Possible new project.

[4Roller]

I have a stripped 82 4x4 frame of course with solid axle, and I have the chance to pick up a 1997 Tacoma (2wd) with the 3.4L v6. Anyone ever mounted a tacoma onto a older solid axle frame? I would have to bob the bed, and come up with a new tranny and tcase, anything else needed? I know i could just do the SAS, but I want to go with the older frame because it is 99 inch wheelbase vs the 115 inch wheelbase.


Brad.

 

[4Roller]

Anyone at all? Someone has had to have done something like this? I would like to see some pictures of someones swap please.

 

[4Roller]

OK, lets try this, what I need to know is, what Transmission and Transfercase would i need to complete this porject?

 

[Box Rocket]

Take a look over on TacomaTerritory. There is a guy that put an Extra-cab Tacoma on a reg cab frame. Bobbed the front and rear of the bed and it actually turned out really nice.

Not sure of the frame length differences between a reg cab Tacoma and the '82.

Chances are you're going to need to fab new motor mounts and all new body mounts to get the Tacoma body to fit. I would look at using the 5VZE from the Tacoma and a Tacoma manual tranny with a Marlin Crawler Tacoma t-case. You'll also probably need to fabricate a rear crossmember to support the rear of the tranny/t-case.

Not sure how the steering is going to go. You could run into some clearance issues with the steering shaft depending on the motor you use. And you'll probably want to change to hysteer steering using a later IFS steering box.

I would also consider beefing up the frame a bit by boxing areas where you can, especially the front section of the frame to support a possibly larger/heavier motor, and for the different steering.

 

[Box Rocket]

One other thing you could do is to alter the wheelbase on your '82 frame a little. While 99" is pretty good, personally I like the 105" wheelbase of some of the later trucks even better. You could use some 63" Chevy springs for the rear suspension. Typically when people do that they leave the shackles in the normal location and use new spring hangers, farther forward on the frame. But you could leave the spring hangers in the normal location and move the shackles farther to the rear on the frame. That way you would move the axle farther back but keep the rear axle under the raised portion of the frame and it could make the bed bob portion a little easier as you may not have to bob the front of the bed.

Just a thought.