automatic. That was really about it.

 

[Jester]

Very cool, congrats on getting it back on the road.

So.... Which vin & title do you register it under? The body, or the frame?

With clear titles to both, you could go probably go either way, but I'm not with the DMV or state police. Seems safer not to swap VIN plates and a lot of the body panels have VIN stickers on them too. One could cut out the frame section with the VIN and weld it on to the other truck but seems like a lot of work and a bit like tampering.

The 88 will be 25 years old in a few months making it eligible as an antique in VA so I'm not sure what the advantage of one VIN over the other would be.

My suggestion is register as the 88 and keep title to the 85 around, JIC.

 

[TCinVA]

Man, go on vacation with a phone and no computer and look what happens! Tim is the man. I'll probably register it as the '88 for the stated reasons the VIN is so visible all over the place. I have clear title to both trucks so there is no legal or moral problem either way. What a fun and straightforward project, nothing like his truggy or my 40.