What do I have going on

[Dezerts10]

After researching and fixing some issues 1996 4Runner it's looking like someone previous to me put a 99-02 sport hood on it.

I want to replace it because it's dented and I've been replacing front end parts - grille, headlights and corner lights with 1996 stuff. But after looking at stuff the hood doesn't fit right. I assumed it was cause the core support was alittle mangled from an accident before I had it.

Am I right? Can you tell by these pictures?

Will 99-02 grille, headlights, and corner lights work in a 1996 core support? I like the sport hood that's the only reason I'm curious. What's the difference in from 96 vs 99-02 front end parts?

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[JayRolla]

Yes all parts swap with no issues. It's most likely due to damage from the wreck.

 

[Scramble]

Yes all parts swap with no issues. It's most likely due to damage from the wreck.

Agreed.

You can try realigning the hood by loosening the 4 bolts at the hood springs.
Check to see if the hinges are bent too.

 

[Dezerts10]

So is the profile of the 96 head lights and 99-02 headlights on the same plane?


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[phattyduck]

Hmmm... you have '99+ front frame plates too. The front of that truck has some issues.

*If* everything was in stock alignment, all that stuff swaps back and forth between early and late. Grills, headlights, corner lights, hoods, etc.

-Charlie

 

[Dezerts10]

Hmmm... you have '99+ front frame plates too. The front of that truck has some issues.



*If* everything was in stock alignment, all that stuff swaps back and forth between early and late. Grills, headlights, corner lights, hoods, etc.



-Charlie

Frame plates? The vin sticker on the driver door jam say 96

The frame horns sticking out one is bent to hell and the other is straight. I pulled the bumper off.

I bought this 4Runner for 4x4 and so my chick and new kid have a/c and semi comfort when playing in the desert but it's become a daily driver and the a/c need to be replaced. For $1500 it's still be a worth while purchase.


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[JohnMc]

Hmmm... you have '99+ front frame plates too. The front of that truck has some issues.

*If* everything was in stock alignment, all that stuff swaps back and forth between early and late. Grills, headlights, corner lights, hoods, etc.

-Charlie

First thing I noticed. This weekend I sliced off the '96 style plates on my wife's 4Runner and welded on those plates - so her custom bumper would get 6 large bolts holding it on at the front end the frame, instead of a pair of small bolts.

If that's a 1996, then it's had some major frame repair work done to it. Or... someone wanted a more secure mounting spot for a custom bumper... my wife's wasn't wrecked.

 

[habanero]

Curious- did a fat-lip bumper come off it one a skinny one like a 96 normally has?

Blue- '96, Green- '99

 

[phattyduck]

Frame plates? The vin sticker on the driver door jam say 96

The frame horns sticking out one is bent to hell and the other is straight. I pulled the bumper off.

I bought this 4Runner for 4x4 and so my chick and new kid have a/c and semi comfort when playing in the desert but it's become a daily driver and the a/c need to be replaced. For $1500 it's still be a worth while purchase.

Front of the frame should have just little caps, as seen here (my '97 rolled parts truck, one cap is missing)

Maybe some parts were welded on from a later truck...

-Charlie

 

[Dezerts10]

interesting, I threw the front bumper away right away as I was tearing other stuff off the front end and a fender almost as soon as I got it home. I do not recall what the bumper looked like. But I feel like it was like the Blue one with the marker lights in the chrome bumper.

Doesn't surprise me that this thing is a mess and all rigged back together. When I got it the passenger front was hit and that's all I was told. But after tearing stuff apart the passenger rear looks to be bonded back into shape as well.

I was going to replace the entire core support to but jumped into it feet first and it was to much work so as it sits now is as far as I got.

Frame horns will come off for a custom bumper, skid plate and winch mount that will most likely be welded to the frame vs bolted on.

 

[Dezerts10]

Vin number and vehicle information sticker is on back side of I guess its called the B pillar. says 3/96 on it

 

[Dezerts10]

Passenger side bumper plate looks hacked and welded on but driver plate look stock

Vin number in dash matches the vin in door jam too.

Is there any other vin numbers on the vehicle ?


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[phattyduck]

Every major body part should have a VIN on it... (though, you already know all your front panels are different.

Check the frame - it should be stamped behind the front passenger side wheel.

Seen here on my truck (VZN180...):

-Charlie

 

[Dezerts10]

Reviving an old thread just an update...

So I installed my long travel kit and shocks over the last few weekends and began looking at the front end of my 1996 4Runner and thinking about some of the stuff I learned in this thread.

Well it would appear that my truck was hit good and the front clip was replaced like mentioned with a 98-02 front clip. Check out the shotty bugger welds I found on the inner fender supports and the welds around the frame horns for the bumper

Just more reason to cut it off and tube chassis / engine cage the front of this truck at some point. Just gotta figure out how to mount the lights and grille decently so they line up with hood and project light down the road instead of into the sky and also work with some sort of inner fender to mount the fuse box, charcoal canister, abs computer thing, air box and throttle position sensor stuff.

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[SeaBass8]

Curious- did a fat-lip bumper come off it one a skinny one like a 96 normally has?

Blue- '96, Green- '99

Love that blue Runner! Stock color? What emblem did you use for the grill mod? Looks a tad bigger than most. I need to do that mod, I think it really gives it a classic look.

 

[theesotericone]

What emblem did you use for the grill mod? Looks a tad bigger than most. I need to do that mod, I think it really gives it a classic look.

It is a classic look. For a 40 series Land Cruiser. :behindsofa:

 

[SeaBass8]

It is a classic look. For a 40 series Land Cruiser. :behindsofa:

That is true... but a good look on the 4runner just the same.
I'm usually not one for custom looking vehicles but really think this mod does not look out of place.

 

[habanero]

Love that blue Runner! Stock color? What emblem did you use for the grill mod? Looks a tad bigger than most. I need to do that mod, I think it really gives it a classic look.

Azure blue pearl- stock color. It is a Land Cruiser emblem...60 series iirc- but don't quote me on that.

It is a classic look. For a 40 series Land Cruiser. :behindsofa:

:blah:
Hush, you.

 

[Scramble]

Azure blue pearl- stock color. It is a Land Cruiser emblem...60 series iirc- but don't quote me on that.


:blah:
Hush, you.

Yes, it's from a LC60, I have one for a custom grill I'm designing. IMHO the only one that looks good on our trucks. All the others look too small.

I love the pic of your two trucks together. Someday I'll have two 4runners in the stable.

 

[SeaBass8]

Azure blue pearl- stock color. It is a Land Cruiser emblem...60 series iirc- but don't quote me on that.

I've never seen a Runner that color. Looks good!
Thanks for the info!