Some of you know that I was possibly getting an 88 Ex-Cab Pickup in exchange for doing an engine swap. Well, I bit the bullet and decided to take on the task of swapping out the 3.0 and installing it into a 4runner in exchange for the truck.

The only stipulation was that the 88 Pickup was hit hard in the back and will have no engine after the swap. I was not sure what to expect from the truck, being as I had only seen it in a few photos and not in person.

It turns out that it is not as bad as it looks. A little bit of frame work and some body work on the Cab. Nothing I cant Handle. Here are a few pictures.









Looks really bad in the photos, but to my surprise the truck is in really good shape. The frame, Now bent in back, is really rock solid. I beat the hell out of it with a Ball peen Hammer and no soft spots whatsoever. There isnt even any rust on the Cab. Rockers, floors, cab corners are rock solid as well.

 

Heres a few more.













After getting it in and tooling around with it for a few minutes, We decided to take the Cap and bed off to see how bad the frame and cab damage actually was.



Still looks bad with the cap off and bed on. Going to need a new back window for sure.






And the beds off!! with a little manipulation of course!!



Passenger side frame rail is bent straight down a little. Going to have to get it on the frame puller.








Work on the truck is going to be stalled for a few days because we have to finish taking the engine out of this truck and put it into this 4 runner.





My Plans for it:
Obviously an engine
Flat Bed or find another bed
Bob the frame where the trailer hitch trashed it
Wheels and tires
Olive drab paint , Like my old 92
Bed liner the interior cab floor
SAS when I find an axle and the money tree.
New clutch and fuel pump while I have access to them


Ill keep you guys posted.

Thanks for looking.

 

Pictures dont seem to be working now.

And Just took more measurements on the frame and its not looking so good. The whole frame is off about 1 inch or more all the way to the front of the cab. I need to get it to a frame shop and get their opinion. I might be parting this thing out.

Ill keep you guys posted.

 

Got the engine out today and going to take it to the frame shop on Thursday to get the final verdict on if its worth repairing.