Random question about 4runners (1 Viewer)

[Old Dude Walking]

Sorry Some of these questions may seem crazy or stupid.
Ok hear goes. Does the older 4runers have frames as being able to pull off the body? Going place 40/45 series on it maybe.

Has this ever been done before taking the front independent suspension and placing on in the rear to make 4 wheel independent suspension?
Face the front diff housing in the correct direction and put the original rear 3rd member in so the gears run the correct way .
Or rotate the axle housing 180° or something like that.
Possible side benefits : rear steering and disk brakes.

Clark.

 

[gnob]

can it? :yes.
should it? :no

ifs front is 7.5, regular rears are 8"
you could maybe get a supra 8" to go in hole. but again, why?

seems like an awful lot of trouble for questionable strength, unless you have a huge parts supply and endless hours to make it work.

 

[Old Dude Walking]

can it? :yes.
should it? :no

ifs front is 7.5, regular rears are 8"
you could maybe get a supra 8" to go in hole. but again, why?

seems like an awful lot of trouble for questionable strength, unless you have a huge parts supply and endless hours to make it work.

My idea was extra ground clearance under the pumpkin. I have all kinds of time. And huge parts supply.

 

[Mark W]

Sorry Some of these questions may seem crazy or stupid.
Ok hear goes. Does the older 4runers have frames as being able to pull off the body? Going place 40/45 series on it maybe.

Has this ever been done before taking the front independent suspension and placing on in the rear to make 4 wheel independent suspension?
Face the front diff housing in the correct direction and put the original rear 3rd member in so the gears run the correct way .
Or rotate the axle housing 180° or something like that.
Possible side benefits : rear steering and disk brakes.

Clark.

This is for a 7th grade science fair project?

I don't even know where to start with all the reasons that this is silly. The time it would take to bring your knowledge base up to the level to even understand why would probably extend past the lifespan of any of the older 4Runners in any case.

Don't. Just don't.


Mark...

 

[Old Dude Walking]

This is for a 7th grade science fair project?

I don't even know where to start with all the reasons that this is silly. The time it would take to bring your knowledge base up to the level to even understand why would probably extend past the lifespan of any of the older 4Runners in any case.

Don't. Just don't.


Mark...

Actually it is for a teaching school ,there will be students learning electrical, welding, tubing bending, CNC plasma cutting. Mechanical engineering etc.
I thought it was a simple question is all four runners unibody or has a frame? Climbing under people's cars is frowned upon here. And I do much of my idea gathering at night here so by morning I can have a game plan or eliminated a plan. On what to look for.
Also was it had the same track as a fj40 / 45.

I personally think a 4 wheel independent suspension fj40 would be kinda cool. Some of the 1950 and 60 army jeep looking things do have 4 wheel independent suspension here that's why the Toyota Camery front drive is a popular motor swap. It screws the 4x4 part of it.

 

[Mark W]

Actually it is for a teaching school ,there will be students learning electrical, welding, tubing bending, CNC plasma cutting. Mechanical engineering etc.
I thought it was a simple question is all four runners unibody or has a frame? Climbing under people's cars is frowned upon here. And I do much of my idea gathering at night here so by morning I can have a game plan or eliminated a plan. On what to look for.
Also was it had the same track as a fj40 / 45.

I personally think a 4 wheel independent suspension fj40 would be kinda cool. Some of the 1950 and 60 army jeep looking things do have 4 wheel independent suspension here that's why the Toyota Camery front drive is a popular motor swap. It screws the 4x4 part of it.

This does make a bit more sense. I have been peripherally involved with a couple of crazy-ish ideas for high school class projects. In a learning situation like that is does not always matter of it is impractical, impossible to finish, or doomed to failure.

That said, if you are the instructor for a project like this, starting from a point where you do not even know if a 4runner is a framed or unibody platform is still a bit concerning. It is a full frame BTW.

Rear disc brakes are an easy and often done modification on the earlier rear axles (Land Cruier and 4Runner both). Does not require any sort of out of the box suspension mods. Rear steer always sounds neat. be aware that there is not a lot of room in the rear for any sort of steering deflection due to the wider frame and smaller wheel wells.

Other than "doing it just to do it", there is really nothing to be gained by putting an FJ40 body on a 4Runner chassis. And lots to loose. Plenty of opportunity to engage in all of the technologies and challenges that you mention just building up an over the top '40.

IFS is a detriment for any heavily tasked off road rig. IRS is even more so.

Are good "40 series bodies in such low demand there that it makes since to use one for a project like this?

Simply turning the original 4Runner IFS diff around to install it in the rear will result in it turning in the proper rotation direction. It will be a pretty weak unit to use in the rear IF the rig was ever actually tasked to any significant degree. (Along with being a very small and light duty unit, you will not be running on the 'weak side" of the gear.) But for a "just because" kind of project, it will work fine... until you subject it to heavy loads in the field... then all bets are off.

The offset construction of the front drivetrain will complicate fitment in the rear. Redesigning the diff assembly itself is almost certainly more than you class is gonna be up for.

Mark...

 

[Old Dude Walking]

This does make a bit more sense. I have been peripherally involved with a couple of crazy-ish ideas for high school class projects. In a learning situation like that is does not always matter of it is impractical, impossible to finish, or doomed to failure.

That said, if you are the instructor for a project like this, starting from a point where you do not even know if a 4runner is a framed or unibody platform is still a bit concerning. It is a full frame BTW.

Rear disc brakes are an easy and often done modification on the earlier rear axles (Land Cruier and 4Runner both). Does not require any sort of out of the box suspension mods. Rear steer always sounds neat. be aware that there is not a lot of room in the rear for any sort of steering deflection due to the wider frame and smaller wheel wells.

Other than "doing it just to do it", there is really nothing to be gained by putting an FJ40 body on a 4Runner chassis. And lots to loose. Plenty of opportunity to engage in all of the technologies and challenges that you mention just building up an over the top '40.

IFS is a detriment for any heavily tasked off road rig. IRS is even more so.

Are good "40 series bodies in such low demand there that it makes since to use one for a project like this?

Simply turning the original 4Runner IFS diff around to install it in the rear will result in it turning in the proper rotation direction. It will be a pretty weak unit to use in the rear IF the rig was ever actually tasked to any significant degree. (Along with being a very small and light duty unit, you will not be running on the 'weak side" of the gear.) But for a "just because" kind of project, it will work fine... until you subject it to heavy loads in the field... then all bets are off.

The offset construction of the front drivetrain will complicate fitment in the rear. Redesigning the diff assembly itself is almost certainly more than you class is gonna be up for.

Mark...

Thanks for the input. The main reason for needing a suitable doner frame is to have more modern drivetrain and not having a 40 or 45 to start with all the body will be new after market. I just not liking the look of overly wide axle look of the 80 to 40 swaps.
In stock form 4runner seem to do ok and with slight upgrades lift, lockers, taller tires would go any where a origanal 40 would go.

My next crazy idea is a 40 or 45 to 80 or even newer swap but widen the 40 body to the 80 or newer width. Maybe leaving the 80 or 100 firewall and floor pan. Similarly to the 70's chevy truck to late model morphs.

Any way it's just time and money. I got some of each.