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4Runner craziest mods

anorphirith

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These are just food for thought…

Toyota 1GD-FTV 2.8L Diesel swap, US EPA doesn’t let us use that engine, but it uses the same transmission as the gas model and it also has the hybrid option. so whichever trim you have, it should be a drop in swap.
increase mpg, easier towing. different wiring. probably needs flashing ECU TCU

Toyota 36100-35A40 full time 4wheel drive transfer case. This would turn the part time 4wd 4runners to full time 4wd drive.
I think only a TCU flash would be needed & potentially different wiring.

Move the hybrid battery where the spare tire is to regain the 8cu/ft of trunk space.
-battery cooling would have to be figured out, i was thinking ducting the inside vents outside
-maybe extending the cable to reach slightly more aft
-a new waterproof casing for it.
shouldn’t be an issue for off roading since it’s so far up.

Swapping the batteries for LiFePo Prius owners have seen good power gains, better mpg doing this. downside would be in cold weather

Impossible mod? => increase the power of the 50hp motor, new motor might not fit, will probably decrease of life of the k0 clutch, ECU will probably not know how to control it

not so crazy mods:

Front sway bar disconnect, I think this is the most obvious one. it would still be hard to implement, the most pain will be the wiring.

14” screen upgrade, the tacoma guys have already figured this out, it’s pretty simple.
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nubbins_

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Toyota 36100-35A40 full time 4wheel drive transfer case. This would turn the part time 4wd 4runners to full time 4wd drive.
I think only a TCU flash would be needed & potentially different wiring.
Judging from this 3rd gen Taco swap thread, things never turn out as simple as they seem :ROFLMAO: in all fairness, TOD swap for Fords does seem to be just about that simple and mostly about the electronics side of things. But for Toyota there's also the ADD actuator in the front diff that seems like it might present similar problems as it does for the 3rd gen swap, since FT4WD models have a different actuator setup in the TC and no ADD in the front diff (?).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transfer-case-swap-multi-mode-2wd-awd-vf3am-vf4am.627123/page-5

As to the 1GD, I'm pretty sure the "hybrid" behind the diesel is a mild hybrid so there is little commonality to make things easier there. The aussie diesel LCs also get a 80+30L fuel tank, which I assume takes advantage of space that is freed up by not using the crossmember location of the hybrid L580F trans and perhaps some battery hardware that doesn't exist under the trunk in their diesels.
 
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anorphirith

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i just double checked, you’re right on the hybrid, it’s a P0 layout on the diesel and a P2 on the gas. so the hybrid systems are not compatible. good thing the hybrid components can just be ripped out in case of a swap lol
 

SC4Runner

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I’d be first in line to buy a Hilux if they sold them here! I’ve considered the swaps on earlier models (Land Cruisers), but it’s such a chore. Importing one already built isn’t easy either. There’s people and businesses that do it though. It must be a labor of love! 😂
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