Anyone know if this has been done? Here's my thoughts... I just sold my FJ40 and want the next rig I build to be an 86-89 22re 4Runner. I probably won't be financially able to buy another rig for a while. However I already have an 89 regular cab pickup. The frame is mint, low mileage trans & rearend, new clutch, lots of good drivetrain parts. But the body is really pretty rough. I've been plowing my driveway with it for 7 years and it hasn't even been registered since 2006. I'm planning to put a plow on my 96 tacoma and was thinking I might build up that chassis to put a 4Runner body on. Starting with a 4Runner would obviously be easier but I live in New England and finding one in my price range would certainly be a rustbucket. I figured if the wheelbase and body mounts are about right I could make it work. I'm not afraid to weld.

 

I scrapped/parted out an 87 4Runner last year, there is an extra body mount on the 4runner frame (the "tower" mount that the bed has) per side. Otherwise, I think they're the same.
Where in New England, I have a ton of parts, and I'm looking to move them really cheap. I'll check to see if I have any body mounts, getting ready to scrap an 89 later next week-I'm a teacher and school lets out Monday!

 

I can certainly fabricate body mounts without any trouble I just wanted to be sure the frame was close to the same profile in concerns to the rails themselves. I had an 86 4Runner back in the early 90's and the only difference I recalled was the gas tank was lower. That shouldn't be a problem. My wife will KILL me if I spend any money on another project right now but I'm thinking my master plan will work out in the end. Wonder if the dash from the 89 will fit in a 4Runner? That might be kind of neat.

 

Your 89 pickup is a different body style than a first gen 4runner. Its the same as a second gen 4runner

 

I'm quite aware of that fact. I've been messing with these trucks for 25 years. I'm really just in the idea stage of this. I may wind up parting the 89 and just keeping all the stuff I want for a future 4Runner project. Of course I've also thought of extending the frame to make the 89 into a double cab. A friend of mine started doing this with a 90 a few years back and gave up on it. But he started with an extended cab and put a second gen 4Runner body on it. Hacked the back wall off a regular cab and welded it to the back. Combined a rear 4 runner door with a pickup door. It would have worked but the rooflines didn't match and he threw in the towel. But if I used 2 regular cabs to make the cab along with a second gen 4Runner B pillar I think it would work. Would be cool to integrate a factory 4Runner sliding sunroof into that too. I've got all kinds of crazy ideas rolling around in my head about the next truck to build. I have the skills and the tools but time and money I'm lacking in...

 

At the rate your thinking your wife might trade you in !!!

That can get quite expensive.

It seems that there are never enough women who love Toyota`s can wrench and weld and handle a clutch.

I blame this on those Evil Horses !!

 

If only I had the cash and they made a 1st gen tacoma double cab with a stick I wouldn't even be thinking of this. Of course converting one to a stick isn't bad but I still have to buy the truck... This really is a sickness. The FJ40 hasn't even been picked up yet and I'm already thinking about the next build. When I sold my Mustang a few years back I dragged home my Capri 2 weeks later to build so I had a replacement. I did tell my wife I wasn't planning on any other major projects for a while after just finishing the Capri this spring. We'll see how long I hold out.

 

It's good to have dreams and goals!

 

This is about as far as my friend got with his. But I think 2 regular cabs, 4Runner rear doors, and a 4Runner B pillar would work.



But honestly I may just buy a 1st gen 4Runner and fix up the 89 for regular pickup duties as well as plowing. It hasn't left my yard since 06.