Body Swap (alternative to a 4X4 swap)

[RockenAlex]

So I've got a friend with a 2wd '98 runner and of course like most in this situation he want's it to be 4wd.
I happen to have a '98 limited 4X4 that was totaled in a snow storm, blah blah etc. There is no frame damage to it accept for a small amount on the end of the frame rails that was from the PO's accident.

SO, the question is, how hard would it be to swap the bodies instead of a typical 4wd swap? Would it be plug and play if we're meticulous about labeling the wiring plugs? Obviously we would have to cut a whole in the floor of the transmission tunnel to fit the t-case shifter. But would any further body modifications be necessary? Would a 2in body lift solve any of those issues?
Other than that what's stopping this from being a relatively easy swap? Does the t-case have a control computer, and would it be separate from the engine or transmission controller? It is push button 4hi on the stick but it is not multi mode or anything.

Any info would be greatly appreciated guys, thanks!

 

[Troybylt]

A 4X4 Swap probably would be easier, head on over to [MENTION=25058]ChildrenOfBodom[/MENTION] 's build thread, he swapped his 2x4 over to 4x4 and has a quite detailed process.

 

[Southern4Runner]

Hey this is for me! lets get some good feedback! Dying for 4wd.

:thumb3::thumb3::thumb3:

 

[RockenAlex]

Oh I've seen that, but I honestly think difficult wiring is cheaper and easier than medium difficulty fab work (or at least with my current abilities) so I understand that we could do all that work but I actually think we could do this easier, we have a shop with a lift as well.

 

[UnderFire]

I can nearly 100% guarantee a straight up 4wd swap is easier, especially if you want manual hubs instead of the ADD, the 4wd swap in my runner took probably 4-5 hours between dropping in the front end parts and swapping out the transmission. I need probably an hour and a half more work to make the trans crossmember right. You can make it much easier on yourself by buying the Trail Gear Tacoma Transmission Crossmember as well I think, that pretty much eliminates all the real fab work.

The floor is no big deal at all, find the right shifter cover pieces, and elongate the hole, when you pull it apart you should be able to see the mark already there from the factory, took like 5 minutes with a grinder and jigsaw and it's done.

I prefer straight up J shift t-cases but I'm pretty sure someone's done the swap with multimode.

 

[busmup808]

I can nearly 100% guarantee a straight up 4wd swap is easier, especially if you want manual hubs instead of the ADD, the 4wd swap in my runner took probably 4-5 hours between dropping in the front end parts and swapping out the transmission. I need probably an hour and a half more work to make the trans crossmember right. You can make it much easier on yourself by buying the Trail Gear Tacoma Transmission Crossmember as well I think, that pretty much eliminates all the real fab work.

The floor is no big deal at all, find the right shifter cover pieces, and elongate the hole, when you pull it apart you should be able to see the mark already there from the factory, took like 5 minutes with a grinder and jigsaw and it's done.

I prefer straight up J shift t-cases but I'm pretty sure someone's done the swap with multimode.

Did you have to fab anything up front or was everything bolt on? I might tackle this in my moms 99. Hers is a 4 banger 5spd

 

[UnderFire]

Did you have to fab anything up front or was everything bolt on? I might tackle this in my moms 99. Hers is a 4 banger 5spd

Front diff dropped right in with a set of factory hardware from the junkyard, X-member was the only fabrication.

 

[busmup808]

Front diff dropped right in with a set of factory hardware from the junkyard, X-member was the only fabrication.

Mahalos for the 411. Very good 2 know.

 

[Desert36]

The value of a "totaled" vehicle would be far less than a 2wd to 4wd conversion, and if you ever were in an accident the vin would get run and you'd be in deep shit for driving an uninsured vehicle with false registration... You can do all the paperwork to make it legal but seems like more work doing a body swap than a driveline swap. I would change everything over though, engine(if it's good), rear(if the gearing is different), computer, etc...

 

[snow junky]

Do a solid axle swap.

 

[Avwizz]

the 4X4 swap is pretty straight forward. It was literally my first mod ever. The front diff simply bolts in. the tranny is the same however you'll need to move the crossmember forward which requires welding it in place. I did however wire the ADD to a dash switch instead of to the ECM, so my runner still has a 4X2 computer but never had a problem.

 

[RockenAlex]

the 4X4 swap is pretty straight forward. It was literally my first mod ever. The front diff simply bolts in. the tranny is the same however you'll need to move the crossmember forward which requires welding it in place. I did however wire the ADD to a dash switch instead of to the ECM, so my runner still has a 4X2 computer but never had a problem.

Please explain further how you were able to keep the 4X2 computer! If this is possible then the swap will be starting in no time, I think out only obstcle is the wiring right now.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

A 4X4 Swap probably would be easier, head on over to @ChildrenOfBodom 's build thread, he swapped his 2x4 over to 4x4 and has a quite detailed process.

:thanks:for the mention!

Loving 4WD...

 

[Southern4Runner]

We decided to do the 4x4 swap instead of body swap. What needs to be done in terms of wiring and computers?

 

[Dirtyfingers]

Please explain further how you were able to keep the 4X2 computer! If this is possible then the swap will be starting in no time, I think out only obstcle is the wiring right now.

I'd like to know how this was possible too, I'm sure I'll figure it out with the v8 swap but it would be nice to know.

 

[TOY2G]

[MENTION=6383]STRAP22[/MENTION] he has done a body swap on hi sold T4R. seemed pretty straight forward, however hi swas because of rust on the frame, not because of 4x4

 

[Southern4Runner]

the 4X4 swap is pretty straight forward. It was literally my first mod ever. The front diff simply bolts in. the tranny is the same however you'll need to move the crossmember forward which requires welding it in place. I did however wire the ADD to a dash switch instead of to the ECM, so my runner still has a 4X2 computer but never had a problem.

Details?

 

[Avwizz]

Please explain further how you were able to keep the 4X2 computer! If this is possible then the swap will be starting in no time, I think out only obstcle is the wiring right now.

when I switched the old transmission out for the new one everything plugged in. The computer never threw a code or anything. now, I could be totally misleading you because I don't know what would happen if the computer just was not able to communicate with the transmission if it would throw a code or not. On my transfer case there are still two connectors that were never plugged into anything because I bypassed them and just added my own switch on the dash to engage the ADD. Mine is the standard J-shifter no multimode or anything.
[MENTION=83576]Southern4Runner[/MENTION]