Just sitting around today and a thought kind of came to me. From what I've read alot of people have been doing the motor swaps on there 2nd generation 4runners so there as powerful as the 3rd gens, but wont go to third gen because they prefer the body style of the 2nd gen. My question is could you actually just put a 2nd gen body onto a 3rd generation frame? I know you'd have a couple issues such as the side the fuel door is on and replacing the computer in the cab. But in theory everything should fit. Just seems to me it might be a little faster and not a whole lot more expensive compared to changing out a motor, splicing the nightmare of wires, and ect. Has anyone ever heard of anyone doing such a swap before. I've scanned over yota tech and all i've really been able to find is someone trying to put a 3rd gen shell on a 2nd gen frame.

 

Pretty sure 3rd gens are wider, and I know that the wheelbase is several inches longer.

Sounds like 10598716078456x more work than a 3.4 swap.

 

lol yea maybe, but its just another route i've never heard of, and was wondering if anyone else had this idea and if it was possible.

 

I think just about anything is possible with enough, time, money, and knowledge. Whether or not it's worth it...varies.

 

A company (cant remember the name) put 1st gen bodies on 3rd gen frames with 3rd gen engines.

 

how much extra work would this really be thou? besides being a pita to lift off the truck. whats really all involved in removing a shell? you wouldn't really need to gut it i would think if you planned on reusing it...

 

by going with the newer IFS you would be getting a weaker, but better riding suspension. I'm personally a big fan of the original IFS setup.

 

I have a friend who put a 2nd gen 4Runner body on his 1st gen 4Runner - but it already has a Chevy 4.3 swap and a SAS - pretty awesome though.

 

3rd gens have weaker coil sprung ifs and an inferior and lighter frame. So besides the powertrain i think it would be a downgrade.

 

Uh, weaker? Both of you please explain this "weakness" you speak of.

 

I remember reading an article on the US army using tacomas in Afganistan to try and blend in with the locals and after months of abuse the front suspension was getting destroyed as opposed to some of the hiluxs that had torsion bar ifs. I'll see if I can find the article. As for the frames I was getting mixed up with the tacoma frames that are c channel. I've picked up one of those frames at work when it was getting the frame swapped and it was noticably lighter compared to a buddys early 90s truck frame. I know the 3rd gens runners still have boxed frames but I am pretty sure they have crumple zones that the earlier frames don't.

 

that article sounds interesting. any luck finding it?

 

I'm not sure they do this on a regular basis, but you might be thinking of Irbis Offroad in Colorado

 

alright good. I just had very little luck finding anything about this. I suppose if the frame work and suspension are inferior it would be a downgrade....