Double O’ Taco Build Thread

I have read all the other threads about front clip swaps on here and still don’t have an answer, I have a 2000 taco 4wd and want to use a 95-97 front bumper, hood, grill, lights, and maybe core support with fenders off a wrecked 98 4Runner I bought for an engine donor and am parting out to make my money back. I know there will be issues and I want to know what has to be done or modified to work, I chose the 4Runner fenders as they have a better straight body line on them unlike the turn down on the taco fenders that drives me crazy and makes the truck look retarded in my eyes. Also because some whackass poured something on my hood and fenders and now the paint is coming off and exposing the primer.

 

Does no one really know anything about this topic?

 

@Madjik_Man

 

I believe the 4runner fenders are going to through a major wrench into your plans.

But for the rest:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-end-swap-98-00-to-a-95-97.307810/

 

I have read this thread already and just want to know if anyone knows about the fenders or am I just going to have to fuck around and find out how to make it work

 

I might have to cut an inch off of the back of the fender to make it line up.

 

You’re going to have to get creative.

And keeps posted

 

4runner fenders aren’t direct fit on Tacomas corner lights as far as I know.

 

Coming from the T4R.org forums myself, its possible to swap 1st gen Taco front clip onto 3rd gen 4runner. Stands to reason you could go the other way...

 

If you can bolt and unbolt things you'll be fine. You need the whole front clip, which thanks to your donor, you have.

I cant tell you if you'll need the core support, since the headlights and grille will determine that, and I skipped those elements.

But the fenders and hood bolt right up, hinges go with the hood, and the spacers at the bottoms of the fenders, where they bolt to the door sills, are different lengths, so those will need to be swapped. you'll see it in the body lines if you get it wrong.

Fenders and hood are longer, but I swapped the hood latch onto my existing core support (I have an 01 Tacoma) and it shuts fine.

DM me with any other questions, happy to help as I can. I'm with you, love the lines on the 4 runners

 

Do you have any pictures of the completed swap? I happen to have a 99 4runner in my parts stash lol.

 

I dont have a good angle shot, and obviously its not quite conventional‍, but heres the hood and fender lines, lol

I am having some gap alignment issues since I haven't swapped bumpers yet

 

Uhhh… Well here’s the donor and the reason I need a junkyard passenger fender. I will try to space the 95-97 stuff fowards an inch to line up

 

Lol, okay, so partial donor

I would pull that drivers side headlight and see if you can get it to bolt up to the Tacoma core support. Thats the only question mark in my mind.

Fenders w corner lights, liners and flares, bolt right on, use the front fender supports as well
ditto hood w hinges and hood latch, bolt on

head lights and grille are the unknowns, could always just swap the core support instead of fucking around, maybe pull the donor and get them side by side to see what lines up and whats different

 

I definitely like the straighter lines in the fender from the 4Runner vs the curved Taco.

 

The donor core support is obliterated. So that won’t work.

 

I'd start w trying out the headlight and drivers side fender then, see what lines up.

 

The drivers fender is already on the truck and I need to use the bracket off the 4Runner core support.

 

sounds like a start!

keep us posted and post pics to help the next fellow

also, maybe change your title to "4runner front clip conversion" might generate more responses and will be easier to search for others

 

By the way are the cruise control components the same between the two vehicles as the 4Runner had working cruise and my truck has it but has never worked.