Transmission interchangeability question.

Hey gang.

I'm in the middle of a 4x4 conversion on a 2.7 double cab pre runner. I've sourced a 4x4 transmission from a gent, labeled a 1997 4runner transmission. After pulling my transmission I noticed the bell housings are different. The 4runner transmission has the starter on the right side whereas my 2.7 has it on the left.

I wanted to confirm it's just the bell housings that need to be swapped between transmissions?

Both are A340 units in the core.

Photo for reference. My 2.7 trans is on right. New to me 4x4 trans is on the left.

 

Yeah you just have a V6 transmission. You should be able to swap the bell housing and I believe you need a torque converter for a 4-cylinder. Your old torque converter should work fine.

 

Beaut. Going to carry over my torque converter and a few of the sensors. Figured that was the case but needed to say hey to the internet consensus.

Thank you!

 

Good luck with your swap! Pretty sure @BartMaster1234 did the same swap to his 4 banger auto truck if you need more info.

 

Yes, just swap your A340E bellhousing and torque converter over and you should be fine. Just make sure your transfer case is for an auto transmission, and is a j-shift unit. Various sensors may not directly plug in from the 4Runner unit, so just swap sensors from your A340E if need be.

Also, you're going to need to order the A340F Tacoma dipstick and tube. The A340E Tacoma dipstick will not work. This is a crucial part, and it stopped me from running the truck until I had it since I could not check for proper level.

 

Thanks B. The transfer case came with this transmission and is a J-Shifter unit, good to go there. I'll carry over sensors as well and swap the bell housings - appreciate the insight.

As far as the dipsticks go, may you elaborate on this a bit more?

The 4x4 trans pan has a different dip stick tube than the 2wd pan (v6 vs i4 model variations). Through some part number digging it appears the pans and dipsticks are unique to v6 and i4 models regardless of 2wd or 4wd. Would it not be possible to swap the 2wd i4 pan onto the 4x4 trans and utilize my current dip stick tube mated with my original dip stick? Please correct if wrong here but makes sense to me so far.

Thank you.

 

The A340F and A340E have fluid capacity differences, as well as the filters. I don’t recall why these differences exist, but I remember I couldn’t reuse my A340E pan or dipstick. You might be able to, but I opted for the proper A340F dipstick and tube since they rise on opposite sides of the engine bay.

 

Understood. It appears both my pans are the larger ones and the dipstick is coming out the passenger side. Good to go to at least to get it together and I plan on installing an inline cooler as well eventually. I'll double check the dip stick with it on the vehicle to see where it ends up, if it's too long or short..

 

My factory A340E dipstick exited from the driver side, whereas the A340F unit came up through the passenger side (this A340F came from a 1999 4x4 Tacoma)

 

I have a feeling they consolidated pans in the later 2.7 trucks. As far as part numbers go for the 2.7 trucks the pan is the same for 2002 2WD and 4WD models. Thanks for all the insight and help! I dove though your build thread - some good stuff in there!

 

Thanks! Let me know if you have any questions.