What frames will interchange? 1st Gen 4wd 6 lug

Ok frame broke into today on both sides going across some tracks.... Thru some old repairs & what was left of the orig frame.... So now I'm looking for frames.

Quite a few available, but not trusting people on the net I don't know....

What really interchanges from truck to truck?

Mine:

2003 extra cab 4wd 6 lug wheels ...

Its just too good of a truck to trash if a frame can be found. Lots of people say "this will fit".. but want to know for sure before I throw money at it.

Thanks all!

 

Crickets...

Nobody?

 

Is it a long bed?

The 1g experts will be along soon
.

 

this is why im asking... didnt even know there was different bed lengths...

it looks like this:

 

Any Xtra Cab 6-Lug frame frome 95-04' will work.

You didn't state if yours was v6 or 4cyl. Or if it's stick vs. auto. I believe those factors can matter (trans cross member location varies between them I believe). But those shouldn't be deal breakers. Just don't buy a 5-lug frame

 

The Toyota TSB for the Gen 1 frame enhanced warranty program had the part numbers for all the different frame options, I believe. IIRC it wasn’t a perfect Rosetta Stone to what-goes-with-what, but it might be useful in giving one an idea of the variations that need to be considered.

 

yeah someone asked me yesterday if i had a 5 or 6 lug frame....

didnt understand how the lugs on the tires made a frame difference.

yep 6 lug 4wd, AT, 3.4V6

so todays laugh is everybody is advertising at 500 or 750... then when you call them they go:

well the one you need is 2,000. sigh.

still waiting on a couple of call backs.

 

They are very different frames and suspension configurations. The wheels/lugs are just a fast way to tell.

 

You could almost end up ahead by searching out west for a totalled out truck (maybe something like a rollover accident), and then having it shipped or flying out and picking it up with a rental truck/trailer. Then you could sell off all the extra parts after completing a frame swap.

 

Well I've actually been really surprised at how many frames I've found really quickly for these !!

Most are ridiculously priced.... BUT they are available & many of them look really good in pix.

Now its just about if I want to put this kind of coin into it or just throw it up for sale here as is.

What is the consensus on when "enough is enough"? For these?

My truck is in decent shape. Little rust on the passenger side bed, but the rest is really good, everything works & its got lots of options. Motor & tranny are strong as is all other mechanical functions.... 240K on it...

So is it worth putting around 2k in it for a frame?
My thoughts was that was too much, but my wife thinks its not.

More input from you guys would be great.

 

If its only 2k or even as high as 5k then that's probably worth it. But expect to have to replace quite a few small things throughout the swap (that will add up, and you won't complete the job for $2k). Still far cheaper than a new truck though. And a new-to-you used vehicle comes with the unknown of its maintenance history and how it was cared for.

 

Space, tools, time, skills, helpers to do the work?

Willingness to spend more $ on things you'll break or find worn out during the job?

Willingness for extra effort to prep, detail and protect things as you reassemble? Like clean, seal and woolwax the new frame.

Consider having the bed repaired while off?

I say do it.

You'll have the truck you know and like refreshed ready to keep going. Learn a lot, aquire new tools, lose some skin and blood and be a 'I did that' owner

 

Any pics of what the underside looks like for curiosity?

 

Sure I can take pix of whatever you guys want to see. You mean of the body or the frame?

Got some frame pix posted in another thread.. its ate up & repaired from head to toe.

Now on the extra things that get done?
Got a full set of body mounts, new shocks, all new front end parts just in, new power rack last year, new rotors/brakes & so on. Doesn't seem like there's too much left to replace on those parts.

Got the tools & space to do the work. YES I'm a 1 man band. My only help is the dogs.

The main reason I'm mulling the 2k range on the frame is I only paid near 4k for the truck a couple years ago.... Wasn't for sure if a 4k truck was worth another 2k investment at this point.

It is an extra vehicle for us & its my "dog truck"..... Though 90% of the time its what I drive instead of my big truck.

Yes will fluid film or rust bond before a reinstall.

 

Get the donor frame galvanized. Cheap process, relatively.

 

2K is peanuts on a 4x4 truck, add a grand or two more for whatever else and it's still peanuts. That isn't even the tax on a new ride if you do the work. a used truck for 4K will still be ratted out so badly you may as well name it ''Willard.''

 

I'd say 2-4k more into this truck is absolutely worth it if you find the truck useful.

 

Great honest input! Thank you all very much!

had no idea that it would be worth putting this much more into at this stage.

Will post up here if I grab a frame in the next couple of weeks.

No galvanizing places around here, but did look into that woolwax stuff.

 

98-2004 extracab frames will swap right over. 95-97 need the rear shackle mount relocated(shorter leafs on those models). Double cab frames will work as well but you have to relocate the rear most body mount and the forward most bed mounts.

 

Well today was an off day from the other jobs.... So put Taco in the shop & started on fixing the frame that's under it. Looks like will be holding off on a new frame until one pops up at a decent price or the truck dies.

You guys give excellent help & info.

just cant swallow putting that much money into this truck when that is more than I paid for it.
Now if a frame turns up cheaper ? Will grab it & put it aside for future use.

Will keep everybody posted.