I want to make my chinook 4 wheel drive, It's a 76 compact pickup with a 20-R and 4 speed gear box. First I need to know if I can take a later model 4x4 compact truck and do some basic swapping or am I getting into a huge money pit. I have seen newer 4x4 chinooks, but to my knowledge I've never seen a conversion. Second what do I need to look at on my truck, potential problems or compatibility issues, etc...

 

It will be expensive either way. Solid axle swap, trans/t-case, drivelines, etc. etc..

 

Heres a guy who has mastered 4x4 conversions on the chinook
http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/nolan's_blew.htm
http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/nolan's_76_chinook.htm
Same guy built both of them, started with one hell of a mess. I know it wont be cheap, what I'm looking for is a point in the right direction towards getting the right truck for a reasonably nice swap. Also I can't look at the cost of the entire project until I have a better Idea of what "WON'T" bolt up. Having not converted anything to four wheel drive before, I can use all the advice I can get.

 

I'm converting my 76 chinook to four wheel drive. I found a guy (at least a web page of his trucks) who has done two that I know of. His are incredible, so I wanted to put a link to each truck here.
1976 Chinook
http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/nolan's_76_chinook.htm
1975 Chinook
http://www.toyotamotorhomes.com/nolan's_blew.htm
These two trucks are ingenious. I don't know how to send a message to Nolan (the owner/builder) from the pages I found, so I wanted to put it here.
Great job Nolan, I am inspired.

 

WOW!! Are you thinking the same level of intense?? If so I would imagine you got some loot for this project. That dude has some pretty intense rides.

 

Why not do the opposite...

Swap the body onto a running 4x4? The hard part will be threading and modifying the wiring.

 

Do you happen to know what year vehicle would make this swap easiest?
Will I still be able to use my 20-R? I'm not really wanting to switch to a different motor.
Thanks

 

He does indeed, I've got plenty of time to make it into anything I can dream up. What I want is a build that I can be proud of, over the course of a few years I'm imagining. But to answer, yes I want to build my truck bottom to top and put the hours and care into it (not to mention the cash), that went into these rides. Very ambitious, but you don't get a ride like that if you're aiming at making it Kinda nice. So as long as my old body holds out and my wife doesn't cut off my access to the bank, I'll just keep toiling away at it. Hopefully one day I'll look at it and say "wow I did it". We'll see, it's only cost me $100 for the truck, $150 for a clutch and about $150 for the tune up so far. If I had any sense (which I don't have a lick of by the way) I'd quit now with a $400 truck that looks OK and runs great, but that's not what we as men do. We make it bigger, stronger, faster and better than it used to be.
Thanks for the reply

 

WOW!
Those things are ideal! I saw one in Santa Rosa. He had an 22r with a 38 Weber and Offenhouser intake. The guy is a genius with Yota's. After I saw his I wanted one so bad. He said the thing climbs steep grades in 4th gear at 60mph!
His was awesome!

 

there are a couple of threads on pirate with guys using 74-78's converting them to 4x4..

 

thanks ill check those out.

 

i think one of them was started by 'minesweeper'

 

I love the truck!!! what year is it and what did you use for the 4x4 parts

 

Duplicate threads merged

 

its not that hard to convert a truck to 4wd thing is you just get alllllll the parts from a doner truck mounts and all then swap it over i made my 95 2wd to 4wd sas for $300 not including wheels and tires and had it done in a week while juggleing school and work and the person helping me was doing the same working rotate. no fancy lift just jack stands no special tools just ones every mechanic should have and a welder

 

Great project idea! I have passed on many toyota campers that were practically being given away over the years. If I had thought of this option I might have taken one. Hope it goes well, the end results are pretty interesting.

 

You got pics?. It would be nice to see them.

 

yeah i can get some of what i did i didnt take any while i was doing it because i had to borrow moms truck which drinks alllooootttt more gas then my little yota ever will so it got done pretty quick

 

sorry im a procrastinator but i finally got them this is my 95 2wd sas not complete yet i have a r150f tranny and transfer case but i need a bellhouseing to go to my 22re

 

That's starting to look good man, When its finished you will think its a completely different truck. Good job, I impressed. Keep the posts coming on this project.