OG 85' build thread HERE

So like the title says I'm finally getting around to body swapping my 4runner, I've probably had the new body for 2-3 years but the task seemed pretty intimidating without hoists or lifts.

First off I'm swapping a 2nd gen body onto a 1st gen frame, biggest reason being I couldn't find a 1st Gen body for under 2k 🙄, got my entire 2nd gen 2wd for $300 less a motor lol

Through a decent amount of research I think only 1-2 people have actually done this swap and documented it. From measuring everything up all the mounts are the same besides the two behind the rear passenger doors "5-6" higher" and the two on the radiator support are about 1" low.

I'm gonna try to document this the best I can if anybody has questions or suggestions feel free!

Onto the pics!

Getting them moved to the new place \"didn't help the timeline"

Starting on pulling the donor body

About 6 hours and an 18 pack later 😂


Getting the all the necessary stuff pulled and laid onto the motor


All laid out and ready to go

 

😳 have fun with that man sounds like a TON of work. I’m sure it’s a great opportunity to paint/rust repair

 

Yeah my frame was starting to get pretty spotty with surface rust, my pass side rear spring mount was only welded on the outside/front,rear cause of the fuel tank, I beat the absolute snot out of this drivetrain, rebuilt it and did it again. I'm excited to have a water proof body again 😁, power windows and heat is just a plus 🤙🤙

 

Got the first gen body pulled, all necessary mounts n such pulled as well, frame painted, even got a second coat on it.

By far the most redneck thing done to get this build done.



With the help of a couple buddies, got it pulled and pressure washed.

And knocked the rest of the surface rust/grease and dirt off with some wire wheels.

As it sits for now

 

Got a little more surface rust knocked down.

Old fuel tank, And spring mount that needs welded on the inside.



Got the necessary body mounts removed and smoothed up

First coat of some plain black Rust-Oleum


Upper tank is 89-95, lower is 84-88

Fits like a glove, all but 1 bolt on the rear side

 

Been pretty busy but finally getting around to getting some stuff done.

Misjudged how high I needed the new body to clear the old frame, and obviously under built the sawhorses. End result it fell, no big deal but a pain in the ass no less.

Got it drug over to my chain hoist

Chain hoist definitely gets it high enough

Looks like it fits 👌

Definitely alot harder than it looks especially by yourself.

Annnnd it's on, all new body mounts/hardware and a 1" body lift , need to weld in the body mounts behind the doors and get th e front ones figured out

Now to deal with what wires need to go and what ones need to stay

And to deal with lengthening this steering shaft, I may need to combine the two to make it happen.

Dang at least the brake lines line up just right 🤙🤙

 

got some decent progress done on...ziptie? Or wine and dine? Not sure what to name this piece yet.

got the steering shaft extended, alternator wiring assembled and other misc stuff handled
I was able to extend my steering shaft by welding the two I had together

Didn't turn out half bad

After about 3 hours of pulling and prying the core support back into some sort of shape "it was in a slight not so slight accident 🙄" still pretty fubar

Started tackling my alternator wiring, from what I could tell all Toyotas were 3 wire like the body harness but for some reason the alternator on my 85 was 4 wire 🤦‍♂️

Looks like it was changed from 3 wire to 4 wire for whatever reason, and terribly done


Decided to just cut it up and start fresh, came out pretty decent.

 

Decided while I was waiting on parts to install some cheapo parts store gauges since the stock ones won't be used except the fuel and voltage gauge

What a freaking mess!

Getting it semi mocked up

Getting the pocket back in place

Console cut and everything back in place, that was a headache and a half.

 

Well I decided to bite the bullet and cut the core support off, after messing with it for pretty much 6-8 hours nothing lined up correctly, got me a fancy spot weld cutter and it honestly helped a ton. Removal wasn't terrible but beware you can't get a brand new core support for the "nicer" headlight style 2nd gen runners, specifically 92-95, soooo unfortunately had to get grill, headlights, bezels yada yada. Still waiting on those

Disassembly of the core support, you can see how bowed it is.

Kind of turned into a nightmare

Well it's off 🤦‍♂️

This is me finding out I've got the wrong core support and there isn't one for my specific model 🙄 luckily it was only $60

The differences

Said screw it, got it mounted up, new hood and fender on


Not great but probably too good for a street legal wheeler

I tried to mock up the grill/headlights I had just to determine if I should go ahead and find the style I need... Decided it was way too janky.

The correct style fits wayyyyyyyyy better, waiting on headlights and bezels.... accidentally ordered them from Hong Kong, literally, oh and it looks vurry nice on the 38.5s

 

Again waiting on parts, stupid Corona virus 🙄...had my timing set waiting on me decided to go ahead and get that done. Yes quick and dirty redneck style.

Getting it taken down

Just like a body hoist 😂

Loads of RTV lol

Nice n shiney

And put back, still waiting on a radiator so I can set the timing and get this stupid 38/38 jetted correctly

 

New rad finally came in, no name eBay radiator, 3 row aluminum with shroud and fan for $160 and I'm actually impressed, fit perfectly and has tabs to hold the rad in place while you put the bolts in, nabbed a cheapie Hayden fan controller with thread in style sensor, got it wired up besides the sensor "need an adapter" works awesome, fans on and at idle it won't even get above 130°






I've got a low range off-road battery box waiting to go in along with a dekka battery, military style positive terminal will be going in when that stuff gets installed .

 

Was this build bolt ish?? like did you mix match body lifts or completely relocate body mounts? I have a 85 4runner 22 5-speed frame and a 95 4runner 3.0 5-speed that blew the head gasket and i was thinking about using the 22re and swaping frames because i have everything i need i think and the 85 just sits because of rust and that sold axel would be nice. But if the body mounts need to be relocated i think i might just go work for some money and try a 3.4

 

killer work here. props to you for getting it all done out side too.

 

Thanks guys I keep forgetting to update this thread, I've taken it wheeling a time or two and it's killer with the 4doors and power windows 🤣

And yes it was almost bolt ish only moved 2 body mounts behind the rear doors, and the fronts i just added another stock body mount with the body lift to make it work height wise

 

 

Truck looks awesome...where is that pic taken? Is that Citrus WMA?

 

I wish lol, This was at spider MX in wildwood FL pretty cool place with alot of man made obstacles but not as hard-core as Hardrock in Ocala.