Extended to Double Cab swap

I kept the extended cab and long bed the same. I just used the rear frame off a double cab because it was readily available and cheaper that more saf-t-caps.

I think a body swap wold be pretty easy. a lot easier than a frame swap because the drive line would stay in place. Just a matter of cutting old cab/bed mounts and welding on new ones.
The only thing Im not completely sure on is the computer. I would say the old one with the engine and turbo but I dont know if it would work with the new dash. worse case change the dash too.

You should be able to find a DC with a rusted frame pretty easily or one smashed in the front with a good cab and bed.
Another option, buy one with a rusted frame for cheap but complete body. After the swap come out west and buy a good frame and then put the donor drive train on it with your old cab and bed and sell it and possibly make money.
If you wanted to go to 4 doors and a long bed, that will be a good deal more work but still doable. A lot more time and a good flat concrete working surface will be needed.

Why is the turbo not popular?

If you lived nearby I would help with the project

 

I did the swap. It's wasn't that bad to extend the frame and swap the cab on. I'm still trying to get some of the wiring sorted out but that's pretty minor. IMO get a 01-02 wrecked truck, the wiring will be more similar to your 2000.

 

Appreciate the info. I think most people in the used Tacoma market are looking for that low miles, bone stock variety. I think just seeing the word turbo next to the word Tacoma sets off a sentimental response. It’s also pretty hard to convince someone you put a turbo on a car to not drive it hard.

If this project ever comes to fruition it will probably be coulpled with a long travel suspension upgrade as well so any frame mods would be, presumably, very accessible.

 

This is awesome. Plz tell me it also has a manual trans haha

 

It does... and long travel and a supercharger and ... Basically it's how the 1st gen truck should have come.

 

That truck has LT too!!! OMG!!!!! I never knew!!!!!!

 

wow

 

What did you start with, and ext cab or double cab? I'm looking for a donor D-cab to convert my ext cab.

Your truck looks awesome!

 

Okay, guys. I have a 2000 Tacoma with an Access Cab. I really need 4 doors, but I do not want to lose my 5 spd manual transmission, especially since I just put a brand new clutch in it less than a month ago. How much work, time, and money would I be looking at to throw a double cab and short bed on my access cab chassis on top of my 5 spd? I like the body style of the 2nd gens and newer, but I dont have $15k to upgrade right now.

Based on your posts, I assume that the body/bed mounts will be the main issue. I also anticipate some challenges making the double cab accept my manual transmission. What else haven’t I thought about?

 

Sell your truck

Buy a running/driving double cab

Swap a 5 speed into said double cab

Be $$$ ahead unless your current frame has extensive ($$$) mods to it

 

It's totally doable, but it would take less work to just find a double cab, maybe even a prerunner, and then swap your 5 speed and 4x4 stuff to the prerunner.

I say prerunner because those are generally cheaper and more prevelent than a 4x4.

But if this is your daily driver, don't bother, this is doing to be a project.

 

I'm currently hunting a Double cab to work with on my ext cab. I found two good options on an auction site, but both sold for over $3,000. That doesn't include 5-600 in fees.

 

Love the input here guys. I just joined the double cab long bed enthusiast family. Built this one as a daily, mall crawler, hunting/fishing, mild trail kind of rig.

 

Bumping a dead thread to ask you guys with the DC/LB combo: What did you do to compensate for the increase in driveshaft length? I assume many of you few are using the stock axle. I didn't see it discussed in here and I've come to realize the Tacoma tech is still on the forum and not in the Facespace groups.

 

I will bump it again: will an access cab frame work with a double cab body? I understand there will be some body and bed mount issues, but other than that, will everything else work the same?