4Runner Build - Part 2

[1Bad4Runner]

Alright, I have decided to take my 4Runner off of the road and now I am going to the extreme with it.
Bare with me because it might take awhile.

This is what I am starting with.





This is what I have done so far (This is only 1 day of work)






And this is the powerplant (375 hp - 480 ft-lb) 440 Magnum big block (I know its probobly a little much)



Oh yea, I don't have the pictures, but it will be soon sitting on a Dana 60 front and dana 70 rear with 5.89's and either 42's or 44's.

[CTENG in KS]

WHat am I missing here...you are gonna put ta runner body on ta dodge frame/drivetrain?
Or are you building a tow rig?

[DTB]

x2

[bntracing7]

this guy is in trouble......(does he know the dodge is only 2wd?)

[1Bad4Runner]

Lol, sorry for all of the confusion!

I CTENG is right, I am putting the Runner body on the Dodge frame and yes, I know it is only 2wd. It will be 4wd very shortly with a Dana 60 front and a dana 70 rear, which it says at the bottom of my first post.

Does that clear everything up? I'm not fully decided on everything yet either, I may only run the V8 for awhile unless I like it.

[CTENG in KS]

It is sad that you would destroy a good truck and put it on that...thing. 

[blackdiamond]

 

Why would you destroy that 4Runner when you could use just about any body from the junkyard for the build?

[DTB]

It is a beautiful truck isn't it?

[86turboyota]

if your in cal... i got dibs on your toy drive train 

[Gittinit]

Yea its a pretty truck, but go ahead and chop it up. While you were tearing apart the dodge did you notice how weak that frame is. Of course it might be comparable in strength to the toy frame If you box it in. Just my  , I would drop the motor and 1ton axles into the toy and ditch the dodge chassis all to gether. I know there are more reasons to use the toy frame instead of the dodge. But I am to sleepy t think verry hard.
                      dodge chasis:                                                                                 toyota chasis:
       pro                                     con                                                     pro                                          con
rear axle bolts up            custom body mounts                              solid axle swap aftermarket          custom motor mounts
motor mounts bolt up       custom solid axle swap                                 support                               trans and tcase mounts
                                   weak c chanel frame                              strong fully boxed frame

[yotadork83]

yeah i would go with the toy frame and swap the motor. i would just cut the motor and tranny out while it is still atached to the frame use that short section of frame to help make measurements to transfer to the toy frame.

[86bobbedtoy]

do not destroy the yota. it would be cheaper to pick up a junk 4runner body and then do the build. the 4runner should get the full with axles and then see if you still want to v8 it if so go for it but dont murder it. there are so few out there anymore and less everyday. besidse it would not be much of a toyota without its frame.

[86bobbedtoy]

look at all the posts telling you not to do it. But dont get me wrong if that is what your mind is set on go for it. You look like you have all the tools to do it.  cool either way.

[1Bad4Runner]

Hmm, I agree that it hurts to cut my runner up, but I wanted to use a Toyota body and there aren't to many around here. I was thinking of just using the Dodge body, but it was to rusty.
Also, I don't have room for 2 projects right now so getting another body would mean I have to sell me Runner anyways. Its not that easy to sell trucks around here either.

I will have to think about what I am going to do. You guys are making me feel bad for my 4Runner 

[Hottrod81]

One word-Crazy

[86turboyota]

dont do it.... just go full width axles and the v8 into the runner...

[toynorcal]

Another vote here for putting the 1 ton gear on the toy chassis. Toyota frames just just plain stronger than the others. sure you could box stuff, but thats alot of work and money when all you would have to do is some minor customizing (motor mounts, crossmember, ect.) to the frame you're already sitting on. Plus if you want to guesset the toy frame, your that much stronger. Build looks like fun though, hell if you do decide on the dodge chassis, at least you wouldn't need rock sliders.

[1Bad4Runner]

I was thinking of bobbing my runner and putting it on the Dodge chassis and maybe putting my old runner chassis under my g/f's 2wd 91 Toy pick-up.

Also there is going to be alot of custom tub work and 4 link front and rear. All of my crossmembers are going to be tubing to strengthen my frame. I'm not concerned about my frame strength really for the Toy frame or the Dodge frame because it is going to be totally re-designed. The back will also be chopped off of the frame because of the full 4 link in the back too, so there will only be about 7 to 8 feet of frame all together.

I hate to say it, but I think it will be doing all of this to my runner, I do feel bad in a way with all of the work done to it previously by me, but I think since I already have the truck and I love the comfort of the inside it will be perfect for a full blown offroad machine. Right now I am in the process of figuring out how to do an extreme bob on my truck, which means cut it off at the back of the back seats and before the rear fenders.

Oh yea, that picture of my Runner is right after I painted it last year... it still looks just as nice but with a little but of rock rash and real bad scratches.

I've been counting how many people have called me crazy so far (12, including my brother, father and grandfather) and I think that I will just keep going and see what I come up with. I hope everyone likes the outcome because thats what keeps me going, the opinions and help off everyone.