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What am I forgetting to do with this frame swap? Fuel lines, brake lines, cab mounts/bushings... What else??? I'm trying to get a real picture of what will be Involved
I've been out of town for the week for work and thinking about my truck. So much to do! I will take the rest before the storm and it allowed me to get a game plan
I made good progress today. I was able to remove the old body and bed from the parts truck and sent it to the scrap yard. I made about 25 dollars for the old body. So I seeeped up the rust, trash and other things from under the frame so I can get the engine hoist under the truck. It was dirty!
I was then able to get the hoist under the truck for the engine.
After the engine was out, I started comparing the 2 frames. I can't believe the difference between the two.
The only problem with the donor frame is one of the body mounts tab is slightly bent. Probably from when the tree fell on it.
i started to heat and beat the the tab as well as applying upward pressure with a crescent wrench.
i was able to get some of it straightened out but ran out of energy because of the heat.
Current plan is to finish straightening the tab, scrub down the donor frame and apply the Por-15 tomorrow. Then start the process of removing the body panels on the truck. To lessen the weight for when I lift the cab.
Major thunderstorm has delayed any progress today. I did determine that all the brake and fuel lines on the good frame are trash. So I will salvage what I can from the 94 or run all new.
I just ordered a 1 inch body lift with all new hardware and number bracket from 4crawler. Hopefully it will make some clearance issues for running brake and fuel lines easier and help clear the 35s I have planned. I needed all new cab and bed mounting hardware anyway so why not?
The storm passed long enough for me to straighten up the cab mount, scrub the frame with a wire wheel on a angle grinder and apply the first coat of Por-15. So far I'm impressed with it. Im currently eating dinner while I'm waiting for it to dry enough for the second coat.
After a long hot week of work in Michigan I was able to return home and work on the truck for awhile. I have everything (I think!!??!!) Disconnected from the cab and the engine so I can lift the cab over the engine and set it on the ground. Everything is labeled and placed in a baggie to protect the important stuff. I took off the bumper,. fenders, and hood to save some weight. I still need to take off the doors to make it lighter. But here is where we are at.....
In other news today,I found a killer deal on some used 35 inch tires. They are definitely used, and abused but for the price I couldn't pass it up. Four 35x12.50x15 tires on 5 lug Jeep rims 10 minutes away from my house were advertised for 200 dollars. I took them home for 100!! The current plan is to sell the Jeep rims and make most of my money back. Then I will use the tires to make sure that I did my math correctly and that the 35s will actually got and not rub. If I prove that is true I will find a better set and use these for a spare. I went and picked up the tires in the 80. In case you were wondering about the cargo capacity of the 80, here's a picture for proof...
All 3 rows of seats are still in the vehicle and can easily fit a set of 35s between the jump seats. The 4th tire is in there where the second row of seats are that are folded forward. I then tried to use the 80 to break the bead on the tires....
Didn't work. Somehow 5100 pounds isn't enough to pop a tire off the bead. Oh well tomorrow is another day
Well today was a good day, I got the cab off the frame. I took the doors off the cab and wrapped a 40 ft long 4 inch wide crane strap around the floor and above the frame. I then hooked up the hoist in the middle of the cab and started to lift.
I had some neighbors over and my sons were out to help keep things steady. I set it down on some saw horses and took a break.
My youngest son and I went about to prep the engine and transmission for it's move. We removed the driveshaft and started to work on the rear axle as well. While working on the rear axle I found this.....
driver's side front spring mount. As much as doing this swap is a pain in the a$$ I wouldn't have made it very far before it folded....
Well I'm in town this week, hopefully I can get some more work done after work every night.
Well that's one way to do it, not sure I would have thought of that!
I've been pondering how to get the body off my 4runner so I can paint the frame and do some body work.
From: exo-reality -wave if you see me; Front Range, CO
Well, I wish you luck!! 'Cuz you sure need more - I believe you may have used all of what you had not collapsing that old frame. Pretty scarey stuff.
magnet18: I had considered this before - was thinking of an external frame or trestle with wheels. Then about 6 months maybe(?) ago I ran across a thread (or maybe on pirate?) and some one had done pretty much what I had envisioned. Sorry I can't find it off the top of my head tho.
[QUOTE=coopster;52448198]Well, I wish you luck!! 'Cuz you sure need more - I believe you may have used all of what you had not collapsing that old frame. Pretty scarey stuff. /QUOTE]
I haven't driven the truck in about 3 years. I was fixing it up to drive recently and found the bad frame. Luckily I had a spare...
Well that's one way to do it, not sure I would have thought of that!
I've been pondering how to get the body off my 4runner so I can paint the frame and do some body work.
I saw this on Facebook. Not my picture but a good idea
I forgot to post pictures of my headers last weekend, when lowered the muffler the header flange snapped off. Oh well, they were old anyway...
so I ordered a cheap set of headers from eBay for 170 dollars. I'm not expecting anything special from them. Just cheaper and quicker way to replace them and not have to do the exhaust crossover mod to keep the heat away from#6 cylinder. they arrived today..
I was motivated to get stuff done today, so me and the boys got the rear axle, gas tank removed and the engine and transmission prepped and ready to go. I'm about 2 steps away from reassembly. I'm trying to make things happen
On Friday night I got the engine and transmission removed and sat down on the ground. I moved the Swiss cheese frame into the grass and moved the good frame into position. I cleaned up the driveway and called it a night. Today I had some church commitments in the morning and come home to take a nap. Then I got after the truck. I switched the 4.56 diff into the good frame and put the engine and transmission into place. Reassembly has started!!!! I'm going to clean up the transmission cross member and paint it with the Por 15 stuff and get that bolted in place tomorrow. I also need to finish up the rear axle swap and start working on fuel and brake lines. I can't believe I have turned the corner to start putting it back together!!! I'm motivated now!!!
Jul 18, 2020 | 05:15 PM
