Bumper swap....

[mymalade]

I am thinking of buying a 2000 4runner, but I really don't like the front bumper. However, I love the 96-98 bumper and grille. Would it be a direct swap? What would I need to change to make it fit? Thanks.

 

[024RunnerSE]

The bumper..

The grille..

 

[mymalade]

I'm not sure you understood my post. I would like to know if the 1996-1998 front bumper and grille will bolt on to the 1999-2002 4runner. I know they are pretty much the same, but I'm not sure if the bumper and grille mounts are the same. Thanks.

 

[kball]

Sounds like it should work

99 front bumper swapped out for 96-98 bumper??? - YotaTech Forums

 

[96743runner]

The grille will be a direct swap.

As for the bumper, it is my understanding that it may need a little modification to fit.

 

[024RunnerSE]

I'm not sure you understood my post. I would like to know if the 1996-1998 front bumper and grille will bolt on to the 1999-2002 4runner. I know they are pretty much the same, but I'm not sure if the bumper and grille mounts are the same. Thanks.

I'm pretty sure I understood your post. All you need is the grille and the bumper. The grille doesn't bolt on, it uses clips to mount on your rig and the bumper requires you get rid of everything thats connected to the fat lip bumper and bolt everything off a series 1 3rd gen to the frame.

 

[mymalade]

Hey guys, Im bumping this up, maybe someone has done this since I last posted it up. Basically, i won't buy the 4runner if I can't swap the bumpers so i want to make sure it'll work. Thanks.

 

[Hepar]

You can make it fit, but I do believe that you will have to cut the sub-frame off in the front. The fatlip bumper is covering up a section of it that sticks out further than the non fatlip bumpers.

 

[t4r4life]

no it will not bolt on.

 

[mymalade]

It won't? How about if I change the brackets on the 4runner?

 

[THEREALTOR1]

It won't? How about if I change the brackets on the 4runner?

Everything is in the yotatech link posted by kball in post #4

or try this: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/77537-tacoma-bumper-my-4runner.html

I'm still confused though why you wouldn't buy a truck because you don't like the bumper, there's plenty of alternatives to a factory front bumper :2cents:

 

[mymalade]

Well, I have always loved the look of the 96-8 front end, it's just badass, and something about the fat lip bumper I really don't like. The problem is, I am looking only for a manual tranny, which they stopped making in 2000, and I would like a 2000 because it is the "newest" I can get. With the fat lip bumper though, it just doesnt do it for me.

 

[SRSRunner]

Why not just make it easier on yourself and buy an aftermarker bumper and be done with it- would certainly look "badass" compared to the other two choices

 

[JMunn55]

I'm gonna do it right now. That extended front subframe on the '99+ just bolts on. Take it off easy. Need the '96-'98 bumper brackets. You can make the '99+ brackets fit with a drill though. I have a '99 and also hate the fatlip bumpers

 

[s20004runner]

I put 96-98 bumper on my 99.

1. find a 96-98 bumper
2. find 96-98 brackets (i bought a non-oem on eBay after failed attempts)
2. remove the 99 bumper
3. remove bumper enforcer
4. directly bolts on.

Pretty simple.

I didn't like my 'fat-lip' especially when the paint and the molding was peeling. a dent free chrome w/ newly painted valence made the car look 100x refreshed.

i think it's harder to do put on 99-02 on a 96-98, but 96-98 to 99-02 was pretty easy.