Body swap build thread

Hey all

Just joined the forum, ive had my 4runner for about 7 months. I built it to rock crawl and off road with my family. Its a 1999 SR5 4x4 auto with a 3.4.

So far I have done: 5.88 gears, Rear Air Locker, front spartan locker, Radflo 2.5 body resi coilover and rear shocks, Toytec super flex rear springs, Upper control arms, BAMF sliders and LCA skid plates, On board air.

Anyways, I rolled my shit a couple days ago so a buddy and I are going to swap on a different body.

The next day I found a 97 Limited with half a motor in the trunk for $800 and a clean body, interior is so-so.

Ive never done anything remotely close to this so it will be interesting. I have a buddy who is helping me who is a master tech at mercedes and has a lift and a nice size shop.

Ill update this as progress goes along, and post my issues to maybe help someone and answer questions that I know I have currently.

Heres my issues so far:
Donor car is a 2wd 97. Going to need to swap the dash to have 4x4 light.
Swap center console to fit the transfer case shifter, cut the tunnel in order to fit the transfer case shifter.
Swap body harness for correct switches (rear window is on dash on 99 not center console like 97 etc..)

 

Welcome. Any photos?

 

Sweet. Thanks for the photos.

 

Just realized this didn’t make it to the build thread section

Can a mod move this?

 

Well it’s been raining like crazy in SD so I’m not done yet.

Valve covers were leaking bad so I did those.

Cab is off. While it was off I cut the spare tire carrier cross brace off for the F150 tank mod. Was able to get the frame smooth on all sides and paint it

Next is swapping the body harness from 99 over to the 97.

 

Rear shot

 

New body is on.

 

Also did the F150 rear tank mod.

 

Really awesome work!

 

Better pic of the body on. Now I need to swap the entire body harness from my 99 to my 97. Literally the entire thing. In case someone else runs into this you can’t swap pieces of it the connectors and pins are different.

 

That's awesome, nice height for a 3rd gen

 

Shot of the tank in. Just need to wire it up and do the filler neck.

 

Do you have a write up for this? Wondering if it will work on a 1st gen Tacoma.

 

Yes it should be the same. I think first gen guys use the same stock tank and flip it in some cases. I’ve never bothered to look since I don’t have one.

They have write ups specific to that truck around. Pirate 4x4 I saw one or 2.

 

Alright guys. Essentially done. Just need to wire up the goodies and slap interior in.

 

Shake down last night. Seems to burn a wire or something on hills. Gets a weird smell. Might look into it. Probably won’t. Other than that she ran great.

Bumpers coming in a couple weeks.