Lola 2.0 Frame Swap

What’s up everyone

I purchased my tacoma a few months back from the auction after only seeing it in pictures. After I got it brought to my house I realized I made a BIG mistake I should have went to go see it in person. The frame was bent on the passenger side behind the suspension.

Took it to a bunch of shops to see if it could be fixed everyone said no and that it needed a new frame. I picked a shop from the quotes I was given and dropped it off there for about two months. They gave me the run around as to why they hadn’t start yet blah blah blah. Finally I gave up on them and went to pick her up.

Then about one and half month later and 20 plus hours of driving to see frames from Facebook and Craigslist.
I was able to pick up a frame from someone in this forum. This is my first frame swap if you have any tips.Please feel free to comment below.

The plan is to finish striping it down and prep it for coating this week.

 

I've done a body swap on an old Ford my dad gave me - took the entire body off of two trucks and then put mine on an old diesel one ton frame. We were able to get it done in 5 days and that was with a day of bodywork.

You have a little bit more work cut out for you but the best thing I can recommend is this : ANY hardware you take off put in little bags and label it. It will make putting it back together so much easier. Take lots of pictures too.

Start with the bed, then the fenders, then finally the cab. Disconnect the engine harness at the cab and lift it up using a bunch of friends or tie downs on an a-frame. Make sure all connections from the cab are unhooked before you pull.

Once you have the body off, you can pull the trans and engine if you'd like to do that while you're old frame is on wheels still. Then you can pull the suspension and axles and swap them to your new frame. I highly recommend painting your new frame while you have the opportunity to protect it from rust. Also if you're wanting to do any mods like a lift or new UCA's/LCA's - now is your time to get it done.

Then start swapping the suspension first to support the frame, then your drivetrain, gas tanks, etc. Then start with the cab, then the fenders/core support then bed. And voila - you'll have a truck again!

It is a lot of work - but it's entirely doable. Don't be discouraged at all. It was hard to take apart the family farm truck mentally but once it started with that new diesel engine and one ton solid front axle - I was pumped. Just understand it is a lot of work and it has to be your #1 priority on the weekends and during any free time. As soon as you take a couple weekends off you'll start to forget things so you need to hammer it out and get it done while you can.

Hope this helps, and good luck on your swap!

 

Update:
I got the frame back from the powder coating shop.

Today I finally got around to disconnect everything I think lol. I will know for sure once I try to lift the cab.

Does anyone have suggestions for cab mount bushings, leaf spring shackles, lower control arms, front end suspension bushings kit and alignment tabs?

 

Update:

got the cab off. Does anyone have suggestions for the complete front end suspension?

From what I was reading ES master bushing kit doesn’t fit double cabs can anyone confirm? Specifically the cab Mount bushings.

 

Update
It’s been a slow process between work and daddy duty but here is my progress. Don’t mind the mess.

 

This photo didn’t post. The goal is to have everything swapped over and the cab installed this weekend.

 

Finally got the cab on.

 

Good stuff man, looks awesome!

 

She is almost ready. Just waiting on tires so I can take her through inspection.