Body Swap from 2000 2wd Limited to 2000 SR5 5-speed trans/frame

[RustyLinkz]

So I rolled my runner on my buddy's property and now it's time for a body swap (old body was already beat up). The frame and the suspension are straight so happy about that but motor is still smoking/ valve cover gasket leaking/ rear main leaking, etc.

I bought a 2000 2wd limited that I think I'll use for the swap. My old frame is a 2000 sr5 5 speed so I plan to use the same trans/ tcase/ drivelines, etc but I will be swapping engines from the new 2wd car.

My question is this: I pulled the ECU from the rolled car so I can put that in the new body so my trans can still work, and I'll most likely pull the harness from the old engine (SR5) and swap it to the new engine (2wd Li) because I'm not sure if the harness from the 3.4 on the 2wd will plug directly into the 5 speed ECU. I have the clutch assembly and brake assembly, clutch start cancel and gauge cluster from the rolled car that I'll install as well. If all goes according to plan this should be plug and play right? Will I have to do any custom wiring to the harness from the rolled engine to mate to the new engine? Will the 5 speed gauge cluster plug right into the new 2wd Li body?

Ive read some posts already and it seems like I will be fine given both vehicles are the year 2000.

Thanks for reading, any input is appreciated.

PS: I don't really care if the 4wd light doesn't come on, its already linked/SAS'd

 

[RustyLinkz]

Turns out the gauge cluster fits and plugs directly in with no issue, so now the only thing that's left is swapping the ECU from the old 5 speed into the new Li cab and swapping the engine harness from the old engine into the new one (shouldn't be too bad right?) and everything else is pretty much bolt on...like a jeep

One thing: I cut the wiring from the clutch start cancel harness so I'll have to solder that in later if I still want that capability.

 

[phattyduck]

PS: I don't really care if the 4wd light doesn't come on, its already linked/SAS'd

Are you keeping the Limited auto climate control and stuff from the 2WD?

Since you don't need any 4WD lights (assuming manual hubs with that SAS?) the dash differences between SR5 and Limited shouldn't be an issue. If you were swapping between sub-generations, the dash wiring would be incompatible, but you should be fine with a 2000 to 2000 swap.

Make sure you cut that hole in the 2WD floor before dropping the body on.

-Charlie

 

[UnderFire]

Being a 2WD frame the transmission crossmember will be in the wrong spot. You have to either move it to the correct spot or modify it.

Sent from my JSN-L23 using Tapatalk

 

[phattyduck]

Being a 2WD frame the transmission crossmember will be in the wrong spot. You have to either move it to the correct spot or modify it.

He's keeping the 4WD frame, just a body swap. For that purpose, only the 2WD shifter hole is different (as it would be between auto and manual too).

-Charlie

 

[RustyLinkz]

Are you keeping the Limited auto climate control and stuff from the 2WD?

If I can... I talked to a guy who runs a Toyota truck shop in Santa Clara and he said I'll have to swap body harnesses from the old 4wd SR5 5 speed into the new 2wd Li because the car just wont turn on. I guess it has to do with the ignition sequence, but if I do that I'd have to swap out heater core, AC unit, and blower as well as the sr5 climate control cable actuated functions, like the sliding tabs instead of the digital readout...on top of the steering column I believe.
My dilemma is this: keep the 2wd Li body harness in the car and not have to gut the entire front area and somehow manage to plug that harness into my 5 speed 4x4 ECU with custom wiring and changing the pins around
OR
tear out the entire front dash of the 2wd Li, swap my old sr5 body harness into/behind the dash, swap out the climate control features, and put it all back together.

The first option requires knowledge of electrical circuits and wiring diagrams while the latter requires more time.

I went with the limited because of the interior, but didn't realize the climate control functions were so different. So would it be in my interest to find another doner body? I know some SR5 models came with leather seats but even so, all I want is a clean body, 2wd or 4wd.

 

[phattyduck]

The '99+ limited's came with an ignition immobilizer - but since you are going to be using your SR5 ECU, that will all be bypassed/eliminated, I believe. There is basically a 5th ECU plug that handles all the immobilizer connections that you won't have to plug in to the SR5 ECU when it is in the Limited body. The starter still spins when the immobilizer isn't happy, the engine just doesn't start (ECU decision, which will be gone).

-Charlie

 

[RustyLinkz]

Got it, thanks Charlie. I think what I will end up doing is swapping the entire body harness from the SR5 into the Li body because my 4x4 5 speed ECU wont mate to the 2wd body harness. And then Ill have to figure out how to wire the moonroof into that harness. So I'll keep this thread posted with what happens during the swap.

 

[phattyduck]

You pulled the glove boxes on both to check the connections? There are only a couple connectors to worry about back there. I'm a bit surprised that they would change the engine to body harness connnections between SR5 and Limited.

I haven't gone deep in the diagrams for Limited vs. SR5 differences - but if you have specific questions, I'll be happy to help.

-Charlie

 

[ThoughtfulOctopus]

I’m having to replace body harness on my 98 Limited currently. Did you happen to take pics, video, etc of any of the process? I currently have dash off and am getting ready to pull harness but would love some tips from someone who has already done it!

 

[Bad Luck]

I’m having to replace body harness on my 98 Limited currently. Did you happen to take pics, video, etc of any of the process? I currently have dash off and am getting ready to pull harness but would love some tips from someone who has already done it!

I haven't had to replace a 4Runner body harness, but I have had to replace a few harnesses before. I find it extremely helpful to take several videos of the entire harness making sure to capture all the harness routing and any grounds before taking the old harness out. Videos are better than pictures because you can pause a video precisely where you need to on something you normally wouldn't have taken a picture of.