I've done a search and not all the info I need was around....incidentally.

My '86 is bone stock with a 22re and manual transmission. There is a possibility I can get my hands on an '87 4rnr that had a 22re but with an auto tranny. The '87 is in very decent shape body and frame wise, and comes with 4.30 running gears. Plus, it has the SR5 package....split rear seats, tach and instrument cluster, even the original "Toyota" tape deck. Anyhow, the '87 is in much better shape body and frame than my '86, so I'm thinking I'd like to buy it and swap all of my '86 components to it....engine and everything related, tranny/t-case, drivelines, etc. But, I'm wondering of the crossmember placement. Everything else about the swap looks like a cake walk, but I can't tell if the crossmember for the tranny/t-case is going to be a geometrical issue. I honestly don't know if the guy's even going to sell it or ask more than I'd wanna give, but before I approached him I wanted to a little homework.

If I can get it, what would be a fair price to pay in your experience? This would better be asked if I had pics, but I don't have any at the moment and wouldn't be worth the trouble to take them until I know if he will sell. But, it has 188k original miles, it does not appear at all to be driven hard, no motor, no hard top, worn seats (although foam is intact), very little surface rust, and does need new paint. I'm thinking max $300?

Grazie

 

No one, huh?

 

Okay. Thanks anyway.

 

$300 would be a good deal. At this point the owner has to be thinking of dumping alot of money into it or make alittle money or even pay to get rid of it. It cant be worth to much to him , I would never go over $500 for a parts rig, enless I could drive it away.

 

Not to sure on the crossmember with the autotranny but I wouldnt be worried about it since even if its placed differently you can bolt a new one on anywhere with a lil fabrication. Everything else is the same between those years (body mounts and such).

I'm doing the same thing next month with my rig, but I'm doing a swap to the same year frame. Good body/drivetrain on a bad frame going to a good frame =)

 

It seems like a straight forward swap. Nothing a little time on your back with a tape measure wouldn't confirm as far as the crossmember...Enjoy

 

Okay! Thanks for the responses.

I went by to get a really, really good look at the runner today. It's even got the sunroof, the map lights, and the console is a double stacked console. I didn't even know those were made.

I crawled under and looked real good at the crossmember placement. With the naked eye, it looks like a direct swap...but, yeah, I will go next time with a tape.

The whole thing is going to need to be gone completely over, but I've been wanting a worthwhile restoration project for some time. It has everything I've wanted for a 1st gen 4rnr, and this means I won't have to do a bunch of retro fitting and modification to the '86. Just restore the '87 and swap over my drivetrain.

Oh, and I found out today the fellow still has the hardtop. Still don't know if he wants to sell, though. But, after talking with the fellow doing some work for him there's a real good chance. Doesn't sound like he's real attached to it. That's in my favor for a good price.

My wife has misplaced the camera, but as soon as I find it I'm getting some pics.

And, Drew.....what kind of fabrication are you suggesting? Tapping holes in the frame?
And good luck on your project. I'm pretty jazzed myself, if everything works out the way I'd like. Or even most everything.

 

Im pretty sure the FRAME holes are the same - the cross members are different.

Would make things easier at the factory.

(Now a GM bean counter would make the cross member the same and have different weld on brackets)

 

That's good to know about the holes. The crossmembers look pretty similar...can't tell much of a difference. Besides, I'm going to use the one from the '86. You know...leave it hooked up and all. Mostly, I was concerned about the holes, though. I'll know more later.

I'm also wondering how I'm going to get all the gauges to work with the '86 ECU.....like the altimeter, inclinometer, tach, oil pressure, etc. I'll just have to do some more reading on that. If anyone knows of good thread/links, feel free to post them.

I'm sittin' on cornflakes waiting to hear if the guy will sell! Then all I have to do is figure out how I'm going to pay for it. I just blew a wad on a front end rebuild kit only to find that adjusting my valves took care of my "timing chain racket". So, I've got money tied up in parts I won't need for a good while as the present timing chain and guides are all still intact. I'd sell it to someone except I'd be out my shipping fee. I suppose, though, it's probably good to have the parts on hand. Anyway, enough rambling...