85 4Runner body swap

[speedy]

I have the opportunity to pick up an 85 4Runner. It is in pretty much the same boat as my 83 was when I first got it. It was sitting in the same field from the same guy that I bought my truck. The biggest difference is that it is minus an engine block. From the EFI intake on, it is all there. The truck was stock with no changes at all.
I am considering picking it up for a couple of reasons. First though, I don't want to have another rebuild project on my hands as the 83 is ongoing with no real sight of the end.
I am thinking I can use the fuel tank, fuel lines, EFI intake, throttle body etc.. to convert my 22R to a 22RE. I spoke to LC Engineering and they said chances were very good that all I would need to do is tap one or two new studs into my LC Street Performer head to make it work with the intake. Then switch over the ECU and everything else related to the Fuel Injection to make it happen. The weber 32/36 with it's leaky adapter plates and poor performance up steep hills is one of the things I really don't like with my current setup.
Next and more interesting, I am thinking of using the 85 body on my long wheelbase frame. I want to avoid switching over all the work I have done to my 83's frame which includes front and rear long travel suspension, and cross-over steering. It was a tremendous amount of grinding and welding to do it and I would rather not do it all again. So I either need to lengthen the rear wheel well on the Runner and relocate some body mounts, or shorten the frame on the 83 frame. Any thoughts on this? I would love to keep the longer wheel base if I could and the frame is bobbed so it definitely wouldn't go past the back of the Runner's bed.
Finally, I get a second transfercase! Nuff said about that. Plus I might be able to use the front driveshaft's CV joint with a long spline setup for the rear on my current truck which desperately needs some help there now due to the 4" lift I just finished.
I can pick this Runner up for $400. I figure I might be able to make that $$ back selling the front and rear axles, and little odds and ends like the auto tranny and the cab from the 83.
Let's hear some advice on this! If I don't do this I am thinking of stealing the 4.3L Vortec engine from my boat for the truck!

[saryota]

in the 4.3 from a boat idea, not compleatly shore but i think youll have to convert it from a marine settup to a radiator set up. id stick with the toy motor myself. do the intake swap.

i drive an 85 4runner and like the body style a lot. i dont think that new body mounts would be all that difficult, im looking at dooing some for a home made front role cage. plus while your at it you can inspect the frame for rust. im not shore about the cv for the rear, that is exactly what i was thinking, i had an 81 that i gutted and used the t-case and have an extra cv drive line, might be weak though.

sounds like a cool project

[speedy]

Thanks for the advice saryota. The marine 4.3 would need to have a radiator, a none marine carb or EFI setup, a none marine exhaust(as it routes through the propeller now), and all the 4.3 liter swap parts. The good news is it is great engine with 190 ponies(carbed, 210-220 EFI) that idles like a purring kitten and I have been led to believe marine engines are built pretty tough compared to their land locked counterparts as they are designed to run at 4500 rpms for hours. The bad news is that it all costs $$ and would probably require a new tranny to replace my W-52 that doesn't have a removeable bellhousing for the adapter.
The 4Runner sounds like such a great idea but I also know myself and once I get all those parts and the possibility of a body swap, I know I will run into issues that cost more $$.
I have been looking into a Offy intake designed for webers or one designed for 4 barrel Holley's as a possible solution to my leaky adapter plates. I would be happy if I could get my overbuilt 22R to show me what it's capable of, then I probably wouldn't be so ready to get involved in another huge project and yank my boat engine or add another vehicle to the parking lot I call a driveway. Seems like my current engine hasn't really reached it's true potential with the 32/36 in either driveability or it's ability to climb a steep hill. Propane injection kits aren't that expensive, I wonder what the deal would be with refueling that system on a trip.
It doesn't seem like many people have much to say on the board lately, anybody out there?

[speedy]

I have been emailing the Railroad comission here in Texas asking about propane conversions. Sounds like you have to have a fleet of vehicles or more money than the truck is worth to make it happen for a smog test. The weber setup sucks on this engine!!! Has anyone used the 4 barrel intake manifold from LC engineering? If so, how does it do with a 4 barrel Holley on it?

[speedy]

The price on the 4Runner dropped... to $0. He is going to give it to me with the promise that I won't just part it out. No intention to do that, so perhaps later this year I am going to attempt a body swap with my 83 truck cab and ditch the flat bed which could eventually be up for sale!

[speedy]

I am going to pick up the 4Runner tomorrow! Pics to follow shortly. Then on Friday I go to pick up the Tacoma we left behind 5 hours away due to a ring and pinion failure.