BartMaster1234's (Almost) Supercharged 2.7l 1998 PreRunner 4x4 Conversion [Build Thread]

Got some new wheels and tires to replace my old ones!

I bought the old Michelin XLT tures in August last year when I was still naive about trucks, hence why they are small and wimpy. I literally told the service adviser at Costco to "put on the stock size". The truck originally had Firestone AT 265/75/R15 from the dealer (still have the original dealer spare) and I replaced them with Michelin XLT 235/75/R15 tires. Fast forward to this month - I found a good deal on 2017 TRD Off-Road 16" rims for $400. Discount Tire was having a $100 off $400 sale so I pulled the trigger on some new BF Goodrich KO2 P275/75/R16 tires for $600. Spent $100 to mount and balance them. 2nd Gen Toyota wheel locks were $40. This setup cost a total of about $1,200, not bad for what it is.

Now there is some rubbing on the UCA at full lock, I can feel the truck shudder when at absolute full lock so I'm going to have to run wheel spacers and trim the pinch weld area to get them to fit right. The fit fine right now, I've put about 100 miles on them but parking and making sharp turns is really difficult due to the size and restrictions of the tires. Also, RIP fuel economy.

 

Can you hurry up and finish this stupid swap so I can do mine?

 

Don't have any time man haha, it's happening next month don't worry. School is hell.

 

Don't worry, I know lol

 

New wheels look good!

 

Thanks man! Getting my manual hubs powdercoated red/black Monday and finish rebuilding them.

 

That'll look really good. Pay extra attention when reassembling them, I put one of the springs in upside down and the hub wouldn't lock

 

Yeah! Been studying up on the videos. Did you replace any seals when doing your swap? I'm doing a bunch including the axle seals, rear main seal, etc.

 

Nope the seals on everything were still in good shape but can't hurt to do it while everything is off

 

Any tips for when I do the swap? Lol

 

Don't get too frustrated when things don't go as easy as they're supposed to and just pay attention to what you're doing and you'll be good to go. You doing the swap this month?

 

Next month - Christmas break. Schools been taking up all my time!

 

Turns out the yard in Reno where I bought most of this stuff gave me a 4.10 front differential instead of a 4.30. I would've never known if I didn't open up the pumpkin to swap the manual output shaft for the manual hubs.

 

Don't really know much about diffs or gearing but progress!

 

Me neither! I just know you have to have matching gear ratios in the front and rear or you'll fry your transfer case pretty quick.

 

Dang those look badass. I swear the 3rd gen wheels look better on first gens than 3rd or 2nd gens by a long shot. Truck looks great! Good thing you found that oopsie by the wrecking yard - they're not always that accurate - I ran into a problem with a rear axle shaft that cost me a $100 or so in shop fees when they took off the bearings and saw it wouldn't swap over. So are you going to stick with 4:30's?

 

Thanks man! The 3rd Gen wheels, in my opinion, really make the look of the truck. I'm getting the whole truck repsrayed and some body work done next month after I do the 4x4 swap.

Yeah I think I'll stick with the 4.30 - I don't want to make the fuel economy worse than it already is. I'm planning on buying a parts truck to swap the v6 over, including the rear locking axle so no point in switching the rear axle now.

 

So you're swapping out the entire drivetrain over winter break!? Two words - transmission jack lol

 

Way ahead of you!

 

That's the one I have. For re-installing the trans in my truck I'm going to build a jig that holds it level with plywood and some shims bolted to the jack through the holes for the little corner things - it's a pita to get it to stay flat on that small metal surface since the housing is round and knobby.

Dumb question maybe, but you're going to yank the engine, put in the 4x4, and then put in the new engine right?