hello all. i just acquired another truck for $275 and now i have a fork in the road and i dont know where to go. the first truck is my 87 runner. 22re, 5 speed, beaten body but not too rusty, 150,000 miles and running strong. interior is clean too. the second truck is a 87 runner. 22re, was an auto but tranny and transfer case are gone,150,000 miles and motor is done, very clean body, and a matching interior to the other truck. now im plagued by the question, do i put the second truck away, and in the spring put all my mechanicals in it? or do i put all the body parts on the first truck. what would you do?

Swapping drivetrains is way easier than swapping cabs. Since they are the same year you can use the existing wiring harness in the clean cab.

I'd pull the drive train out of the beater and toss it in the nice body for a daily driver. Then, I'd get my hands on a small block chevy, TH400 and a couple of 1 ton axles......after that, I'd break out the torch and the Mig welder and create "Franken-Yota".......But that's just me.

You could rebuild the second Runner and sell it, or keep it as a daily driver and use your other as a dedicated trail truck only, rather than swapping over your engine/drivetrain. I eventually plan to have two trail rigs, one lightweight beater rig for hardcore rock trails like the Hammers, Rubicon and Fordyce(anymore), and my '90 for snow wheeling/camping, mild to hard trails, etc.

Harry = Wise.

i guess ill throw the motor in the clean body. i dont like bodywork too much anyway. the only thing that stinks about the swap is that i have to set the auto truck up to be a stick. i helped do it once but we were flying blind and i dont remember it.

Is the auto in very good shape? Red fluid, doesn't slip,etc? Don't throw it out....maybe we could work out a deal later. ZUK

the tranny/transfer case is the 1 thing that didnt come with it. i honestly dont know what shape it was in anyway. the guy i bought it from is a shady sob and i wouldnt trust him further than i could throw him.

I'd find a motor, tranny & case for the pretty one. Then do an SAS on the beater. But it's all about the $$$, right?

JT

Hey Zuk and lookmom...
Here in San Diego I have a good auto tranny and transfer from an '86 turbo 4Runner someone can have. You'd have to come pick it up though, I really don't want to go through boxing it up and shipping and all that [email]cr@p.[/email]
Brian.