Topic: To body switch or not to body switch

[BAMF]

So here is the deal.  I've had my baby for about 8 years now.  She's a 1985 4Runner 22RE that I've been wheeling, breaking, fixing and building up for awhile and is now getting to the point where I can be proud of her.  The problem is, my other baby (wife) likes to go wheeling but doesn't like the interior and wants it spruced up.  The interior isn't thrashed but it isn't pretty either.  Thieves ripped out the center console with the radio, ash tray, cigarette lighter and everything else, door panels fled the country awhile ago and are now painted sheet metal, the carpet is faded and worn, blah, blah, blah.
 
Part II.  My parents need a 4x4 ranch type vehicle (they live where there is mild snow) that they can scratch up, track mud into, put a goat in the front seat, bump down logging roads, etc. So I found them a pretty sweet, basically stock, 1987 4Runner.  It's not a show room rig but has one of the nicest interiors I've ever seen on a 20+ year old 4Runner.  AND it's got a working inclinometer, it's got an interment cluster with a tach, clock, all the working bell and whistles and  buttons and switches and little things that pirate4x4 wheelers without wives would say a real wheeler doesn't need.  Hell, the back window even rolls up and down with the exterior key.  I forgot that was even an option.  The exterior isn't bad either, it's not perfect but no one would call you stupid for putting a coat of wax over it on a sunny Sunday afternoon.
 
Part III (where was Part I anyway?) What would be easier/more feasible?  Swapping the entire bodies or just the interior, dash, instrument cluster, etc.?  Unanswered questions on my part (yes, I know 'search button')  Does the 85 wiring harness already have have spots to plug in the inclinometer, tach, clock, etc. or would I have to wire that in myself if I just swapped dashes?  Is the ECU different? The 87 has cruise control, how does that play into things (I don't need it and could just ditch it). I'm working on the assumption that the body mounts are the same.  Am I just making an ass out of myself and umption by making such an assumption?  Should I just find a wife that doesn't mind my tired old interior?
 
Also, the 85 already has a body lift with sliders and bumpers welded to the frame so I'd have to add a body lift to the 87 if I swapped over.  I'm not really worried about the exteriors.  Both body's are mechanically straight with only minor dings and I could really care less about the paint and scratches.  I was plaining on rattle canning the 85 anyway.

[jimbo74]

i say just steal the parents interior.... sounds liek a lot less trouble, no legal issues of body swapping either

[SpencerS]

i did a body swap on my rig and getting it to a ref that would pass it was redic. But this is in california! where are you located?

[BAMF [OP]]

Well, I'm not too worried about the VIN since a good buddy of mine is a VIN inspector for CA.  I've also got weekend access to a shop with several lifts so physically moving the bodies isn't too much of a worry.  My biggest worry is the wiring harness.

Does anyone know if Toyota just had a standard wiring harness so that extras could plug right in or are they substantially different?  The harness I've got on the bone stock 85 has extra plugs all over the place.  Even if I swapped the bodies wouldn't I have to swap the harnesses as well which of course would entail some amount of unplugging from the engine?  i.e. removing the upper air intake to access the harness and fuel injectors.

[87hillbillyoter]

i say just steal the parents interior.... sounds liek a lot less trouble, no legal issues of body swapping either

x2

[emsvitil]

Just swap 4runners...................

[Nimyad]

Just swap 4runners...................

X2

[BAMF [OP]]

Well, at least no one has said I should get another wife...

[yota4x4sc]

Well, at least no one has said I should get another wife...

if u were thinking that option u should have put in the poll question lol jk

[BAMF [OP]]

if u were thinking that option u should have put in the poll question lol jk

Actually I thought of it but them I'm sure everyone would have voted on that and then I'd have to put up a poll about divorce lawyers 

[brainlessfool]

swap the interior.




and where is the bacon option?

[yota4x4sc]

Actually I thought of it but them I'm sure everyone would have voted on that and then I'd have to put up a poll about divorce lawyers 

maybe u can have ur wife swap it out  just tell her to do watever she thinks is easyer

[BAMF [OP]]

maybe u can have ur wife swap it out  just tell her to do watever she thinks is easyer

There we go, problem solved.  You sir, are obviously a man who knows his way around a problem.

[yota4x4sc]

There we go, problem solved.  You sir, are obviously a man who knows his way around a problem.

hahahahahahahahaha  yes sir i do

[blumagoo]

I did a cab swap on my 85 It wasn't easy but it only took a weekend.
I used the wiring harness from the old cab, striped everything and piled it on the engine, then dropped on the new cab and put everything back in it's place. The faster you do it the less you'll forget.


The big pile of stuff you get out of the inside.

[blumagoo]

O'yea, no legal issues, just put the vin tags from the old body on the new one.

[yota4x4sc]

NICE..FUN JOB HUH

[Ghostrider]

Actually there is another option if you have the money.  Take your vehicle to a place the does upholestry and turn them loose have them create you a new interior.  Wish I could afford to have some place do that to mine.  Then buy that other 4runner.  Best of all worlds