RC60F Transmission swap including 4th Gen Taco

You’re a madman. I love it.

 

Good to know on the shifter part.

as for buying the transmission, it’s listed straight on the Toyota parts site and all the other dealer sites. None of them mention needing a vin. On parts I needed a vin, they said so in the listing. I’m not buying yet but in a few months I might. If I do, we’ll see what happens.

I’d rather the RC61F over the RC60F, so it works out if I’m able to get that one locally.

 

Has anyone swapped the RC60F to a 2tr-fe a-l-a 2nd gen regular cab?

 

The RC60/61 transmissions are Hilux parts, non-USA. Toyota stocks them here for some reason… being a non USA model, they more often than not want proof that the part they will be selling you is for a vehicle that is legally in the country.

 

For warranty work 100%

For everything else.... (but yes, probably)

 

The RA and RC were never offered behind the 2TR, so a bit of research and probably an adapter of some sort will be required to make that work.

 

The RC60/61 parts are in the Toyota USA system because they are used in Mexico/other markets serviced through distribution centers in the US. The parts may or may not be orderable from a US dealer. Frequently not, regardless of whether you can see it listed/priced on a US dealer website.

Wait and see.

Jeff

 

Confirm from our parts manager, if you want to order one of those transmissions you will need to provide a VIN.

 

Well, at some point I’ll likely try anyways and I’ll probably try to find a 1GD 2.8L truck for sale overseas whose VIN I can borrow. If they request more info than that like proof of registration, then I tried and will drop it. Some of the parts sites that require VINs don’t even seem to uphold that requirement, so we’ll see. If I try one and it cancels, I’ll try one or two more, worst case I won’t get anywhere.

I don’t hate the stock transmission, just wish it was better suited to the 5.29 regear I’m doing. But, 5.29s and stock trans will suit me better than 4.30 and stock trans do. It will be a very good combo other than cruising relatively high in 6th.

 

Looked around on Toyota.MX and didn't find any VINs listed - but that doesn't mean they aren't available.

Another source might be Toyota-gib.com.

 

So, granted a completely different engine, buuut, my only real experience with cruising at higher than stock RPM during my drive earlier this week to bring my Tundra home.

75 ish to 80 ish hovered at 2500 rpm

I was nervous but fuel economy was fine and so was heat. It reallly wasn’t any sort of problem at all.

My only real concern after an extended drive post regear is the punch when shifting. It’s more pronounced. But that’s an AT so nothing I can do and doesn’t apply to MT.

now I’m more seriously considering doing a regear plus locker in the ‘05.

 

I have not found that raising the rpm due to a regear negatively affects fuel economy very much unless you gear super drastically and you drive fast, 80+. Hell, I drove to work at 72 mph one day in 4th gear just to see how it would do and over 35 miles, I got right at 15 mpg at 3500 rpm. That’s barely worse than I get already in 6th (17ish) and that’s with a difference of 1100 rpm.

as for punching it, it should be immediately more responsive, but the auto may cover that up by shifting at a different time or you may not feel the effect due to the torque converter. With a manual, you absolutely will feel the difference instantly because there’s nowhere for it to hide in that direct driveline connection.

4.88 would be sweet in that 2.7L. Do you need a locker? You may be better off with a TrueTrac LSD, a locker is more for tough offroad like crawling and such which you won’t be doing in a 2WD I presume. A TT may fit the pre runner theme better and may benefit you more often.

edit: misread the punch comment. Yes, nothing you can do about that in an auto but of course won’t apply to a manual.

 

Definitely considering another LSD. I went with nitro (same as truetrac?) in the '02 Tundra b/c I wanted it built to "never break" rather than "go anywhere nimbly". The '05, with it's super short wheelbase and light weight, might be a fun candidate for a locker just in case it did get stuck somewhere.

Since it's starting at 4.30, going to 4.56 doesn't seem like a good way to burn cash so 4.88 might be the ticket, plus maybe a little bigger on tires. But then it's less street friendly which is really the primary purpose. Nice to have one rig which rides at stock height. Could still do the gears and stay on 245/75R16 though, no rule against that.

 

4.88 on 31 or 32 would be absolute blast while still retaining street ability

 

I thought 4 cylinder second gens were 4.10. The third gen manuals are 4.30.

 

Well, f me, am I wrong on my factory gears? I’m 4.10?

I’ll check the door sticker next chance I get. For some reason I remember a vin check showing 4.30

Ah, found the doc. 8.4” and 4.10 so maybe that’s why I was thinking 4.56 and Eaton.

Anyway, enough thread pollution, let’s get back to hilux trans and 3rd Gen

 

I’m almost certain no second gens came with 4.30 from the factory but this will help.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2005-2016-tacoma-axle-codes.408019/

 

Welp. With the Black Friday sale, I placed an order for an RC61F from a dealer, 33030-0KE40. $1500 off. Let’s see if it gets canceled or not. Fingers crossed, though I won’t be surprised at all if it’s canceled.

Not excited about the prospect of immediate disassembly and reassembly but considering I can get the job done without any disassembly of my current truck, that makes it a lot less stressful. If I have to I’ll take it to a shop. But courtesy of @Jowett, I have a lot of good documentation to follow for the work.

This thing would be an absolute beast with 5.29s and this transmission!

 

Figure I should post here. I've been following the 4th gen as I am super curious about what transmisison it might sport. My hunch has been from day 1 that it will be either the RC60F or RC61F, or something very close. Maybe it's a new transmission they came up with instead, I really don't know. Sheldon Brown said something along the lines of the transmission is very similar to 3rd gen, but the ratios were a bit tweaked. The Hilux transmissions fit that description pretty well, so that's where my guessing came from.

Anyways, I've had this hunch but no proof. Now TFL came out with their driving impressions, and he spilled the beans that the 1st gear is 4.78:1, and the axle ratio is 4.30:1. Both Hilux transmissions have the same 4.78 1st gear. Even more reason to believe it's one of the two previously mentioned transmisisons, although it could also be a new creation that happens to use the same 1st gear I guess..

I don't know how likely it is but I am hopeful that maybe this transmission can somehow have the correct input shaft spline/length for the 2GR and could possibly work to be a swap for the 3rd gen to get the same or similar ratios to the RC60F or RC61F. Worst case, it won't bolt up but could at least be a domestically sourced transmission as opposed to buying one of the foreign Mexican or Asian Hilux transmissions. Time will tell! I'm still searching for documentation constantly.

I did place the RC61F order last night like I said, I don't have much hope that it will actually go through which is why I'm still so interested to see what the 4th gen brings.

 

Good info. I am curious about this swap too. It would really help tow my new to me travel trailer. I have been looking at the used market for a donor. If I knew a word of Spanish, I might even try finding one in Mexico.

Bumping for updates.