LC axles under a 4runner

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eatmc55

eatmc55

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Jan 29, 2005
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virginia beach, va
I've been pondering the idea of stripping down my FJ62 just because the body is trash and I'll never be able to drive it on the street again. It's been rolled a few time. I have considered going full cage. But I really need to downsize some things. With the price for a decent 4runner I thought about taking out my axles and other goodies from my cruiser into a 4runner that I could drive on the street for awhile until things pick back up.
I'm just interested in what it really takes to put FJ62 axles under one? If not the rear at least the front for a SAS swap. I know people have done it. I'm just looking for something easy and keep running leaf sprins for now. I know the SAS spring hangers are probably a bit narrower than a cruiser. Any info and help would be awesome. Thanks
 
Tell you the truth, droping a 4runner body on your current frame would probably be the best for durability and strength. The LC frame is beefy compared to the 4runners and the 3fe is a great engine.

If you were to swap the axles, they should just swap in place of the mini axles. The only problem you may encounter is the driveline angles created by the offset diff and a centered tcase output.
 
A fella in Boise has done that, but on a 80 series. It looked awesome. If you do it, I would go with an 80 , you will appreciate the coils
 
You'll never get a 3FE to fit under the hood. Too long.

The rear axle has an off-center diff. Not sure what you'd do about that.
 
I'm pretty sure the FJ62 springs are wider than the mini truck springs. You can use the front axle, but you will probably have to buy springs to match your hangers. You will also have to modify the passenger side spring perch slightly in order to center the housing.

I used mini truck width springs built by Alcan, and mini truck shackles and hanger under my FJ40. Also used an FJ60 front axle.
 
I'm fine with being able to use just the front and just re-gear the 4runner rear. I've been doing some research. It looks to be limited to early IFS runners to '95. Is it possible to get a t-case built to drop on the right side? I've looked at inchworm and advance adapters. Just curious to see if I could go newer than '96. I would be happier with the 3.4l compared to the 3.0l I realize that I may have to build my own spring hangers since the 62 axle is just a bit wider. I appreciate all the feedback. Thanks
 
is this a first gen, second gen, third gen 4runner? (probably not the latter because of the forum section...but have to ask)

i agree, if you could get the fj62 engine to fit in the 4runner engine bay that dropping the whole 4runner body on the fj62 chassis / drive train is a much better option IF...you have a first gen 4runner.
but as someone said...a 3fe up there would be tight!!!

HOWEVER, on the third gen, i would just swap the axle because you would have the 5vz which is a may more modern powerplant than a cruiser engine. and probably has more power. u are really just lacking the solid front axle. u also get all the creature comforts of the updated third gen, where as with the first gen to cruiser swap...the insides are about the same as far as how modern they are. so no real upgrade there.


and i imagine that the axle width on a thrid gen is closer to the cruiser than the mini truck axle...dont know for sure on that one. so mounting it may be easier.


so basically, if its a first gen do the body swap. if its second / third gen just the axle is my opinion..
 
I have an FJ60/62 axle built to go into my 88 4 Runner when the IFS dies. I modified the stock perches to be spring over, sit a little lower on the axle tubes and into the diff on the passenger side. Will be a bolt in deal to standard mini truck hanger setup. I will be using RUF with shims on the sides of the spring pack to make up the spring width difference between the FJ springs and the RUF.

The rear axle will be a bit of a pain. With the axle being offset to the passenger side, your rear drive shaft will be going right through your gas tank. Move the gas tank or run a fuel cell and you will be fine. The driveshaft shouldn't have much issue with the offset as it is not much, like 3-4".
 
2ndGenToyotaFan said:
Sell cruiser parts, and buy running 4Runner.... Yeah it'll probably cost you a little, but you won't spend months working on a project that will probably nickle and dime you to what buying a Runner would cost....

:cheers:
Click to expand...

Best suggestion so far, I totally agree.

/thread
 
2ndGenToyotaFan said:
Sell cruiser parts, and buy running 4Runner.... Yeah it'll probably cost you a little, but you won't spend months working on a project that will probably nickle and dime you to what buying a Runner would cost....

:cheers:
Click to expand...

That would be no fun!
 
KLF said:
Best suggestion so far, I totally agree.

/thread
Click to expand...

The 4th of July's next week, IMHO, just fix the 4Runner, save the money, and buy some decent beer and fireworks.


Now the best suggestion's been submitted. :cheers: [/THREAD]
 
You have a bunch of options for combining parts from a 4runner and a 62 that haven't been mentioned. Avoid the 3.0 engine is all I would say engine wise. I would use the 62 steering box whichever direction you go rather than using a mini truck box. The 62 axle compared to a mini axle has all of the additional width in the short side and the additional width of the third member, the long side inners are the same length between a 60/62 axle and a mini axle, I am not sure what the spring mounting width difference is between the two.

1. Build a hybrid rear axle using the center section from the 62 front axle and the shafts and axle tube ends from the 4runner axle.

FJ40/minitruck hybrid rear axle- Land Cruiser Tech from IH8MUD.com

This gets you a centered 9.5 rear axle.

Cut the 62 rear axle to width and weld the knuckle balls to the ends to make a drivers drop front axle. Run the stock 4runner transfer case.

2. Same as above, but make the hybrid rear axle from the 62 rear and 4 runner rear axle. Run the 62 front axle as is and run either a T100 chain drive or mini-truck gear drive transfer case (will require an adapter).

3. Run a marlin toybox adapter to put the split case from the 62 behind a gear drive reduction box. This will require two adapters: your trans to the gear drive reduction box, then the toy box adapter from the reduction box to the split case. Then run the 62 axles as is. This will also require relocation of the gas tank and is probably the most expensive option, but gets you a doubler. You can also run a doubler in scenario 2 above but the mini truck to mini truck doubler adapters are less expensive and easier to get.

It all depends on how hammered your 62 is, and how much money you have put into the axles in in. If you can sell the truck intact and you don't have any mods done to the axles none of the above scenarios make a lot of sense compared to just selling the truck and starting from scratch with a 4runner and mini truck parts. You will get stronger axles however running the 9.5" third members.
 
So the options that have been given are options to use to get the axles under your 4runner. I put FJ62 axles under my Samurai and the diff is about 2 inches more passenger, than the samurai rear diff or t-case output. So the rear axle I would look for a different type of rear axle something with a center diff a dana 60 would be a good choice close to the same size diff as an FJ axle. The front FJ axle would be a good choice tough housing and better birfs than a mini truck solid axle or 4runner axle.
 
Oh almost forgot its not to hard to make spring perches just get some 1/4 inch steel and a hole saw and a 5/8 in drill bit for the spring bolt hole. Did my swap on a saturday your toyota DS will fit on the flange of the FJ just need to re drill new holes for the DS I just rotated it 90 deg works great been done for more than 2 years no problems.
 
Pretty easy to do. I am doing one now on the font. FJ60 axle under 84 pickup/4-runner frame. I used FJ60 springs up front sprung under but you could use any springs depending on the lift you want. I had to make my front spring hanger that goes on the front frame of the truck but not a big deal if you can weld and fab a little. A couple spacers in the shackles to make the width match and you should be good to go. You can not make the spring perches narower on the land cruiser front axle unless you want a lot of lift. The pumpkin gets in the way, so you have to make them wider on the frame to match.

The IFS rear pickup or 4-runner axle is the same width as the FJ60/62 front. I have seen people here on MUD put the LC rear axle in but I am not sure how the drive line will hold up if using a centered pickup/4-runner tranns and t-case to the offset LC rear axle.

Here is my link. Lots of info there and some good pics too.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyo...oyota-chinook-camper-build-6.html#post7751855

Good luck.
 
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Hello,

I'm in the process of doing the same thing on a 89 4runner and my thoughts are can't you use both 60 axles and just relocate the gas tank? Mine consist of a GM 6.0 4L65 203 doubled to a LC split-case with both LC axles. Any input is appreciated.

thanks lee
 
My4x4FJ40 said:
Hello,

I'm in the process of doing the same thing on a 89 4runner and my thoughts are can't you use both 60 axles and just relocate the gas tank? Mine consist of a GM 6.0 4L65 203 doubled to a LC split-case with both LC axles. Any input is appreciated.

thanks lee
Click to expand...

Yes you could probably move the gas tank over or get a custom one made to fit. Most people run into problems when they think of the swap of keeping a centered transfer case and using an off set land cruiser rear axle. People have done the pickup trany to off set axle but I don't know how well it worked out for them.
 
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