redhanded

Ive done some searching and reading, but I wanted to get some opinions about the situation I am in. I have a 1986 single cab 5spd 4x4 22ret. The body is awesome with very little rust. Ive been wanting to sas it for awhile now and I was about to order a TG kit until my cousin called and told me about a 1985 4runner he had sitting. The 4runner is setup with gears and lockers along with a 5inch lift and 35's.

Should I just order a kit for my 1986 and sas it? Or should I grab the 4runner and attempt to put my single cab on it? Thoughts and opinions are welcomed! My wrenching skills are pretty good and Im a metal worker/fabricator by trade. I just hope that the 1986 body is somewhat compatible with the 1985 runner frame.

skoti89

I think the body mounts on the frame are different from the 4runner and pickup. but seriously, the amount of fabrication to throw your body on the 85 frame would probably be alot less than doing a whole solid axle swap on the 86 IMHO. Ive considered throwing my good 87 4runner body on a good 85 frame.

redhanded

thanks for the response! Ive been doing some searching and reading for the past couple of hours, and Ive read all kinds of different stories.

Some said that single cab will bolt up to runner frame...some said it doesnt and requires a couple of mounts to be moved. I dont mind moving a mount or two, but I just wanna make sure that Im not going to get myself head over heels in a cab swap....especially since I have not done one before. The only thing that is making it seem worthwhile is the amount of parts already on the runner.

skoti89

you could always get under both and look. measure the frame lengths. If you look at a single cab short bed and a 4runner, they look almost identical. The frame lengths might be different on your ext cab though. But if all drivetrain components line up the same, you could just moved some of the body mounts around and cut off any excess frame?

just some thoughts.

If you go ahead and do it, this could be a very cool write up. take pics!

redhanded

again, thanks for the input. Im going to go check out the 4runner and take some measurements. From what Ive read, the standard cab/short bed would be best for doing the swap, as it only requires moving a few mounts (which Im pretty confident I can do). I just gotta check on the bed mounts and make sure I will be able to mount the bed. If I go through with this, Im also going to be swapping over my 22ret engine along with it.

This weekend I will find out if I go with the cab swap or not. If anyone else wanna put in some words, Im all about hearing it. And yes, if I do the swap, Ill definately take pics and jot down some notes.

john4wd

I did a 84-89 4-runner doghouse switch on a 87 standard cab and I can tell ya doghouse front 2 bottom mounting tabs behind grille is the same on 4runner and truck and was told body mounts to back of cab is the same as 4-runner

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...at-now-226685/ < read my post and the middle pic is of the blue 4-Runner section after doghouse removal...