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Did you have to run a CV rear shaft due to the length of the drivetrain?
The more I look at this, the more I am trying to figure out where I could store a SC400 while I part it out after I rob the motor and trans out.
Just to make sure I read thru it correctly, you used the SC400 mounts, not the LC400? And the 2000 4Runner shifter and linkage would work with the A340E unmodified, or would you still have to play with it to get the pivots correct?
Also, how does the interior look? Did you keep the mini truck cluster and dash layout? Still got the A/C and heater? With mom and baby girl and a Tennessee Summer, those will be important to keep the peace.
Thanks for humoring me.
I didn't necesserly have to run a CV but I did anyway. The engine position moved the rear output back about 5" from the stock location. Add dual t-cases and it just got too short. my rear driveshaft is exactly 36" long and shorter than my front. Front was 42" I think.
I would highly recommend getting a whole donor vehicle. Aside from making sure you get everything you need there are lots of nuts, bolts and clips that would nickel and dime you to death if you had to buy them. The Lexus uses the same 10, 12, 14, 17mm sizes and thread patterns as the truck did. I spent a couple of hours just collecting all the hardware I could off the car just to have a whole bucket of spares. The Lexus is really put together well and there are tons of fasteners.
I used the SC400 mounts. The LS400 ones would be difficult to fit between the framerails. you could just put it on top of the framerails and if you have IFS you may have to keep it up that high.
You may have to play with the shifter lengths to make it match up. It's basically done by how long the bracket is as opposed to where it pivots. The linkage bar connecting the shifter to the tranny is what I discovered after the fact was the exact length I needed. I may not have need to make the other adjustments had I tried this first. A shifter from an 89-95 may work to but it has the 4wd shifter built into it and the 96-02 didn't and since I was using duals it would have looked dumb. I thought about making it my e-brake since I had to remove the factory one for firewall clearance.
Interior looks completely stock....92-94 SR5 cluster that utilizes the wire speedometer instead of a cable. You will need a oil pressure sending unit from a v6 truck that came with a gauge not an idiot lite because the Lexus only uses a light and it's sending unit will burn up the gauge if not changed. The truck one threads into the same place as the Lexus one does. I moved the computer up in the dash behind the glove box to put it up higher in the cab. I had to cut out the back of the glove box to make it fit but with the door closed you can't tell. I did not try and use any center console because I plan on making my own. The heater works but I never hooked the AC back up and on this truck I remove the compressor altogether. I have read swaps where it was retained and my next swap will keep the AC. The heat works fine.
Actually if you are going to do an IFS 1uz swap I recommend reading the swaps on Yotatech done by the user RMA. He has done three of them and his build threads (1 for each truck) have some good info.
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There is an LS400 on CL in St. Louis here for $1500 right now. a bit too much for a parts donor but if you could get it for $1000 or less it would be worth it.