2003 PreRunner to 4x4 using pre-Tacoma truck as donor...

I've searched all over for info related to the 2x4 to 4x4 conversion and found a lot of great information. However, I have not come across any builds/information in regards to using a pre-1995.5 truck as a donor. Picked up these two guys over the weekend:





Both are 4x4 and I plan to use the silver one as the donor for my Tacoma since the rear-end has already been cannibalized. I have all the tools to complete the swap, but was looking for any advice from those of you who have done the conversion or have more experience with the pre-Tacoma pickups (primarily if the drivetrain parts are interchangeable). @TashcomerTexas was thinking 4x4 components sans driveshafts would be interchangeable (didn't want to hijack the other guys thread).

Any and all help/knowledge is greatly appreciated!

 

Two completely different setups. You would have to completely cut and drop the Tacoma suspension front and back and transplant the complete drive trains from the pre Tacoma's, then comes a whole new set of problems

 

Thanks trx. Are any of the 4x4 drivetrain components interchangeable? Diff, CV's, etc?

 

No.

 

Does the red one run?

 

Or they Grey one?

 

Grey one is toast; engine is in pieces in the cab. PO said it blew the head gasket and it looks to me they attempted to fix it and got a little deeper than they were capable of coming back from. Red one runs but has a freshly blown head gasket; typical 3.0 issues. Going to clean up the red one and toss them on CL.

Thanks for the knowledge guys. Now I know why it's so hard to find info haha!

 

Good info from TRX125....wanted to add it in case someone else stumbles across this thread.

Per TRX125:

Pre 95 are torsion bar setup on front the Tacoma/3rd gen 4runners are coil overs. Totally different setup.
Front driveshaft are on opposite sides, the front diffs are different. The rear ends are different, leaf springs are different. It can be done with a lot of cutting and welding, but not a unbolt and rebolt conversion. You might as well do a SAS.