Making this thread to follow the build of my trustworthy 1988 4runner.

I bought the truck for 700$ and installed a used transmission and away we went. Ive had the truck for 4 years now and she has treated me well. The ol' 22re has sure seen some things over its 450 000 km journey and it is time to put that old sewing machine to rest, and come out swinging.

The Build:

7MGTE swap
single T-case (for now)
SAS
RUF
chevy springs
5.29 gears
35's

 

more pics

 

Cool project, can't wait to see the tear down and rebuild!

 

Thanks! Ive been wanting to do it for so many years now it's nice to finally have the time to do it

 

Alex looking all too excited for grinding

 

IFS garbage GONE!

 

Much better

 

Looking good and looking forward to see what you do.

 

This is going to be a cool build!! I would love to do a 7MGE swap. I always see them at the u-pull it.

 

Old IFS mounts smoothed out and got the rear end pulled

 

Ive got the front axle prepared just waiting on some parts to continue the SAS (Hangers ,Ubolts ect). Tranny is removed and I will pull the engine tomorrow

 

Looking great. I always have liked the "while I am hear might as well get it all knocked out" approach. Very labor intensive, but worth every bit. Saves from having to go back and do it again.

 

Engine gone

 

With everything pulled you have such easy access to so much that would otherwise be a headache to do. Lets hope I don't have to go back for too much!

 

I did like you, engine swap and SAS at the same time, like you said, having the engine/trans out makes it so much easier to clean up the frame rails and get all the ifs brackets ground down and to get the new springs and front axel mocked into place. The only draw back is without the weight of the engine on the front springs, its hard to tell if your front shackle angle is set up correctly.
If I could make a suggestion, I would tack weld your front spring hanger in place ( just in case you need to move it later) once the engine and trans are in and weight is on the springs, you'll have a better idea if your shackle angle is good, then you can burn in the front spring hanger. I wish I'd done that on mine, my shackle angle isn't horrible, but I could have moved my hanger back a little and improved it, that is if I hadn't of burned it in already, lol.

Cool build, look forward to seeing more!

 

frame tubes installed

 

Any help is greatly appreciated! I actually was concerned about achieving an acceptable shackle angle because you're right without the weight on it you really have no idea what you are working with. Thanks for the suggestion I will wait until I know how it sits before I fully commit to the front hanger location

 

more pics

 

making room for the Intercooler

 

I Don't like these front pieces of the fender well



They gone