1st gen interior swap

Has anyone ever attempted to swap out the interior of a 2001 Tacoma and put it into a 1998 Tacoma?

I did not realize they were that different until I put in a 2001 headliner. Now I have to either go back to a my raggedy headliner or swap in a 2001 side panels and a pillar.

It appears that the 2001 headliner has plastic ribbed supports all around the top of the cab.

This is turning into quite the project. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 

You’d most likely need to swap out the a-pillar plastic and the rear panels around the b and c pillars. I don’t think you’d need to do anything else except maybe the trim pieces above the doors and rear window.

 

Why are you swapping the interior? If the fabric is torn up you can get some new fabric and spray glue and repair the current headliner as long as the backings still ok.

 

So my headliner has gone through a few iterations of change. I recently removed the Overland roof console and needed to replace the headliner. I purchased a headliner from a 2001, not realizing they were so different. My bad for not doing the research.

So option A: keep the 2001 headliner and replace the A pillar trim, both 1/4 panel pieces and the white ribbed support pieces on the ceiling. And all associated components needed for the swap. (can you say expensive?)


Option B: locate a good used 1997-1998 headliner and sell the 2001 headliner I just purchased.

 

I would find a good shell and have a local shop cover it however you want. Probably cheapest.

 

I will need a good shell, mine is so rotten from being baked in the Arizona sun for a lot of years.

 

Oh yeah, AZ, I feel ya. Is it complete enough to layer it with fiberglass to hold it together? Might be worth trying if you want to line it yourself. Just tossing ideas out...

 

It is still in one piece, but is flimsy and separating badly.

 

I swapped complete interiors between my 2001 and 2003 Tacomas when I got the newer one six years ago. Instrument panel and all.

It was surprising to find a number of differences and some incompatibilities within the Gen 1.5 trucks. I’ll bet you’re running into LOTS of things, @Phessor, between a Gen 1 and a Gen 1.5.

My switch was to change color from oak to charcoal and to upgrade condition. In the end I had to find some 2003 interior trim in charcoal that wouldn’t switch from the oak 2001. Back then, much of it was still available from Toyota so I got brand-new. That’s not the case now — it’s more of a scavenger hunt.