Help me.. Need advice on new purchase..

[sandSStorm]

Hello

Im new here. Ive been contemplating on purchasing a 1st gen 4runner to build into a play toy and I need some imput from some of you veterans.

At the moment I own a 79 K5 Blazer that has been working really good for me, but the body is going south and my next choice is to either get a new body or start a new project..

....

This is what I would like to do with a 4runner.

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I have the tires and wheels I plan on using from my K5.

My question is what will I need to get a stock 4runner to that height? Can I use my chevy springs?

Im very good at fabbing stuff so that wont stop me.

What can I use from the k5?

Is an engine swap a good choice? Will the stock engine have enough huevos to turn them 40's? The k5 has a 1995 zz4 350 in it with a manual 4speed tranny and an NP305 transfercase..

What am I looking for in a 4runner to complete that feat? Im really partial to the first gen because of the removable top.

I will mainly use the 4runner on weekends and it will be mainly a toy. I do want it dependable enough to drive it in town occasionally. We do alot of river running so thats the settup I must have...

Please post your imput..

TIA

Luie

 

[roller551]

g'day. 1st generation 4Runners are quite capable little trucks, and no doubt you will be able to fit it into a few spots that Heavy Chevy Blazer would not. i'll give you what little tid-bits i know....
- it's a good thing you can metal fab. you're gonna need that. the four cylinder engines most 4Runners came with will not produce the power you need to turn those tires. you will need to either find a 4Runner with a V6, or start looking at putting that 350 into a 4Runner frame - which can be done with drive-train mods.
- the height you will need will not be acheivable with an independant front suspension...... so you will need to shop for a solid-axle Toyota (early 4Runner or early pickup... like 1982-ish) but the frames are usually rotten, depending on where you are (real bad at rear spring mounts). or, start looking at swapping your Chevy gear over.....

........ you could always look at just putting a 4Runner body onto your Chevy frame.......

 

[fourwd1]

40's on a Toy is a bit unrealistic if the truck is to be wheeled.
The Toy axles can be beefed up quite a bit, but still won't stand up to 40's if you do any kind of serious wheeling. You could replace them w/D60's or similar axles.

Same with the engine, even properly geared, the 22RE will be straining big time to turn them, and the 3.slow V6 is not going to be any better. So you could swap in a 350 or the like, and then the trans and t-case to go with it.

Then you have a Toyota with a completely different axles, engine, trans, and t-case. Why bother ? Just keep the Blazer.

Now if you really want to build and wheel a Toyota, a lot can be achieved with 36's, I know. 37-38's if you make it a trailer queen.


My .02

 

[sandSStorm]

Thanx for the imput guys!

It sounds like I better stick with the full size because I need to stay with atleast 40s for what we do..

I know that this is a toyota forum, but if you all want to see some more pics check this out!!! MY OFFROAD SITE


thanx

 

[ovrrdrive]

It can, and has been done.

You definiely need a straight front axel though. Buy pre '85 though and you'll ahve that.

You're still looking at new beefed up axels and probably a V8 with a custom lift though...

Gears high enough to run those tires with any power at all from a 22re or 3.0 are going to be so high they'll likely break a lot. It would be better to have Dana 40's with somewhere around 4:10 in them.

You can probably see more trucks like the one you posted over at Pirate 4x4.