Earth1

So true, the Tacoma is the size the Tundra used to be and the Tundra is huge. I was thinking the same... but a supercharged VG33ER WD22 with a WD21 body would be sweet, with some changes. After helping my friend lift his WD22 and spending some time underneath, it looks more and more like my old Pathy every time I see it. It is so similar. Granted it is leaf-sprung in the rear, but the dimensions are close and the wheelbase is exactly the same; WD22:Length 178.0 in, Width 70.4 in, Wheelbase 104.3 in vs. WD21 Length 171.9 in, WIdth 66.5 in, Wheelbase 104.3 in Now if you had an X motor/chassis sitting around and a Pathfinder donor with a clean body/interior, swapping the Pathy 5 link rear and going with a custom gas tank where the X's spare is wouldn't be hard for someone with enough time, some money, and crazy enough to do it... just to say you did it. You'd still be wheeling an IFS, basically the same as before. A built VG33et/SAS swap on a WD21 would yield better results for the same effort IMO. I don't know anything about those frames, that could change my opinion though.

The problem with all the newer trucks is that they are getting so big, that would make the conversion a lot harder I imagine. Even going to the next gen up from my chasis would complicate things. But, you'll probably be rich by then so it won't matter!

Thanks. Me too with the older trucks. He did simplify things a bit... no bells and whistles on this truck- no AC or power windows, etc. I get to test emisions as an 87 too! I think a Hardbody conversion would be really cool. If the wheelbase and frame are fairly close it would be doable. When you really think about, there's not much to it... body mounts, front clip, maybe extend the harness and some random wires- just drop the body on it's new home. 2 issues with these conversions might be the tranny hump and hood clearance. Cluster probably was tricky on my truck. Not really anything too big for someone with those fab skills. If you can put a Camaro on a CJ7, you can do anything. I paid $3500 for it, motor is said to have been rebuilt, new bushings, fluids, etc. I couldn't find a strong running clean body 87 for much less, that wouldn't even touch a 2001. I jumped right on it.

Nevermind... I've abandoned this idea in favor of a WD21 carrier. josh

Thanks anyway guys. I snuck up to one parked on my street and got the measurements I needed. It may just work. I may be putting a WD21 carrier on a 1st gen 4Runner body. I'm thinking with the carrier, new hinge pins/bushings, zerks and metal I should be able to do this for well under $100- much less than it would cost me to make a carrier arm for my bumper that I might not keep anyway. If I can make it work, I'll post up. Now to find one in decent condition for a good price... josh

Uh yeah... Hopefully Pezzy can merge this name with my old account so I can still be me. Thank you B! I will definitely keep my eyes over here and rally up some Nissans to wheel with.

Yep, the builder has done several custom projects and some 40 series Land Cruisers conversions the same way. His concept is that a lot of people like the look of the older Toyotas, so he finds nice old bodies and transplants them onto newer chassis. With a nice shop, a hoist and cheap salvage vehicles, it would be a worthy project. His work is outstanding- I'd highly recommend anyone in the Denver area looking for fab work to check him out. He makes some bada$$ bumpers/etc. On mine, he removed the body mount gussets from the frame and added new ones to line up with the 87 body. My cluster, steering column/wheel and center console are from the 01, seats are from a 2nd gen (89-95); I've been entertaining the thought of a Tacoma dash swap. I have some light body work to do and paint it first tho. The full factory options are on the wishlist: e-locker, center diff locker, locking hubs and TRD supercharger. I have to tell you it is a blast- light, suficient power/torque, 2 speed transfer case/nice low range, and as much as I liked driving the Pathy and not being every other Jeep or Yota in Colorado... it is so nice to have aftermarket options galore with the platform. Thanks for looking! hey sweet restore BTW!

Thanks... I'm looking at both. I think the r5o looks newer and I like that it maybe latches lower, but the mounts might be too close together to clear the lights on my Toyota. The wd21 carrier was my original plan, it matches the era of the truck better and is a little bigger for mounting crap to. I know mine was stout as hell too.

If anyone feels so inclined, bored or otherwise helpful, I'm thinking about using a Pathy tire carrier on another project. I need to find the measurements of: 1. hinge to hinge; bottom of top mount -to- top of bottom mount (where the tail lights are) 2. bottom of upper tube to the highest point of the latch plate 3. tube diameter 4. body corner (hinge side) to each mounting bolt on the strike plate thanks in advance!

I am looking into using a spare tire gate from an r50 for another project. I know they are not all that common, but I do have one potentially lined up. I'm not able to get the info I need right now, so I was wondering if anyone has one and is bored enough that they don't mind taking a pic/measurement? Specifically I'm looking for photos of: 1. the latch, strike/catch plate and entire mechanism (to see how it functions and where it is exactly) 2. a close up of the top of the hinge mount on the body (to see the body contour) and measurements for: 3. hinge to hinge; bottom of top mount -to- top of bottom mount (where the tail lights are) 4. bottom of upper tube to the highest point of the latch plate below the door 5. tube diameter Thanks in advance!

Self-edited for insensitive comments...

Thanks Pezzy, that would be awesome! Just let me know if I need to do anything. josh

Here is my (re)intro I just wrote if anyone cares to read... intro. I found this truck locally and had to have it. It's an 87 4Runner body on a 01 4Runner chassis; old school, top-off looks with the 3rd gen Runner reliability. The price was too good to pass up. Solid truck with a great wheeling platform. I put about a 3" lift on it, the basket and lights and 285's. It came with bumpers and a body lift and some newer seats. Has been a perfect truck for my needs all summer. Some pics mall crawling. I apologize for the low res pic with the dirty cellphone camera lens. BTW it will still articulate quite a bit more, swaybars are connected with flex to spare in this photo.

I used to frequent NPORA several years ago. I couldn't log in with my original name Earth1 it's been so long... don't know the password or what email I used. Oh well Since I was here last, I sold my Pathy and all my earthly possessions and went on a very extended backpacking trip in Latin America. I miss that truck for sure. It was the first time I really dove into mechanical work on my own; I learned a lot and gained a ton of confidence. Sometimes I wondered if I should have just driven it south and not sold it... it was a very capable overland expedition vehicle after all, but selling it funded a big part of my trip. My time down there was amazing and wouldn't have gone so long without the contribution selling the truck. Plus, the owner ended up here, but has since sold the truck. Maybe the most recent owner is on here, who knows? I've been back here in the states for over a year now and still feel like I'm getting used to being back. 3 years for me in a very different culture really changed my view on a lot of things. I've been almost starting my life over, from a backpack full of clothes. I found work and got back at the good ol American dream. Earlier this year I found a deal on a truck that I could not pass on. It's a 3rd generation 4Runner(01), but with a 1st generation(87) 4Runner body sitting on it. Pretty much one of a kind rig. Looks like an old-school 4Runner but with the entire platform of the 01. Picked it up for a steal. Not a Nissan, but a cool truck nonetheless... note my display "trader"- at least it's Japanese . I have befriended an xterra owner and plan on getting together with the local Nissan group; we are all still friends on the trail, right? I'm planning a project of adapting a tire carrier from an r50, so over there I go to ask questions! I feel it is just too taboo to put a photo here in the intros, so go find the pic in the off topic area if you're interested. Thanks for the camaraderie! Good to see some familiar names are still here. josh