After a recent road trip in 30 degree heat it has been decided by my beloved wife to either get AC or get ride of my 4runner.

I am currently running a beautiful 1996 base 2.7l unit.

Is there any way to remove a complete AC system from a donor truck to put it into my truck? 3rz 4runner are far and few between around here. Would it be possible to remove the system from a 3.4l truck and transplant it into a 2.7?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Really want to my current 4runner.

Yes, it should be doable. Not for the faint hearted, but not as bad as the a/c retrofit I did on a Hyundai Accent Base model where everything in front of the firewall had to come out. The cooler on the 4Runner is a separate unit, so the entire dash does not need to come out for that.

AS far as the 3RZ/5VZ, I spent 5 minutes with the EPDs, and everything appears to be the same EXCEPT the compressor/clutch/pulley, idler pulley, mounting bracket, and the discharge hose (the one from compressor to the receiver/dryer.) This is pretty much what I expected to see. Those parts would have to come off a 4cyl. The other compressor line is the same.

Everything behind the firewall, the condenser in front, and all the piping except that one hose are the same. It looks like all you have to do to the control is add the A/C switch a to blank that's there and change the face plate. Wiring the A/C should not be bad but I just don't have the time to go into that for you. That's a whole other level of analysis. If you're lucky, it's plug and play. It may well be. I have attached the '96 A/C wire diagram. There are minor differences only, mainly in the ECM connection. You should be able to just repin.

I won't guarantee this is 100% accurate, but that's what it looks like. There may be a part I missed that is 4CYL only, but it won't be much.

Attached Images

Air Conditioning.pdf (63.8 KB, 146 views)

There was just someone selling a complete statement in the classified section, may want to ask one of the part outs.

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I hope the 30 degrees is in Celcius. Regardless 86F isn't bad. I am batting 100F with a heat index of 115F at the moment.

I doubt you need a whole new system. If the compressor is bad, a new one plus a drier, a good vacuum and recharge job and one is good to go. I would never use a used compressor unless I was absolutely forced to.

I understood him to have no A/C system at all from the factory--which would be unusual but in a '96 4cyl Base Canadian unit might be possible.

They do list parts for Non-A/C trucks in '96:

PLATE, HEATER CONTROL NAME
55519-35050 W(AIR CONDITIONER)
55519-35070


The second one would be for a truck with no A/C. It would cover the hole where the A/C switch goes.

TheDurk you are correct. My 4runner came from the factory with no AC. Taking a quick look it appears as thought the wiring harness is complete with both a spot in the dash were the AC switch would go and a open connector in the engine bay were the compressor should be mounted. Should simplify things a whole lot.

Based on your previous comments I think I am going to give this a go and start collecting parts.

A new drier is a must.

If you need parts I've been happy with these guys.
I ordered a complete system for my 91 from them.

1996 » Toyota » 4Runner » L4 2.7L 2694cc | ACKITS.com

That is a good catch; I need to read more carefully. Most autos I have run into without the AC option all used R12 except GM still offered their work Astro vans without AC as late as 2001, though a kit was offered if the owner desired one after purchase. Others 80s and 90s cars offered the dealer install option, where the routing of the hoses could be interesting.