Swapping frame?
- Thread starter TinBucket
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phattyduck
Elite Member
Only frame difference between 2WD and 4WD frames is the position of the transmission mount crossmember. There are only very minor differences in the body (shifter holes and maybe 1 or two other small welded brackets to hold relays, etc.). In a given year and within a trim, even the wiring behind the dash is the same between 2WD and 4WD. Only the harnesses in the engine bay are different.
If you have a rusty 4WD with a good drivetrain, buying a southern rust-free 2WD for a swap isn't a bad idea. You'd want to find a matching year, engine and trim to make it as easy as possible.
-Charlie
If you have a rusty 4WD with a good drivetrain, buying a southern rust-free 2WD for a swap isn't a bad idea. You'd want to find a matching year, engine and trim to make it as easy as possible.
-Charlie
Lindenwood
New member
Great post above!
I, personally, would probably only bother with such a swap if I had 1) a truly excellent-condition 4WD drivetrain, and 2) found a really good deal on the 2WD. Othereise, for the time and labor, you could easily find a decent factory 4WD and just do all the basic maintenance (timing belt, LBJs, radiator, etc) yourself.
Consider a super-rusted 4WD that was otherwise in perfect mechanical condition with all maintenance up to date. You could easily get 3k outright, but likely more. Still, with 3k you could buy a $7000 good-condition 4WD, rather than a $4000 good-condition 2WD. So, for the same total amount of money, you would end up with a fully driveable 4WD, rather than two trucks that require a full week of lavor to combine into a single vehicle, haha. Then, for that amount of labor and maybe $600, you could pretty much do the next 100k miles of major maintenance (LBJs, radiator, TB, etc).
Just my thoughts on the matter!
I, personally, would probably only bother with such a swap if I had 1) a truly excellent-condition 4WD drivetrain, and 2) found a really good deal on the 2WD. Othereise, for the time and labor, you could easily find a decent factory 4WD and just do all the basic maintenance (timing belt, LBJs, radiator, etc) yourself.
Consider a super-rusted 4WD that was otherwise in perfect mechanical condition with all maintenance up to date. You could easily get 3k outright, but likely more. Still, with 3k you could buy a $7000 good-condition 4WD, rather than a $4000 good-condition 2WD. So, for the same total amount of money, you would end up with a fully driveable 4WD, rather than two trucks that require a full week of lavor to combine into a single vehicle, haha. Then, for that amount of labor and maybe $600, you could pretty much do the next 100k miles of major maintenance (LBJs, radiator, TB, etc).
Just my thoughts on the matter!
phattyduck
Elite Member
Generally agreed. The frame swap, etc. only makes sense if you already have a rusty 4WD and want to get/make a better 4Runner. Oh, and you have plenty of mechanical ability and space.
Not worth it if:
- you have to buy two trucks
- you have to pay somebody to do any of the work
-Charlie
TheDurk
Elite Member
Totally agree.
-I paid $500 for a sound 2002 4WD frame that was junked in 2010, I didn't buy a whole truck. Then I POR-15'd that frame outside and Eastwood treated the inside. Also did POR underbody treatment with the frame off.
-I was due for a front end rebuild, anyway so I did UBJs, LBJs, ITREs,OTREs, pads, rotors at the same time, also fuel pump, muffler and tailpipe.
-My truck was otherwise sound and maintained by me since 1999
-I had a second car so no time pressure
-I had lots of space and I did the whole thing solo over three months. I'm retired, so I have the time, too.
I don't wish that job on anybody. It's a bear, especially with no lift. But it made sense in my case. I'm happy to have my beloved 4WD 5-speed IJM truck back better than when I started. I could not have bought one near as good for what I spent.
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New_2_4runners
New member
I’m about to do a frame swap. Hope it’s worth it!