4xFort Build Thread - previously Frame Swap

I've pulled two of them... more than some guys, less than some others... imo pain in the axx, but slow and steady gets good results.

 

Just dont over think the whole process.

 

This helped me learn how to remove the engine as well...

 

I have the m/t. I’m able to understand the manual tranny but the auto is just a box of magic. Gotta understand what you own (at least somewhat).

These are all excellent videos. Seems like I’d better watch up on a bunch. This project would be no small undertaking.

 

I hear this wayyy to frequently... lol

 

If you were local i would love to give you a hand, but you pretty far from the bay area lol

 

Very kind of you! I have family that lives up in Napa Valley. Love the whole Bay Area and north of there.

That is pretty comforting to see! Do you have to pull the engine and tranny separate? I feel like I saw a video of a Toyota frame swap happening where they pulled both out still attached. What’s it like to crack the seal between the engine and the tranny? Might be an opportune moment to slide a new clutch, flywheel, and throw out bearing in haha damn. I could basically just build a truck from the ground up completely at this rate. One thing at a time. Can always pull components back out later.

 

Unbolting the tranny from the engine is easy, you can do it rn if you wanted to. And yes you can pull them out together its just harder especially if the truck is lifted and you have everything hooked up because it requires alot more wiggling trying to get around everything especially when the engine bay isnt that big. Easier to just pull them separately

 

Have to separate to remove imo - in fact I've never seen pics of someone doing it all in one piece on here... maybe someone has some to show so I can see how they did it. Check the Timmy video - he shows how to do it more or less. A long pry bar, wiggling, and patience will get you there. Just remember to remove the inspection plate at the bottom. Manual you just remove the slave cylinder. Go slow and wiggle it and have the engine pretty much disconnected and on a hoist so you can change the angle as needed. Might as well remove the exhaust and steering rack first as well. Absolutely put in a new clutch. The options are usually Luk, Marlin, LC Engineering, or oem.

 

That seems reasonable. I’d been eyeing the marlin kit. I’ve read good things about it.

 

But my clutch does sill feel rock solid so I’m not particularly in a hurry to do that even if it’s out. The costs of this are just starting to spiral

 

Well if you can afford it think about all the time you'll be saving in the future and time is money

 

Putting a clutch in later on wouldnt be that hard, just easier to do with the engine out. Headers to if you want some headers lol

 

It’s true. I did just kinda blow my savings on buying this truck. And wanna get things done that must happen. So we shall see what kinda time frame this all plays out in and what actually needs to happen. The slower and longer, the more I’ll be able to afford haha, which is also nice because then the frame will have turned out to not be in urgent need of replacement and all will be good.

 

I mean if this is just your project car for now them you should take your time and do it right the first time.

 

Let that parts pile grow

 

Well yes and no... I want to do things in staggered pieces so I don’t have to explain another huge expense to my better half. Plus I’d like to keep it rollin for the max number of days out of everything to keep my motivation levels high by seeing the beast in action and getting to those remote trailheads. And I’d hate to run out of projects by doing them all at once! (Because that’s totally possible....)

 

But knowing how I usually operate, I’d see something that looks like it could be replaced and I’d start dismantling it. And then I’d be up a creek. With a spare car at least. Just focusing in on every little option could get overwhelming much more quickly.

 

I'm into my build 1 year and two months and it has been driven 200 miles (99% of that on the day I bought it)... Idk what you're talking about lol

 

Dang that’s bold. Yeah I definitely can’t have mine ripped apart for that long. Lol
But that’s pretty dang impressive. I got it for going and playing in the desert. And I just really wanna get out there and do that ASAP. Later, it can become a formal project car but right now my goal is to fix things so it’s reliable when off in places like Canyonlands or Capitol Reef. Definitely don’t want to get stranded out there.