About a year ago, I decided I didn't like having an extended cab. I then purchased a 1985 Toyota shortbed frame that fits a front solid axle stock. I considered settling for the standard cab... which looks very sporty as a shortbed in its own right.

However, with an increased need for a multi-person vehicle for camping trips and the entertainment of a convertible... it was decided. I bought a 1987 4Runner SR5 tub (w/o sunroof) and top and rollbar included.

Following will be a brief summary of the swap with limited pictures (unfortunately). IF anyone has in-depth questions I look forward to answering them through PM or posts via this thread. And without further ado...



The factory 4Runner tub fastens to a short wheel base frame via 10 bolting locations. A factory cab and bed combo for a truck uses 12 (two extra for load support in front section of the bed).

With the exception of the 4 forward-most mounting points (radiator support and front kick panel areas) the remaining mounts do not line up in anyway, shape, or form. The closest matching mounts thereafter are the ones that are normally located at the rear of a standard cab. THey are a perfect match for shape and size. Location-wise, the mounts are at perfect height, but moust be moved rearward. The other 4 mounts must be fabricated through imagination.

I originally attempted to measure the difference in distance between mounts to graph out new locations, however the concern of being even a hair off was a big factor. SO, the tub became suspended in air by jackstands along the rocker panels. The 4 like mounting points (the forward-most ones I spoke of earlier) are bolted up to guide the frame into place. The rear "ass-end" of the frame is jacked up and strapped to the body like so...




(END PART 1)

 

By the end of part one of my project, I had 8/10 mounts that would line up with factory holes in the 4Runner tub. Unfortunately my welding experiences are limited, so I will soon take it upon myself to have a professional go over my beads. After the last 2 weeks of driving it, they've held in on-the-road conditions. I won't be offroading right away though.

So now that the frame bolts to the body, its time to make it a roller. So where am i getting the guts to this bad boy? Haha... well ol blue's a voluntary organ donor... didn't ya know?



Bye bye bed! Gave it to a friend who will put it to better use than an auto dismantler (it's a custom camping trailer now for him and his new wife!).



Took out the motor and tranny and threw them in the garage for a few days...



Unbolted the front brake lines, steering push rod, shocks, driveline, and peaf shackles and rolled the complete ront axle to the 4Runner carcass. Had it all bolted up and resting on two wheels in an hour!



(End part 2)

 

Wow, that's a big undertaking.

It's looking great so far!

 

Ok, kinda doing a time jump here... I didn't take very many pictures after this. At this point we have a rolling 4Runner with working brakes. The next step was to run the electrical. Because we're still using a 22R, the matching electrical harness has to accomodate. This is just fine... a 4Runner is just a chopped up truck is all!





Cutting my time short here cus its bed time... here's the conclusion. Everything done in this project was done with a hand tool found in my shoe-box-sized toolbox, minus the welder, grinder, and sawzall. There was one more problem... FUEL TANK! If you're staying with a Toyota gas tank, it needs to be from a 4Runner! And on top of that, the fuel tank bolting points on the frame must be stretched. In this case, I have temporarily uses longer bolts of the same thread that utilize steel spacer sleeves and "stopper nuts". It's complicated to explain, but basically the fuel tank "hangs" by it's bolts and is not allowed to travel upward (bumps) because of the spacers.

Unfortunately thats all the photos I took as the major operations of this project went fast (had to have my safari rig done by summer, ya feel me?). Below is what I worked with originally, and the beautiful results...

 

THat's it! Any questions, just ask me! Please! I love to help.

As for the law and regestering this beast? Well haha...

I applied for a new VIN number from CHP. I displayed proof of ownership for all 3 VIN numbers (one for engine, one for frame, one for body/tub). CHP issued me a brand new vin number and the 4Runner is actually registered as a "SPCNS" or, special construction vehicle.

And guess what? Because it is a "special construction" it is given no MAKE, no MODEL, and get this... no YEAR. Can't get smogged if you ain't got all that information! So I must be exempt... engine changes anyone? Maybe... maybe.

 

Nice work man! It's a blast to take those dashes apart and back together. How many hours total did you spend working on this?

 

Um... well I continued driving the oriignal truck while retrofitting the new frame to the 4Runner tub. That duration was about 2 months... but that was working full time and going to school... realistically maybe 10 to 12 hours prepping the 4Runner carcass for the conversion. Cleaning it out, welding body mounts, painting the frame. During this time, I also collected small things that pertained to 4Runners only: center console with all PWR switches, weatherstripping, rear seats, extra seatbelts, a brand new fuel tank from Spectre, rear wiper pieces, a power window relay, and all of the wiring that runs to the rear of the 4Runner.

I began taking the blue truck apart on a Monday and had a rolling 4Runner with working brakes and steering by Thursday. We're talking from sun up to sun down with the help of a friend or two here and there. Friday night was my bud's bachelor party (I was the best man) and I got f***ed up enough to wake up on a bathroom floor! Never thought I'd see that day coming but... it did.

4Runner got held off for a week because of his wedding and school projects and what not. But after the wedding weekend the motor ran fine and the tranny stil shifted throughout all the gears, as well as the transfer case.

So it was ready for my annual Memorial camping trip, BUT the CHP appointment could not be scheduled until almost a month afterward! So the Toyota had to sit out Memorial weekend this year but July 4 better watch out! So until the CHP appt. came up (June 19) I put the interior back together nice and careful, I wanted EVERYTHING to work.

I never thought I'd see the day where the power window would work using a pickup truck harness... but it did. On a 4Runner, the rear combo lights integrate in the harness that operates all of the tailgate's accessories. Well, the pickup harness was already controlling the lights, so I unhooked the entire rearward harness from a junked 4Runner and routed it just like in the factory. Went to Pick N Pull and "found" a window relay. Plugged everything in and then ran power and ground to the main plug that sits near the fuse block. I tapped into the reverse/4x4 light power wire because it is keyed and those lights don't pull a whole lot of amperage anyway. THe main relay power wire is hooked straight to the positive battery cable with an inline fuse (I believe its a 30a fuse... don't remember).

And the ground is just bolted to the body somewhere near the fuse block. I had to rewire the switches because when I found the harness, the switch plugs had been cut from the harness. That was a whole lot of fun! We're talking 19 or 20 wires that must be spliced! So anyway, the power window works. Wiper still doesn't work... any suggestions?

I'd consider this a 6 month project for people (like me) who work and go to school YET still find time to do crazy projects like this one. Of course, time spent is spanned out and realistically 2-3 weeks of paid vacation should finish all of the "big" things.

 

Haha. bachelor party sounds like a blast. i haven't been that wasted...yet.
Man that's a lot of work, I'm not looking forward to swapping the harnesses from my 85 to my 87 pu. Sucks I thought I'd have it up and running by the 4th but i ran into a bunch of problems along the way. The 87 cab is ready to go onto my 85 frame now but I just don't have enough people to transfer it. and yeah I know what it's like going to school and working. I'm still in high school though. And the windshield wipers you're talking about the windshield wipers or the ones for the rear? I'll check mine out tomorrow to see how its put together but it could be a bad motor. I have an extra one I'll give to you if you wanna pay shipping.

 

Oh, I appreciate the offer but its the rear wiper. I haven't looked into it much since we won't be seeing rain in sunny CA til late September. (Even then rear wipers are semi-useless, unless one prefers driving backwards. I'm just anal about things working and not working.)

But hey man, I don't know if I told you this but feel free by all means to PM me if you have questions with your project. I love talking Toyotas.

As for high school, I'm sure you've been told this but take it from someone who just graduated two years ago: ENJOY IT! A motherload of change happens after it. Soemtimes good... sometimes bad. Do everything fun you can do without landing in jail. I know this stuff sounds cliche right now, but you'll understand sooner or later.

 

so you'll be running a 22RE, correct, or just the 22R? I would think after all you've done so far the 22re would be the way to go.

 

Right now it has the 22R... all of the fuel injection parts I've been collecting are sitting in 3 different planter boxes in my garage with about 3 wiring harnesses.

 

Hey man I finally got my truck put back together. It took me a little longer then expected though summer school got in the way for a few weeks. But anyways here's the link https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f88/...b-more-188779/