i have access to a cheap 1981 reg. cab, shortbox pickup, 4wd of course ;], and i was wondering if it was easy to put my 1987 4runner body on to it to take advantage of the solid axles, and a good running driveline
thanks

 

I bet no.

:wabbit2:

 

probably not. Maybe the bed though. ????? Oh wait he said 4runner body not pickup body, then nope not without some and

I would be just as "easy" to swap the entire suspension over to the 4runner.

 

the FSMs have a diagram with measurements of the frames and body measurements. this may be the quickest and easiest way for you to compare the two completely different chassis designations.

if you want to see for yourself exactly how different the mounts are, download the FSMs (ncttora is a good source) and compare. You may find its only body mounts that need to be cut and rewelded to the frame, then the use of some 1" body block adapters, which you may need to custom craft.

i suspect that the diagrams will illustrate the trucks are very different, with regard to alignments of frame mounted mechanicals that penetrate the body, i.e. shifters, pedals, heater/ac parts, as well as frame mounted mechanicals which conform to the body i.e. exhaust, fuel tank mechanicals.

but anything can be done with enough time and motivation, if you really want to combine a good frame with a good body.

 

the fsm on ttorra for the first gen isn't gonna cover the 81. It's an 85 manual, completely different body. Which would practically be the same body mounts as the 87 4runner since the 87 and 85 4runners were the same body.

 

i don't know what's in that huge zip file on ttora, but it says "79-85". it's all '85? i can't download it here.


toyotareference dot com lists the '81 as an RN38 frame. the '87 body is on an RN61 frame.

so that's what you'd need to find diagrams of to compare specs.

 

it says 79-85 but it's an 85 specific manual. Everything in that manual is related to the late 22r block as well, nothing in there about the early block. IIRC.

 

It was my understanding that the solid axle trucks and 4runners were a few inches narrower. I figure that might make things a little complicated

 

The real question is how does the OP define easy???

One persons easy is the next persons impossible