Converting a prerunner 4.7 swap into 4x4

Hey y’all, I’m new here so this question may not even be in the right forearm. But I recently bought a 2000 prerunner from a mechanical engineer who builds race cars as a hobby so it seemed pretty legit after looking it over best I could. Now I already know from reading other posts that y’all are going to roast me for wanting to convert to 4x4, but it comes with the territory lol. No telling what it’s going to cost. I was just hoping someone could tell me what parts I need and what parts I’ll have to have custom made. The motor only has 35,000 miles on it and the frame is mint so it seems like a project worth undertaking. Thanks in advance for any insight y’all can give.

 

Hey y’all, I’m new here so this question may not even be in the right forum. But I recently bought a 2000 prerunner from a mechanical engineer who builds race cars as a hobby so it seemed pretty legit after looking it over best I could. Now I already know from reading other posts that y’all are going to roast me for wanting to convert to 4x4, but it comes with the territory lol. No telling what it’s going to cost. I was just hoping someone could tell me what parts I need and what parts I’ll have to have custom made. The motor only has 35,000 miles on it and the frame is mint so it seems like a project worth undertaking. Thanks in advance for any insight y’all can give.

 

Actually if you read all the other posts only a few people that don't know anything would roast you considering there are many threads on how to swap the pre-runner.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ap-w-twin-stick-and-shift-kit-and-b-s.562405/

I'll keep it simple and I'll let everyone else get into the details but there will be no custom fabrication. All parts can be taken from 4 runners and 4wd tacomas for a direct fit.

 

4.7 as in a v8?

If so, that may make the conversion a bit more complex than the standard 2wd - 4wd exercise.

Since it's a smaller 1st gen have you considered making it more of a street truck? ala X Runner fashion?

 

Assumed typo from 2.7 but if 4.7 v8 then yeah will be more difficult obv.

 

There are so many threads on doing this

What makes yours some what different is the 4.7 swap

just what transmission manual or automatic ??

Pretty much find yourself a 4x4 of close to your vintage with a bad motor bring it home

locking hubs is some what easier then running all the ADD hardware and control

I am not sure if the 4.7 is longer front to back I never needed to know yet.


It is possible cross member and driveshaft lengths might be different because the newer trucks are longer that in theory might be your only area of fabrication

 

Well, looks like another hit and run.

Pops in, asks questions, disappears.

 

I replied to the same thread

Prerunner to 4x4 with the V8

 

Sorry folks it’s been a crazy week. I posted on another thread and wasn’t getting any responses. Didn’t mean to hit it and quit it. But yea the last guy dropped a 4.7 v8 Automatic In. I Saw someone mention locking front hubs. Would that be the easiest way to go?

Like I said my main concern is the v8 swap. I knew I should have just went the tried and true v6 but the low mile swap seemed too good to pass up.

 

Haha hit it and quit it.

Ima keep it simple for you. With a stock Tacoma TRD first gen, you can reuse 3rd gen 4 runner and first gen tacoma 4wd parts.
It's a direct bolt on swap. You take parts from either of those vehicles, and bolt it right on. Very easy.

I don't know anything about the V8 swap. Maybe someone will have some info, but if it were me, I'd just get under the truck and understand what parts are there.

If you really want to do this, you need to understand how things work. No one will give you a perfect recipe here, and even if someone magically does, you won't be able to cook it unless you know what's going on. That being said, be ready to learn :

You need to understand what 4WD needs.
The goal : Spin front and back wheels.
You need to spin the front wheels so lets start there.
Your stock 2wd hubs don't have CV's connected to them, so they only spin because they're being pushed by the rear wheels. You need hubs that can accept Cv's.
Even with the V8 swap, I'll assume the suspension is still first gen taco shit. So you need to find 4wd hubs from the 2 vehicles i mentioned earlier in the post. ( you need to research, there are minor nuances, but like I said, each person will have their slightly different recipe. No one will give it to you).
Now you have cv's into the front hubs. You need to spin those correct?
For "stock" tacomas, you literally bolt on a stock diff. Unless your v8 impedes that area, you can bolt on a stock diff from the 2 types of vehicles mentioned above.
Easy so far? Yes.
Now you need to power the front diff. This is where its trickier for you. Usually you just reuse stock shit I keep mentioning from the 2 vehicles. Because you have a V8, you need to find out what tranny you have, and find the transfer case for that tranny. (not that hard).
Once you find the transfer case, you will need to figure out how to support it. That'll be a little tricky and might require custom work. With the stock taco it just bolts on.
Once you have a transfer case, you need to cut a hole in the cab so you can move the stick.
What does the transfer case do?
It will spin two flanges. One flange connects a drive shaft that goes to the back of your truck and spins the rear diff.
Then the second flange will connect a front drive shaft that attaches to the front diff. You will need to get two custom drive shafts cut, unless you're super lucky and find some stock shit to magically fit.

You're done. Now it's up to you to find the parts that fit. It might be out there, I just don't wanna look. But it's simple really. Break it down like I did.

 

I'd guess he can get away with the classic front hubs, front diff set up all other "normal" first gens use.
Then he'll need to find a transfer case for the tranny he has, a custom support, and custom shafts.
Shouldn't be bad.

 

That actually helped a lot. Thanks for breaking it down like that. Sounds like the only problem I’ll have is having a custom from shaft made $$$
With everyone’s knowledge and my hardheadedness this will work.

 

Thinking about it, the V8 might interfere with the stock front differential. I was looking at my thread and see that the oil pan is designed to let the diff and diff tubes fit under it.