First Foray into 4Runners - My 1st Gen Build

[Summit Cruisers Jr]

Ironically, coming from my Land Cruiser, the 22RE is a rocket, but I haven’t had it above 50 mph and on any hills so I have no idea how it will do on the highway. As of right now I don’t have any plans to play in the rocks with this thing. I’d much rather have a quick and capable ride for trips to the dunes out at Little Sahara and highway drives compared to having something that would be better off being trailered.

I’ve been following a thread on mud by Corax, who has figured out how to mate a 1uz to the r150f. Personally, to me, wiring is the biggest challenge I’ll be faced with no matter what motor I eventually set my sights on.

 

[battleaxe]

Custom built harness from those dudes for ~$775.

That to me is a no brainer, and I've wired a ton of projects/swaps. I'd gladly pay that money if I were doing the swap.

Ironically, I had no issues with the 22RE around town. It was a fun little truck. It fell short on the highway for me.

 

[Summit Cruisers Jr]

Productive time working on the 4runner over Friday and Sunday.

Fresh 5100s have it riding much better. I am super pleased.

Marlin shifter seat and socket. Shifter now feels as it should. I don’t think I will pursue a short throw shifter as it’s not bad how it is right now. Time will tell.


79-81 grille on. The top middle two mounts line up with the 4runner’s. I had to trim one mount on the bottom backside of the grille to clear the ac drier. I also trimmed the piece behind the bumper to allow the lower portion of the grille to fit into place. If my bumper had been pristine, it might not have been an issue, but I didn’t mind cutting it to fit since I’ll be building a bumper in the near future. While it was up in the air, I also replaced the two exhaust flange gaskets going from the down pipes to the pipe that leads into the cat.


I wish I could have done round headlights, but couldn’t find any bezels sitting around. I’ll order them here in the next couple of days and then I just have to build an adapter from the round bezel to the square bezel pattern on the housing. Headlights just plugged right in. Once they’re in, I’ll build surrounds for them.


Got all four wheels prepped, painted, and cleared today while my dad replaced the air filter, fuel filter and coolant. I also painted the lug nuts and corner light trim black.


Probably the original fuel filter...








I’m super stoked with how it all has come together. I drove it back to school(~50 miles) and got 21 mpg doing 65-70 with ease. I’m sure it can do better as I am still figuring out the ideal shift points and pushing it pretty good because it is so fun.

 

[battleaxe]

That looks fantastic man, great start.

It's funny how just a few details make these trucks look so awesome. I'm definitely missing mine now.

 

[Volcom]

You will have to widen the front frame rails to get a 1UZ or 2UZ to fit. That's a lot of custom fab work. I've got an 84 4Runner on 39.5" Iroks. It's been such an awesome rig the last 12 years!

 

[bkg]

You will have to widen the front frame rails to get a 1UZ or 2UZ to fit. That's a lot of custom fab work. I've got an 84 4Runner on 39.5" Iroks. It's been such an awesome rig the last 12 years!

I've seen a few swaps... none of them had widened the frame.

 

[Summit Cruisers Jr]

That looks fantastic man, great start.

It's funny how just a few details make these trucks look so awesome. I'm definitely missing mine now.

Yeah they totally changed the entire vibe of the truck. I’ve been having a blast driving this thing around. Any excuse to drive is all I need

I've seen a few swaps... none of them had widened the frame.

Same...Although a 2UZ is a slightly different animal. I read through a thread where some guy swapped one into a 1st or 2nd gen Tacoma and it looked like a nightmare. I can’t remember if he had to play with the frame rail width though or if he used a body lift. Just from a packaging and maintenance stand point, I wouldn’t want anything larger than a 1UZ.

Anyways, I cleaned out the cargo area this morning and had some spare keys made. Figured I’d also throw some stickers on. Normally I’m against stickers on side windows as they disrupt a clean side profile (my cruiser), but this thing isn’t clean so it doesn’t matter too much...And the rear window rolls down so I don’t want them peeling off.

 

[2manyprojects]

Congrats on bringing a fine old ride back to life. The pre'84 grill looks good, but why round headlights? If you can find'em, Hella made a replaceable bulb square lens assembly that would take H-4 55/100wt bulbs. Lots of light and very durable.

I see lots of talk about motor swaps, but that little 22RE is/was a great little motor. Maybe look around for a header (L/C Eng) and low restriction exhaust and keep up on the maintenance and it will treat you well for 250K mi+. Don't know if anybody mentioned, but check the timing cover and oil pump. It's a pain to get to, but they have a known weakness with the timing chain slapping the cover and wearing through. When that happens lots can get fouled up...

 

[battleaxe]

You will have to widen the front frame rails to get a 1UZ or 2UZ to fit. That's a lot of custom fab work. I've got an 84 4Runner on 39.5" Iroks. It's been such an awesome rig the last 12 years!

I've seen a few swaps... none of them had widened the frame.

I'm with @bkg . Dunno where you're getting that info from.

@Summit Cruisers Jr Check out:
https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/1093516-89lcs-1uz-4runner.html

The first page shows the main reasons why it is not a simple swap.

 

[Summit Cruisers Jr]

Congrats on bringing a fine old ride back to life. The pre'84 grill looks good, but why round headlights? If you can find'em, Hella made a replaceable bulb square lens assembly that would take H-4 55/100wt bulbs. Lots of light and very durable.

Thanks! I really just want round headlights for the aesthetics, and I actually have some nice 7” round headlights sitting around collecting dust so it’s cheaper than doing anything with new rectangular headlights.

If you look closely, you might be able to see where the 79-81 grille actually kind of overlaps the headlights and how the headlight isn’t centered very well. The round headlights will fit much better in this space and get rid of the Jeep XJ look.

I'm with @bkg . Dunno where you're getting that info from.

@Summit Cruisers Jr Check out:
https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/1093516-89lcs-1uz-4runner.html

The first page shows the main reasons why it is not a simple swap.

Yeah I am aware it isn’t a simple swap. Just like a 2UZ into an 80, nothing will bolt right in. What I didn’t realize was how easily the 2.7s and 3.4s can be swapped in. I never looked into them much because frankly I’m not too interested in a V6 or another 4 cylinder, and for the effort I thought would be required all the way around for a motor swap, the 1UZ would be much a better reward for the labor.

Personally, I don’t really have any issues with the 22RE at this time. When the time comes and the 4runner has more usable travel, the 1UZ is what I’m setting my sights on primarily to test myself and as a learning experience. I definitely don’t want my 80 series to be my first motor swap as I know there will be tons of things that I will wish I had done differently and actually having to dive into the nitty gritty of a swap on this 4runner will be extremely valuable. And at the end of the day, if I end up with a 1UZ 1st gen and 2UZ 80 series in the driveway, that’s almost too cool.

 

[bkg]

I love this 1UZ vs LS comparison picture. Those overhead cams add some girth. /hijack off

 

[DaveInDenver]

@Summit Cruisers Jr Check out:
https://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/1093516-89lcs-1uz-4runner.html

The first page shows the main reasons why it is not a simple swap.

Keeping in mind that the guy who swapped in that 1UZ had already done previously an SAS and OM617, so there was a lot of fab work he'd already done for suspension clearance, fitting in a radiator and alignment of the drivetrain.

I don't think the frame strictly has to be widened, but the issue with the UZ motor is the oil filter may need to be remote mounted and you're limited on exhaust manifold options when you swap one into a mini truck. There's a few swaps now but it's still a lot of untried custom work compared to other more common swaps. Depends ultimately on what you're after. Nothing wrong with enjoying doing something unique but realize that it means you're going it alone. Things are different if its your hobby and fun truck and doesn't *need* to work.

 

[bkg]

Keeping in mind that the guy who swapped in that 1UZ had already done previously an SAS and OM617, so there was a lot of fab work he'd already done for suspension clearance, fitting in a radiator and alignment of the drivetrain.

I don't think the frame strictly has to be widened, but the issue with the UZ motor is the oil filter may need to be remote mounted and you're limited on exhaust manifold options when you swap one into a mini truck. There's a few swaps now but it's still a lot of untried custom work compared to other more common swaps. Depends ultimately on what you're after. Nothing wrong with enjoying doing something unique but realize that it means you're going it alone. Things are different if its your hobby and fun truck and doesn't *need* to work.

http://northwesttoysllc.com/ Documented a swap in Toyota Owners Mag...

 

[DaveInDenver]

Didn't know that stuff existed, I thought getting bell housings and adapters was harder than that. Cool, so cool. I guess I should subscribe to that magazine, never really read it. Heard of it, just don't have any subscriptions to mags anymore.

If only I had parked my '91 instead of selling it. If only I had a place to work on my '91 instead of selling it. If only.

 

[Summit Cruisers Jr]

There’s quite a bit of decent info out there. This is most of what I have saved in a file for future reference. There is certainly more information out there than a couple vague references of 2UZ swaps into FJ80s. It certainly isn’t an impossible swap, and with all the information out there and 1UZ specific resources/aftermarket support, I think it will start making more sense to people if they’re mechanically inclined, want to keep it Toyota, and want a V8. At the end of the day, with the lowest HP spec 1uz, you’re looking at around 250hp. I’ve done a plenty good amount of driving/riding in VVTI 2UZ powered Cruisers, first gen tundras, and GX470s and they all feel pretty amazing. A non VVTI 1UZ (less hp barely and less low end torque) will move a much lighter 1st gen 4runner along no problem.

This is the one I have been keeping a close eye on.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/coraxs-1uz-vvti-swap.1021841/

I particularly like how this guy incorporated the gauge cluster from the donor into the 1st gen dash with a simple fit piece.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f161/1uz-fe-into-1st-gen-4runner-211832/

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f161/1uz-fe-faq-swap-guide-84-89-4runner-pickup-254638/

Not a 1st gen 4runner but still applicable information in places
https://toyotaminis.com/forum/threads/my-1uzfe-build.21818/

This one appears to have been scrapped
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/111863-1989-4runner-1uzfe-swap.html

Lots of parts here. I think this was referenced earlier in this thread.
http://northwesttoysllc.com/1uz-2/

1UZ information/history/specs
https://www.google.com/amp/s/dustrunnersauto.com/1uzfe/amp/

Transmission adapters
https://equippedengineering.com/collections/1uzfe-swap-kits

Transfers and transmissions
https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/options-for-1uz-fe-plus-which-tranny-transfer-case.855874/

2uz and a manual info along with some other tidbits and ECU notes

2UZ-FE swap with manual tranny... thoughts?

I know many have inquired, and threads are out there on this topic, but I can't seem to get concrete answers on the line of thought I have on tackling this project... I'm sure there are enough Toyota technically inclined members here on 'Mud to help me figure this out... The F engine in my '71...

forum.ih8mud.com

Anyways, I’m fairly deadset on a 1UZ at this point in time. This likely won’t be a swap that will be happening in the next year or two as I’ve got some more pressing projects/expenses on the 80 I’d like to address. I’m sure only more information will become available and parts availability will increase in that time as well.