New to the forum and new to Toyota pickups in general, although I've been a fan since the episode of Top Gear with the Hilux : )

My question is: Is there a difference in the frames between a 4x4 and a 2wd pickup in the 6th gen? My buddy has a 1994 2wd short bed, short wheelbase pickup that got hit in the front. All it needs is sheet metal and a rad. Probably going to pick it up either way, but I'm interested in knowing if a 4wd swap is as "simple" as bolting up the front diff and associated gear and getting the correct transmission and transfer case.

I've heard of other pickups having thicker wall frame material for 4x4 applications (mainly heresay), so I wonder if Toyota 4x4 trucks are fundamentally different in construction. I'm wondering if I'll find all the bolts holes for the leaf springs and such graciously drilled, tapped, and plugged on the frame as Toyota tends to do in other applications (fingers crossed!)

thanks in advance.

 

a 94' would be a 3rd gen

 

the front is IFS so there is no leaf springs, unless your talking about a SAS

 

'94 would be the 3rd generation of the 4WD pickups, but in the 2WDs, depends on where you start counting from I suppose.

For a 4WD swap, the most direct way would be with a solid axle swap kit and add a 4WD transmission and transfer case to finish things up (with crossmember to suite).