I just joined the forum so I can post info about my build. The runner actually belongs to a friend of mine but I'm helping with the build. The rig is starting out as a 91 runner with a blown 3.slow. He wanted to do a 3.4 upgrade and already did a lot of the needed research. I suggested finding a good wrecked runner to pull all of the needed parts and found him a rolled 97 with just over 100K on the clock.

Here is where it gets interesting. On the drive home from picking it up I suggested saving money (deffinitly not sanity) and doing a body swap. I've built replica cars and therefore have some fabrication experience.

I searched the web for information or build threads about swapping bodies but wasn't able to find much. If anyone out there has info or knows where to find it that would be great!

So here is where we start. First thing is to get the 97 body off of it's frame.

Before: & Progress so far:

 

First post was from work. At home now= more pics.

 

More progress. The dash and complete wiring harness is out. Master cylinder, gas, and brake pedals are out.

 

We made the runner a convertible and then took it down to the frame.

 

Last week we finished prepping the 91 body for removal. Dash was out and the body was unbolted from the frame. We left the doors on until the day of the body move.

 

Today was a fairly significant day in the build. We moved the 91 body over to the 97 frame.

1st getting the front to clear the engine.
2nd moving it back
3rd moving it to the 97 frame

 

This weeks progress. We finished cutting the body mounts off of the frame. The plan is to bolt them up to the body, set the body where it's gonna be, and then weld the mounts back onto the frame. We are going to be doing a 3" body lift.

 

We started cutting out the floor pan. This cut was mainly so the area under the rear seat would clear the fuel tank. And here is a picture of what the final height will look like with the 3" body lift.

 

More progress. We finished the rear mount today. The original body mounts needed to be mounted on the frame 5 1/2" off of the original 97 frame. This was due to the difference in bodies and the body lift we are doing.

 

We started on the middle rear mount.

 

We finished the body mounts today. All 10 or the original mounts are relocated onto new lift blocks and it's bolted to the frame. A lot of today.

 

Driver's side.

 

Passenger side.

 

he must really love that thing to rebuild it! haha

 

Final ride height (bolted to the frame).

 

More time then money. LOL

It will be unique when it's done, plus we can say we did it.

 

looks good so far... nice to see another Central CA guy here...

 

So I'm guessing you register this as a '91? Should be easy to pass smog considering you have ALL the proper V6 emissions equipment already installed

 

According to CHP when you get the VIN verified they check three locations, the body under the front window, frame, and engine. Which ever two match is what the vehicle will be registered as. So in our case, it will be registered as the 97. Thankfully the 97 still has a clean title.

Yes, SMOG shouldn't be a problem at all because everything is all original to the 97.

 

Last week we started installing the floorpan/firewall from the 97 into the 91 body. Not really close to being done as there is still alot of trimming and fitting to get it ready to weld in.

Here is where we cut the 91 floorpan out to make room for the heater core under the passenger seat.


And here is the pan after the first day of working on it.