Hey guys. I'm new to posting here but I think I've read almost every post written since 2007. Anyhow. I bought an '85 SR5 with 5'' TG springs front and rear, an elocker that needs a motor, hi steer kit, and 37's for $1500. The only catch was that it had been tipped on it's drivers side and slaughtered the b-pillar.
I don't want to do a body swap, and I want to clean up some of the welds the other guy did.
I also (yesterday) just got ahold of an '88 with no motor and a good body..

So here's what I'm thinking:

22RE from 85 to 88
TG 5'' springs from 85 to 88 minus 2 springs (hopefully dropping to 3'')
elocker from 85 to 88
IFS steering box is already mounted on 88 for hi steer. (winning!)
33's
Rock sliders
on board air compressor/tanks
Aux fuel tank
Swing out tire carrier with Jerry can and hi lift holder

Here are some pics of all I get to work with!

 

Forgot SAS on the 88 with everything from the 85.

 

Just somthing to think about. the 85 frame sits about 4 inches higher in the front compared to the 88 wich has a straight frame for the i.f.s. it would probably be cheeper and faster to strip the 88 to fix the 85 even if it takes a body swap to do it. but that's just my two cents. nice find by the way

 

Subscribed- That blue runner looks pretty cool! Looks like you've got plenty of parts to build one sweet 4runner.
Just curious, why are you planning to run 33's rather than the 37's?

 

It's going to be setup as a dd, plus weekend warrior, and ultimately an expedition rally monkey. I'll be driving it 800 miles or so each weekend, so i don't want it tooo hyooge.

 

Piss! I wanted to redo all the welds on the shackle mounts, I don't think the lift was done for road worthiness, the guy that did it was trailering it everywhere... Now i'm in a pickle.

 

So here I am drawing pictures and thinking of all the benefits of an extra 4 inches in the front... What would ALL the benefits be for the 85 frame?

 

my buddy has an 88 that's been s.a.s'd and even with a 4 inch lift his axle hits the frame on speed bumps. he only has about 3 inches between the frame and bumpstops. i love the extra clearance my runner has compared to his truck.

my frame after the allpro lift with weight on it


i.f.s frame with weight on it (stock springs but you can see the difference)


another thing to think about is emisions. i don't know what state you are in and how stircked they are but in 88 toyota changed the emision system on the 22re. if it's like california you will have to upgrade the 85 motor to 88 equipment. i had to take EVERYTHING form the 88 doner r/v and put it on my 84 runner when i did the efi swap. might want to look into that before you start anything.

 

Alright so I'm seriously trying to figure out if I want to do a body swap onto the 85 frame, or just deal with the clearance and lack of the extra 4" So here's my biggest question - Since it's not strictly a crawler, and built more for long drives and smaller trails, do I really NEED the flexibility from the 85 frame? I will have a 3-4 inch lift from some TG HD's , but I think I'd hit 33's on the fender before I hit axle on the frame. Do you have pics of full flex on both?

 

with the tg springs moving the axle forward 33's will clear the firewall. before i put the allpro kit on my runner the tiers would rub at full stuff. it's been too hot to go play so i don't have any new pics of it flexed out but here's one with the old springs

first lift stock axle location

allpro long travel and 63 chevys

close up of the axle moved forward

 

no you don't need the extra clearence but it's nice to have. my trucks not a crawler eather i do the same kind of wheeling you want to do. i was just trying to give you some info before you commited to anything.

 

Alright so 3 people have talked me into doing a body swap and keeping the 85 frame.. Guess I'll be starting it next week. It's still my daily driver so I'll be pulling all nighters I supose

The 88 is a DLX and the 85 is an SR5.. I'll be keeping all the interior from the 85, and putting in some of my own switches and lights. Maybe even a cup holder

 

Whats wrong with the engine in the 88 ?. Were are you located ?.

 

There is no engine in the 88.

I'm in Salt Lake City

 

SO I've got the bodies swapped over.. just paid a mechanic down the street for an hour to use his 2 lifts.. SOOOOO much easier..

I'm going around hooking everything back up and the few wiring problems I'm having are getting me.

1. 85 Frame has an O2 sensor right off the manifold - 88 body does not have a plug for this.
2. The passenger side plug under the seat going to the fuel pump - plugs are different. 88 body has a 5 pin plug, 85 frame has a 4 pin. i'll post pics tonight.

I'm thinking about swapping out the entire interior and electrical harness to fix this. If I swap the 85 body harness into the 88 body, does anyone know if I'l hit any other snags? Like plugs not plugging into accessories?

 

Moved to 86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section) and renamed for easier referencing later on.

Looks like a sweet build!

Fink

 

good luck with the build!