4x4 conversion thread idea.

Ah. Alright.

You can even use 3rd gen 4Runner Steering knuckles too. Way more common at junkyards than Tacoma's.

 

What years are 3rd gen 4runners? I've never kept track of 4runners.

 

96-02

 

1996-2002 4Runners. 3rd generation. Some had j-shift so you can use the transfer cases and transmissions out of certain ones. Beware of Toyota's ETCS-I electronic throttle system they used in 03-04 Tacoma's and certain 4Runners. You can't use those on your truck.

 

Dude... you sound like you have done your homework on this. I'm probably going to be bugging the shit out of you, picking your brain, when I get elbow deep.

 

I'm actually using the shifter console and front differential from a 1996 4Runner Limited. Unlike the Tacoma the 4Runner came with black interiors and I personally like how it looks compared to the Tacoma gray/tan/brown.

Depending on your gear ratio it'll be easier to find on 4Runners compared to Tacomas. For example, I have a 4.30 rear which is incredibly rare for the front end on a Tacoma. Very common on certain 4Runners on the other hand.

Tacoma shifter on top, 4Runner shifter ok the bottom. They're identical.

 

I started researching and buying parts in May - hasn't been off my mind since then. Lol. I drove to Reno to buy parts just for this swap.

 

From what I've been reading, I think I'm looking for a Transfer case and front diff from a 96-98 Taco or 4runner.. I think I'm finding that those do not have ADD.

As for the trans... I'm not sure. My understanding is the 4Runners have something that is no bueno with the Taco speedo/odo etc.

I'm not sure I need to worry terribly about the front diff gears... as long as the diff will accept a 4.56 gears. When I actually do the swap, I plan on doing 4.56 gears.

 

I cannot stress this enough. The Front Differential is the most important part and hardest to find part of the swap. If you're buying it on eBay or from a scrapyard, you really have to trust their word that it is the correct gear ratio. I was sold a front differential being told that it was 4.30 when in fact it was 4.10. I couldn't return it because it was like six months later and the yard was 6 hours from me. I only found out because I had the diff. clamshell popped open to swap the intermediate shafts for the manual hubs. If I kept the ADD and never popped it open to count the ring and pinion teeth I would have fried my transfer case SO quickly.

You have to absolutely make sure the gearing is the same, and that the gearing from your donor vehicle is the same. You can call Toyota with the VIN from your truck, and the VIN from the donor vehicle to confirm gear ratios.

You can use any transfer case just as long as it is 'J-Shift' and does not have an actuator on it. Pretty easy to tell if it's J-Shift or push-button just by looking at the shift pattern on the knob and the presence or lack there-of an actuator. Your front differential can be ADD actuated in two ways: vacuum or electronically - vacuum is a PITA to hook up it involves messing with VSV's and such. Electronically is a lot simpler - just a couple wires and a toggle switch and you can use ADD.

 

Oh, no doubt about the gears being the same ratio. I get that. My point is it doesn't matter (to me) what gears the front diff is because I plan on re-gearing both diffs to 4.56. I don't think any of them came stock in 4.56.

So I can get a diff that has ADD? I thought I read somewhere to make sure it's not ADD... (but I'm also sure there's a lot of misinfo around this subject lol)

 

Yes you can use an ADD front differential. You just have to lock the actuator fork in 4WD with a hose clamp. Plenty of people have done that.

Some Tacomas did come from the factory with 4.56. Re-gearing is exorbitantly more expensive than just buying the diffs with the correct gear ratio already.

 

I'm almost positive my current ratio is 4.10 that will need to change to 4.56.

If I can find a front diff in 4.56 I'll do that, but as long as I can find a front diff that will work, I have the option of buying it, knowing it'll need to be re-geared.

 

I have a 4.10 for you if interested - I personally counted the teeth on the ring and pinion so I know for a fact it is 4.10

 

I might be interested in that. Let me verify mine is a 4.10 (that is what the info sticker seems to tell me, but let me verify with a dealer). I could run the 4.10 till I up size the tires.

 

What's the gear code on your VIN sticker?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oem-gear-ratio-chart.365138/

 

B03A

 

Yup that's 4.10 - my diff will work. I can grayhound bus ship it down to you for not that much. It is ADD so all you have to do is lock the actuator fork in 4WD with a hose clamp. Takes ~5 minutes.

 

So you have a whole diff? Or just the gears?

 

Whole diff. I'll PM you.

 

Here's an off the wall question. I'll ask it here because it pertains to a 4x4 swap (at least my 4x4 swap anyway).

I plan on doing the Tundra swap prior to doing my 4x4 swap. My question, for anyone who might know (including @gunny1005 ) is... Will 2005/2006 Tundra or Sequoia steering knuckle (spindle) work for my application on a 2002 Tacoma Prerunner? The reasoning is, the 13WL calipers for the Tundra swap are larger than the Tacoma. You have to trim the backing plate to give room for the larger caliper. If you don't want to trim the backing plates, they are around $100 a piece to buy. I'm figuring, if the Tundra/Sequoia steering knuckles (spindle) will work, they will most likely have the backing plates already attached when I buy them from a salvage yard etc.