Well, I call it the great swapathon, because thats exactly what it is. Though this is my buildup thread, the majority of the work is and will be swaps of some sort. My list goes like this:

-Full SR5 swap, less a sun roof and vent windows
-Full gray interior swap
-5 Speed swap
-4.56 Gear swap
-frame swap
-3VZFE or 5VZFE swap
-maybe a SAS, if I can figure out how to maintain a stock ride height for now...

to get us started, here is the parts truck I just drove to Michigan for this past Saturday:







It was a sad day for that truck... it was a fully loaded truck. had every last option from factory... and it had a cherry body...

Though I got almost every part of the interior, a good frame, gears, rims and tires, and some other misc parts.




^^ Note the 82,xxx original miles...

Let the swaps begin! Tearing into the rear end to swap over on my truck:






Stay tuned for progress pictures, though the bulk of the work will be done in August.

 

Nice truck, shame it was wrecked.

That rear jacking system looks real safe

 

haha, electrical wire spools ftw! you can't see it, but I have wheel chocks in the front, and I tried to knock it off of the spool, it didnt happen. works for me

 

well, the new rear end is ready to go in, just waiting on some more day light hours. pics to follow.

but a question quick. the oil seal behind the companion flange, is there any special precautions I need to take before installing it? and what size is the nut on the differential, I need to buy a socket to fit.

thanks guys!

 

bump, anyone know what size nut this is?

 

found out its a 30mm, thanks 4crawler.com.

any tips for someone bleeding brakes for the first time? I have a helper, but I'm looking for any tips. and will the front brakes need re-bled? I didn't touch them.

 

You are a far braver man than I. Most people would see your pile of parts and go running. Good luck. Definatley do the 5vze swap if it is in the budget. It will be far more useful offroad then. Depending on what tire size you are going to run I'd keep the SAS as small as possible.

 

Well, exactly one week later, and after many hours of my time, I got the rear end swapped in. I must say, the 4.56 gears make a pretty noticeable difference. I can get the left tire to spin! that and about every time I took off tonight, I chirped the tires. Its really nice to be able to gain speed in O/D and climb hills in third with T/C lockup.

both rear ends removed


my truck ready for the transplant


extra heavy duty leaf packs that came with the parts truck

due to time constraints, I didn't get to swap them onto my truck...

my ol' girl ready for a transplant


thought I'd take a ricey picture to accentuate my new wheel-less look


old rear end


it blew an oil seal, that was the primary reason for the swap


the two rear ends together


another ricey shot for ya


rear end installed


awaiting an oil seal on the companion flange


and the rest is history.

I bought my very first torque wrench, a new oil seal, gear oil, brake fluid, a few miscellaneous sockets, and a brake bleeding kit. bled the brakes all alone, and it was my first time! they work great. I'm exceptionally thrilled with the outcome of all the work. (90+ degrees here currently, hit 101 today, at about 80-90% humidity. no air tools. and lots of dirt, gravel, and rust rust rust.)

I missed the gym all week because I was working on this when I could. I didn't need to go, I got a great workout busting the parts truck rear end loose from the leaf springs. it took me as long to do that as it did to remove my entire rear end. but I broke my biggest fear of not being able to work on vehicles. I disassembled the companion flange and installed a new one, torqued it all to FSM specs, installed the whole rear end, bled the brakes, and swapped out my transmission cross member. I dont know what I was ever afraid of...

up next: the front differential

thanks, and keep cool (at least in PA, supposed to go well over 100 tomorrow...)

 

just an update

front diff is installed, but I have yet to test it. anyone know which side of the ADD flange needs to have constant vacuum? I have no time to weld it or have it taken care of.

also, SFA for the new frame, has anyone done a swap with 3 inches or less of lift? thats all the higher I'm willing to go...

I am currently looking at a 4Runner e-locker already geared to 4.56 for $350, is that a good price?

thanks, and stay tuned, things will start happening soon!

 

What did you do with the bed of the parts truck?

James

 

A 4runner with an elocker and 4.56 gears for $350? The elocker alone is worth more then that. Does it run?

 

http://www.off-road.com/trucks4x4/ar....jsp?id=399612

 

That rear end is a F#$%ING Steal! Nice work!

 

well, its just the 3rd and elocker itself, but already set up with 4.56 gears, I think thats a good price...

thanks for the link!

 

the bed is junk, I am selling it for scrap. It has a collision on the right side, and rust just about everywhere else. the support structure underneath is completely gone.

 

i have done the sr5 swap already.. its not that bad.

 

You might wanna invest in a good set of jackstands!!!

Dying aint cool (at least last time I checked)


everything else looks tits tho

 

I have cheap jackstands and an assortment of things to make them work... hahaha. I know that I need them, but during those few weeks, I went over a month without a paycheck, so buying things outside of what was absolutely nec. to complete the swap was not an option...

so I think I will buy that third and take the 4.10 rear end that blew the oil seal, and completely re-work it for the new frame. new bearings, seals, disc brake swap, e-locker, and maybe new axle shafts too. what do you guys think?

 

got the cab pulled and all the parts removed from cab of the parts truck.


and I am already envisioning my 3VZFTE powaar plant sitting right here...


more to follow, just hang on tight.

 

oohh... tandem axle?
lol.....
why not?