big bite

[relicduke]

Being slightly stupid I bought a '92 tin top that I didn't check out too well. It had beautiful skin so I paid too much for it,too much because on the way home{60 miles +-}the frame was sooo bad the gas tank fell off on the road.I tied it up with tarp straps and got 'er home.works great,but.The frame is shot but.I have a '96 Sunrunner with a good frame.See where this is going/My plan is to put the Tracker body on the sunrunner frame.The only difference I can see is,the runner is automatic,so what will I hane to change?crossmember?{I'm putting in the 5 speed from the tintop}Also,what gearing problems,if any will I have using the diffs from the automatic{'cause of the different ratioes}
'96 Pontiac Sunrunner,16v,Canadian automatic{3speed]
'92 Chev Tracker 8v Canadian 5 speed
Also,any bluenosers lookin' for a 16 valve engine and three speed auto for sale ...cheap

[grc1]

Hi, many people have done body frame swaps. One of the Big problems you will incounter is the ecu and wiring.Because of the different motors and tranys.

I have only done body frame swaps on cars from the sixtys and early seventys But not on a tracker. So my opion may not count for much.

I would start with just a frame swap---nothing else. Once that is comple I would start looking at the motor,trans,and diff swap. Before you even start compaire the two frames very closly and use a tape measure to make sure everthing is the same and if not how hard is it to modify? If you do all your measuremnents and all is ok then I would start swaping out just the frame. Nothing else at this point in time.
I believe the bigest headace will be the change in wiring when you swap motor and trany.
So for now just do the frame. nothing else.

Please rember that this is just my two cents and I haven't done a frame job for thirty years. Much of what I once knew is now obsolet, so like you and everyone else here I am relearning a lot about newer tecnoligy.

[grc1]

Forgot to mention. Since you have bad frame rust, please check the underside of the doors. You know were the water drain holes are. In your part of the country there is a problem with rust. Next check very closly to see if there is any rust under the tail gate. After that check for rust around the tail lights .(best to just take them out to check).
Last but not least check the front end strut mounts,were front shocks go,.

The reason I'm asking is that for a tintop the dealership in NS will be asking about $1,300 for rear 1/4 panels.

If your ready now is the time to get a didgital camera and take pictures of every nut bolt wiring conector and rubber tube you can find. It may not be nessary but its always good to have a reminder of were every thing goes. (helps the old memory in case of temperary brain fart) Last but just as important is get roll of masking tape and put tape on all parts from the frame you will strip so as not to get parts mixed up.

Hope this helps

Once you get yor tintop back on the road , then you can start with engine,trany.ecu swap. By this time I figure some body is going to be sayn by dunderng jesus what am I do-n .

Have a good day

[relicduke]

Thanks grc1,I figger that the wireing/computer will be the least of my worries, 'cause all that goes with the body.Did I mention that I'm also making it into a panel truck by replacing the rear quarter windows with sheet metal?
This project was suposed to be a '50 Chevie but,well you know.
I'm encouraged 'cause I unhoohed everything but the steering colume yesterday,as soon as I get the '91 painted so I can get in the grage, I'll pull the engine/trans outa the 'runner.
I'm in no hurry and I got four of these little beasties to work with.

[grc1]

Hi, Since you'r goning to take off the frame and getting the body painted now is when you can do a couple of things to help make your tracker last a little longer. Scrub the hell out of the frame and get it good and clean. You can get a do it yourself bed liner paint and rust prove the frame. I seen kits on flea bay for about a $100. They are not pro quality but will stop the rust for a long time. You can also paint the underside of your body with the same. I don't think it true but I have heard some people say that thier ride is actully more quite.

Now is the time to drop your gas tank have it cleaned out. I have always perfered steam cleaning a gas tank but if you just remove all the fuel and rence it out that is good to.

Wish I could come over and give you a helping hand. I'm in Winnipeg

[grc1]

No ,NO, No , Do not pull engine and trany from the sunrunner. At this point in time all your doing is creating a lot more work.

You are using the sunrunner frame for the 92 tracker-- correct?

As a general rule

1) put sunrunner in nuetral
2) pull off counsel and diconect everthing so you can drop frame. don't want anything to hangup.
3) disconect all wires under the hood that pertane to just engine , starter ect.
4) pull rad and hoses
5)put jacks under body with very LIGHT preasure not frame ( use 2x4 wood between jacks and body)
6) now start to unbolt body , leave front struts last.
7) if you have done everthing right now jackup body, motor,trans,gastank ect. should still be atached to frame. Now roll away frame. and find some place for body.
8) do same with tin top.
9) Now start to tranfer parts from one frame to other
Very important... do not strip frame if you are not going to paint it ect.
Take off one part of sun runner and replace with tracker part , ONE part at a time.
Start with front and work back.

By doing it this way it is much easer to handle all heavy parts and to find out if you need to make any frame mods

Hope you have a impact wrench ,it will make work a lot easyer and you won't end up with tendenites (really, really sore arms)

[jtgh]

wow, now that is great advice. Thanks very much.

[grc1]

I am know that you will find a few parts I have not metioned to disconect but I'm sure you will find them.

But please rember to transfer ALL the parts from one frame to the other. Absolutely no cheating here even if two parts look the same, transfer them over. Remember the masking tape? Use it . Take the time of when you transfer the engine and trany , making sure of exact fit. I normaly don't take the motor mounts off the engine but the mounts off the frame. Helps with easyer alighnment. Just my sort of thing but not nessary.

Above all else remember you are doing a frame swap and not spawping out engine and trany. All that comes after the tracker is up and running. So keep orginal engine and trany in original tracker.

Good luck

[relicduke]

Oh but I am,all I'm using from the Sunrunner is the frame and gas tank,meby the diffs,haven't made up my mind on that.Gravel gaurd for the frame/floor.Yessir I love my air tools.
Thanks for the help,send beer.

[grc1]

relicduke .....about that beer .....got any Mosehead......LMAO