Alright guys heres a bit of back story, I've got a built 85 runner on 38.5s lockrite/spool 5:29s the whole lot but it had a ton of rust so I built it to be beat on and I ended up rolling it...no big deal popped the roof out and slapped a lexan windshield in it and got back to rippin....

Been almost 4 years and im getting tired of the hardcore crawler style so I'd like to build a new...I found a 94 runner that's got a 3.0 and a little damage but it still runs and drives with some work...main question is, should I sas the 94 or body swap?

And if I sas the 94 should I keep the 3.0? I know it's not the best but my 22r is pretty tired as well...

The 94 body should fit with only needing to modify 4 body mounts if I remember right so not too terrible plus I can snag the radiator and stuffs of the 94 "which I need anyway" and sell the 3.0 and drivetrain for a decent amount.

On the flip side I can do the same if I sas the 94 frame toss my axles in it, leaf spring swap the rear possibly keep the 3.0 and swap my tcase in and save myself unhooking an ungodly amount of wires fuel lines and brake lines lol

Suggestions please!!

 

My first thought buy a Jeep and be done!!!

what do you want to do ??

Do you really need a Solid Front axle for your off road adventures ??

How much work to get the 94 up and running drive it like it is for sometime

Something to drive on the street with creature comforts compared to the 85 ??

How many miles on the 3.0 ?? Is a 3.4 swap in the cards at all ??

 

Not gonna lie, a WJ grand cherokee is viable as well and I've actually been looking at those for a couple months now. V8, power everything for about 2k ain't half bad

My goals are to have something that's at least street legal, a little easier on the eyes, better interior, something a little more overland but nothing crazy...I've got alot of money wrapped up in my 85 and it's pretty much impossible to sell with a crumpled up roof so i figure I might as well rebuild it.

The guy says the 3.0 ran but he took some parts for his rig, not entirely sure how much is missing but shouldn't be terrible...

 

So to bring this thing back from the dead, ended up buying a 92 4runner 2wd with no engine for $300 bucks (couldn't pass that up!) Needs a little work, fender hood grill yada yada no biggie,





So now I'm trying to figure out how to proceed, I don't have a tree handy and not a whole lot of concrete to use an engine hoist (don't think mine will lift high enough anyway) so I've been looking at building a sawhorse of some sorts with a 4x4 under the front and rear body mounts...but lifting and lowering it seems like it's gonna take some inginuity. Any ideas?

 

If you are tired of the rock crawling stuff, part out the rig and build a mild 33" - standard rims. With a supra engine.

:p

Or be like the cool kids and build a "overlander". In reality: something reliable you can go 400 miles, camp, and come back.

 

Not really tired of the crawling thing but having a rig with no windows or top gets pretty old in Florida, it's usually a good chance every time we go out it's gonna rain...

Got most of the crumpled parts off and all of the body mounts loose, gonna roll it off the trailer and start unhooking brake lines and pulling the engine harness