Just riding around today I spotted this behind a local gas station. I do believe I found my SFA for my '89 swap....going to go try to buy it tomorrow.

 

Either that or I'll part the '89 out completely & build this one instead...

 

Can't tell exactly from the pics 85, but that thing appears to be pretty solid (no pun intended lol). I would build that thing over a 89 any day.

 

That would be the easiest route - providing the frame is solid. Check the frame with a small hammer. The frame issue was what took me so long to find my 85. The frames tend to rust from the inside out and the worst spots are where the spring hangers are for the rear leaf springs.

Nice find though !!!! I need another set of wheels - I have some 33's to mount just for wheeling. You know - put them on to wheel and then swap back to the street tires for the ride home.

I will PM you regarding the bushwhacker flares that we talked about.

 

BAH! Build up the '89. It has a motor, the wider rear axle, and a steering box, and IIRC, the frame is a little beffier on the '89 than on the '85, all you want from this one is the axle, just tell the guy you will buy just the front axle from him.

 

But the 4runner can seat people and go topless! That's the huge diff between that matters for me. I like the idea of driving around looking, it works! I found this, it wasn't for sale at first but I bought it...

I fixed it up and it's a pretty fun and useful truck now.

I say fix up the 4runner if you have the skills and the rust isn't too bad.

EDIT: If you do part it out, I got dibs on the tailgate! (assuming it's not all rusty).

 

he has two runners and the one he is looking at is a runner... do it.

 

Yeah, this would be the third one, (actually my fourth overall). I went by today & the owner wasn't there. He also had another IFS 4runner in the shop bay so I don't know if he's doing a build himself. I plan to try again tomorrow.

 

I say build the one you got. Doing the SAS (spring hanger and shackle tubes) is not that big of a deal and then you don't have to do the ifs box swap, the ifs rear axle swap and that one doesn't even have the motor in it. I say get the axle and roll with that.

 

Build what you have.... if you're going wild enough it doesn't matter whether you start with a SFA or IFS.... the work is about equal. The 85's are better to wheel in stock form, and of course most people want to use the front axle from a 84-85 to do the swap, that's what makes them popular.

 

Nice find. If y ou buy the entire Runner remember to sell the stock roll bar to someone with a 2nd or 3rd gen. Guys will pay good money for them.

I would just get the axle if it where me though.

BTW I went to my Seabee A school down there in Gulfport. Not a bad place in the winter months.

 

sorry to hi-jack but what do those roll bars usually go for, i know where i can get one for free with the pad.

 

Before I moved here I got a hold of the guy & he said it wasn't for sale. Oh well the '89 has been put on the back burner for a while anyway.

 

booooo....

 

I paid $40 for mine but Sonoran sells them for $250 after he cuts the front 2 legs down 1.5" so they fit in a 3rd gen then welds the bottom plates back on. I did mine myself.

I think you could get at least $80 for it unmod'd. IMHO

 

]Before I moved here I got a hold of the guy & he said it wasn't for sale. Oh well the '89 has been put on the back burner for a while

I don't understand that....There is a guy in my area that has two mustangs and he got tired of people asking him if he wanted to sell them. So he spray painted on them " NOT FOR SALE" they have been setting there for oh 20 years + now there so rusted their worthless ? go figure

 

I changed my mind, Ryker, YOU are a Toyota slut.......