2001 Body Swap

Hi all,

I'm new here, I hope I'm not out of place with anything I say here.

My Uncle has (or had) a 2001 taco, extended cab, 4x4, 3.4 Litre, TRD pickup. A few years ago the frame was replaced under warranty, rad, suspension, brake lines and such were done at the same time, and it's seen very little use since, because he's bought a civic to commute to work.

Yesterday I was heading to pick up a hay wagon in some damp, foggy weather, hit a bump I didn't se going a decent clip, which caused the rear end to duck onto the shoulder, right where they had replaced an under-road culvert and there was quite a drop. Caught the rear of the truck and rolled it down a steep slope.

I wasn't going overly fast, so there was no damage to the frame or drivetrain, it was actually still running like a top before I shut it down and crawled out. The box and cab were totalled from the steep drop though.

Someone not too far from me has an '01 taco, 4x4, manual, extended cab, with the 4-cylinder and a pooched frame, but the body is at least as good as my uncle's was (better in some respects). They're getting rid of it for a very decent price and I'm awfully tempted to start cobbling together two trucks into one.

Would the body from a 4-cylinder model swap onto the V6 TRD model without too many issues? I don't pretend to know all the details about these trucks and the various configurations. I've certainly done some body work before, mainly on 50's and 60's GM and IH trucks, but because this isn't a classic (although it is a Very good truck) I don't want to hodge-podge too much together when I should perhaps spring for a newer one.

 

Yes, the only differences are mechanical/electrical. The cab and bed are the same, even the auto floor shifter comes up through the same hole as the manual.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-builds/159436-frankenstein-build-lt-expo-trail-rig-bs.html

Check out this guy's build thread, you may find it helpful.

 

Thanks guys,

Maybe it's worth a shot at the body swap. I imagine the cab switch-over will be a bit lengthy, what with all the connections and stuff bolted to the firewall, but I imagine it's more time-consuming than it is complicated.

 

The biggest issue you'll run into is the wiring/electrical between the v6 and 4 cyl.
It can be done, I just completed a v6 swap into a 4cyl truck, but ALL wiring (from the front blinkers all the way back to the plug under the seat) and gauge cluster will need to be swapped over. Look at spending 2-4 days worth of swapping on the electrical alone. Other than that its a straight forward swap although time consuming.
Is the 3.4 truck manual or auto?

 

TKGN1 did you do a dirrect swap year and body? I ask becuase I buaght a 2.7 with the lift , tires, arb front bumper, lights ect, building an overlander I have added rack, high clearness rear bumper and building sliders now. Hitting the trial I have figured out 4.10 gears are crap , no lockers are even more of a crappier. So a body swap on to a Trd frame might be an option, thoughts?

 

1999 3.4 engine/harness into a 1998 single cab.

Not sure what your question is though.
But my thoughts...
I would leave the 4cyl in if it runs good. Our 4cyl had 300k and we had a cheap donor truck for the 3.4 swap and we just wanted to do it.
IMO go with dual cases, or re-gear to 5.29s. Lockers are a big plus, at least a rear (cheap rear would be a lunchbox locker, ie. lock right locker)

 

I finally regeared my 2.7l to 4.88 and add arb locker in the back, completely different truck

 

What about swapping a 2wd cab onto a 4wd chassis, there’d be no problem doing that?