Hi i have a 99 runner 3.4 sr5 with 180000 on it. Runs great im just worried frame will rust out soon and the boddy is going by the running boards. Ive always want to convert it to a tacoma what do I need to know before doing this? What kind of compatability issues should i foresee? Also i need a roller so if anyone has one let me know. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated thanks

 

While this in theory could maybe be done. It would be lots of work and take a good amount of time.

I think you would be better off getting a Tacoma if that is what you really want.

maybe one that needs a motor if yours is still good.

 

Ya. What do you mean convert? Are you going to get a tacoma cab and bed and put it on your runner frame? And if you dont mind, why?

 

If your frame is rusting out what did the dealer say when you showed them the frame? Thought there was a buy back or recall on taco and 4runner frames due to rust...

 

For what it is worth it was the Tacoma`s The 4Runners were made in Japan.

So other then normal rust and rot they are not effected by the poor Steel Processing By the now gone Dana Corp that made the frames for the Tacoma`s

 

What were they thinking?

 

Yeah I would just like to transfer the motor and drivetrain. Its hard to find good rollers in ohio that arent rusted out. I bought the truck at an auction and went over everything, used por15 on frame but couldnt get up by motor very well so im nervous about mounts rusting out. The frame at this point seems structurally sound im nervous about another ohio winter. If any knows of a roller with a blown motor or no motor i would love to have it shipped to ohio. Last question are the frame sizes the same on the 4 runner as they are on the tacoma? Is that too far fetched to think i could strip it down to frame, sand and respray the frame then reassemble with a tacoma body?

 

The standard cab tacoma and 4runner are pretty much the same except for the rear suspension brackets are all different. Leafs to coils, no what I mean?
And cab mounts, bed mounts, gas tanks alittle different.
But motor and trans should all be the same.

 

I understand thanks for the info.... Seems like it might be less hassle just to do a motor swap

 

for the rust what i did to my truck was took a couple hours at school pulled my truck in the shop and wirebrushed most of the rust of and the undercoated everything from the tranny xmember back

 

definately makes sense to find a roller with a dead drivetrain and swap your Drivetrain into it. FAR less work, and if you'd need to find a Taco body, chances are you'll finding one with a frame and axels anyway.