Creating a New Frame

[Moist]

Provided my vehicle doesn't get obliterated by someone not paying attention, I have decided to hang onto it and do a frame swap & "restoration" in the future. The current frame is not saveable and I expect it to snap in storage after the vehicle is retired,

I don't know when "In the future" will be, just that one day I'll get around to it. I expect it to be maybe 10 years until I get around to fixing it after its retirement. By then I can't image 2003 4runner frames will be all too common.

What are the options for creating an all new frame? I had thought about getting a tube one made, or just measuring and hand making by own from the current measurements. I would like to remove some of the pre-cut holes that let salt in in the future.

Otherwise I'm just curious about it.

 

[Coveman]

A sun belt pick and pull would be worth checking out. There should be searchables that the yards put their inventory into, and youd be able to use 4th gen toy and lexus frames as your universe. You might just find an entire donor vehicle you’d be able to salvage other parts from for the cost of a frame.

I had an acura legend that blew its head gaskets and while looking at used heads and motors I found a sweet running legend for what a front clip was going for. You just need to find what’s out there, and it changes all the time

 

[fourwd1]

Provided my vehicle doesn't get obliterated by someone not paying attention, I have decided to hang onto it and do a frame swap & "restoration" in the future. The current frame is not saveable and I expect it to snap in storage after the vehicle is retired,

I don't know when "In the future" will be, just that one day I'll get around to it. I expect it to be maybe 10 years until I get around to fixing it after its retirement. By then I can't image 2003 4runner frames will be all too common.

What are the options for creating an all new frame? I had thought about getting a tube one made, or just measuring and hand making by own from the current measurements. I would like to remove some of the pre-cut holes that let salt in in the future.

Otherwise I'm just curious about it.

Decades ago I did a frame swap on my '83 Toy 4WD p/u. After years of welding patches over the rust it was too far gone. Lucked out and found a solid frame about 75 mi away in VA. It was a LOT of work.

If you're thinking about fabbing a new frame on your own you better be or know an extremely experienced welder/metal fabricator with the equipment and space.
There are so many critical measurements that have to be made so everything is 100% square and level, etc. Body mounts, engine mounts, x-members, etc, etc. have to be spot on.

If you do it be sure to document it so we can see !!