2x to 4x conversion for my 2nd gen (14)

@ahspurlock ya I took a peek. That's gold. I'm going to use that as a bible. @jowybyo I like the idea of having direct manual control, but part of me wants it to look like it came out of the factory. I've been reading stuff about not being able to take it from 2x to 4x, what controls that?

 

On a stock Tacoma, it would be the 4WD ECU. Basically a small micro-controller, that receives input from the 3 position dial switch to activate the front ADD system and shift the t-case in to the selected gear. It also monitors other systems including your speed to make sure it's "save" to shift into 4WD. However, the ECU is unreliable at best. My educated guess is that the ECU getting confused is the reason so many ppl have an issue shifting into and out of 4WD.

To go this route and be purely "stock", you need to get the ECU, the wire harness, the stock switch, the dash radio surround (with the hole for the switch). You'll have a mess of wiring to figure out. It's possible with enough patience. But it will be far easier to just get an FJ case and skip all of that.

I did something in between. I wired my own circuit to control the t-case. It uses a series of relays wired to a 3 Position dial switch. It works remarkably well. Actually, I've had a lot of issues with the ADD wiring everyone suggests and no issues with the circuit I invented for the t-case.

 

Hmm. Touche. So far everyone is pointing me towards the add switch, what kind of issues did you have? My buddy mentioned something about a crawl box along with the transfer case, is that what you did?

 

The ADD switch is the only option if you don't use the 4WD ECU.

I keep burning up the ADD motor. I could likely have had these problems anyway. Seems like some people do.

I did not use a crawl box. But they are all stick shift so if you decide to use one then you should definitely use the FJ t-case since you'll be cutting a hole in your floor anyway.

 

Subbed. I've been hunting down parts to do this myself.

 

www.car-parts.com
this is were i found the parts i needed

 

Thank you! My issue is finding someone local that can do it for me once I get the parts.

 

i could if you werent so far away . im getting ready to do one in 3 weeks charging $1500 to do it

 

Yeah that's one hell of a drive! Time to make a full parts list and start hunting down everything I need. There are some really good guys on TW who have shops that I'm sure one could help me out.

 

In

 

yea there is

 

Very well then. Fj t case it is

 

Smart choice. Will save you a lot of trouble.

 

I was leeanibg towards that anyways. My buddy also mentioned a electric front locker. Is that easier said than done?

 

dont make one only ARB has one

 

What @ahspurlock said. There is only an air locker made by ARB.

 

https://www.harrop.com.au/shop/4x4-performance/elocker/elocker-toyota-373-down-front

 

interresting but for that price i dont think so cheaper to go with a ARB for $940

 

Hmm. I'm gonna have to start budgeting the crap out of the other parts then

 

You don't need a locker.....