tricksht

Im looking at buying a toyota pickup and putting chevy gear under it. I have an 85 chevy with a 454, 4 speed, 3/4 ton axles, and 6 in. lifted spring. I was wondering what year pickup would be the best platform for the motor and what I should do about about steering. I was thinking of going with ifs steering but dont really know whats best.

algranger

it would be easier to bob the frame and put the yota body on the chev. i mean its not like your gonna have a toyota either way.

tricksht

the problem is that the Chevy was rolled and need to be rebuilt. I got the truck from my girlfriend for doing mods on her Tacoma and her ex-boyfriend is the one who rebuilt it. It was a long box and he chopped the frame and put a step side body on it. He did a horrible job on it and just rigged everything together so its I cant just drop the yota body on. Its bad enough that i would have to redo most of it anyway.

86Toyrunna

ya im with algranger on this.. put a yota body on a chev frame.. if you were to put a big block in a toy frame im afraid it would tear the frame to shreds. but im sure you could beef up the frame.. get ready for some serious sheet metal fab work, not sure even with a body lift you will clear the back side of the motor..especially the distributor and bell housing

tricksht

I havent measured it but i planned on pulling the radiator and putting it behind the cab. I can reinforce the frame and i do custom sheet metal and welding for a living so thats not a problem. I just dont really want to deal with the mess he has made. Its either do it on a toyota frame and build up or buy a new chevy frame and build up.

yoder519

i seen a yota on ebay abaout 3days ago with a 454 in it. he just bobbed the frame and put the yota body on it. so pretty much what there tellin you to do. i think it was a 94 model reg cab. go on ebay and see if its still there

nevermind heres the link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Cars-...1%7C240%3A1308

Trustyrusty

Either way your butchering a good Toyota... Lets take a damn good truck and make sure it has a inferior engine..

Adam F

Inferior engine my ass! You don't know what your talking about!

I can understand you not liking a Chevy motor in a Toyota, but calling a 454 inferior, that just plain ignorant!

ozziesironmanoffroad

the 454 is, in my opinion, the BEST engine GM ever produced. also, a member here did this swap, johnrumbo, if i remember his name correctly, he has a full on writeup on it.

toylocost

I dont like Chevys in anything but Chevys. Idk why these idiots put Chevys in their Fords.

You get what you pay for I guess...

ozziesironmanoffroad

you know why people put chevys in their fords? cuz chevys are made better, are stronger, and last longer.

algranger

i like the 350 a lot but the 454 is my favorite chev motor as well that things got balls! big ones! i like the idea of putting a 454 in a toyota, i'd still rather have an entire toyota but the 454 is a good motor.
i dont think the frame would be an issue seeing as a lot of 454 chev's had C channel frames, just make sure your hangers and mounts have good surface area on the frame dont put little dinky things on there.
i would reccomend a mid 80's toyota i'm thinking maybe 2wd since your gonna cut it down and build it up.
as for steering i'd do some form of crossover dont try and screw around with push pull.

toylocost

ok I've seen Fords in Chevys too and thats also stupid. Lets go ahead and turn this into a chevy vs ford argument on a toyota forum.

algranger

for the most part... i'm particularly fond of the mid 80's ford pickups



very well built i would take that over any newer full size truck

and the classic ford vs. chevy argument starts... on a toyota forum?

toylocost

^^^ Totally agree. (well exept for a tundra)

algranger

tundra is a whole different class
this actually just got me started lookin at those on CL they're WAY cheap must be people that cant afford gas anymore. i'm seriously considering buying one for a tow rig/dumprunner

aviator

a 454 in a yota?! sweet engine and in the lighter yota would be a heck of a pavement burner but you might as well drill a hole in the fuel tank and cut out the middle man...
if you're going to put that big an engine up front and have to beef up the suspension anyway why not put a 6.5TD in at least then you'd get the torque and fuel econ. of the diesel...

algranger

diesel would be cool but theres just something irresistable about that 454 if youve ever driven one youd know what i mean. also, he already has the 454 motor and running gear

tricksht

ok i know its dumb to strip a toyota body and frame just to put chevy gear in it but your not looking at the whole picture. If i buy a toyota pickup and strip the body and frame im still left with some parts for another rig. take for instance a rock crawling buggy. Id have the 22r or re, trany, transfer case and then i just need axles suspension and another transfer case. yes its alot of work and alot more parts are needed but that comes later. right now i can build a cheap play and have fun with truck just looking opinions. thank you algranger about the steering might as well just do it right.

okie81

I'd find a nice M22 to put behind it, that's a sweet rock crawlin tranny