The AWD Tacoma Mod - Swapping in the 3rd Gen 4Runner T-case

If I did this swap it would be adding 4WD to my 2WD, so I'm starting from nothing. Although doing a multimode transfer case with ADD makes much more sense to me than using manual hubs.

 

Thanks! I've seen people saying that others have done it. I'd be willing to bet the mod has been done before. But I wasn't able to find it confirmed anywhere or any documentation about it on the interwebs. So I guess as far as the internet is concerned, it's never been done.

 

Update: Just added a writeup of the Electrical and Controls.

 

Two thumbs up! One of the best write-ups I've come across here on TW. Great detail and well documented! Thanks for sharing the journey - looking great!

 

Thank you Sir for taking the time to do all the hard work doing a very good write up.

 

Update: I just finished publishing a video about the modification if you want to be entertained instead of reading a technical write-up. I'll add the video to the first post as well.

 

Update: Just added a writeup of the custom gauge I made for the project. Check it out here: Display

 

ok... i have to admit. that gauge idea is pretty freaking legit, beautiful work

 

Thank you!

 

@Cattywampus. Do you think it’d have been possible to somehow combine the 4Runner cluster internals and things into the Tacoma cluster? That way you’d keep the gauge in the dash like 4Runner but I’d also look stock at the same time

 

I suppose it is possible, but it would require alot of modification. I have added additional indicators to the Tacoma's cluster already (see here and there), and the space is crowded. It would require a lot of modification to make it work. The biggest challenge would be fitting between the tach, speedometer, and the turn signal/brights indicators. You might be able to route wires under the circuit board that operates the cluster, as it is flexible like a plastic sheet. But you might need to relocate some circuits too.

I did briefly consider swapping in the 4Runner's entire instrument cluster assembly, but the wiring is vastly different between the two.


Tacoma Cluster


Backside of the Tacoma cluster

 

@Cattywampus that makes sense, I’m not too familiar with the internals of either cluster so wasn’t sure how it’d work. And I’m sure retrofitting the 4Runner cluster wiring would be more of a pain than it’s worth.

I know there’s a light on the dash already, but it’d be cool to add a rear locker indicator to the little picture too I think.

 

That would be cool to have it all in one display, like a vehicle status. Something like that is entirely possible with a small LCD screen that has a couple of graphics programmed in. Depending on the signals from the controller, it displays the image it has in memory showing the state of the various diffs.

Sorta like this:

 

@Cattywampus Well how difficult would it be to add an LED to the little picture you already have to indicate the rear locker? Seems like you could just piggyback/tie into the illumination wire for the dash indicator, then route the wire up the same way through the a-pillar.

You would probably have to reprint your housing to hold the extra LED though, and then the picture might not be as clean with just a colored blob at the rear diff location

 

Designing the gauge to accept a new bulb would be relatively easy. IMO, the challenge would be making the pictogram transparency layers look clean with the new rear diff light integrated into it. It can be done, and I've seen/read about people gluing together a bunch of layers of transparency they printed with their home inkjet or laser printer. Just not something I've done before.

 

This writeup is awesome. It literally changed my entire plan as I have both an AWD 4runner tcase and a Jshift I picked up to avoid wiring. I really wanted to get the AWD setup working but couldnt find much info on it.

My only current problem now is probably not having existing 4wd wiring harnesses since I'm coming from a 2wd. Now I have to try to find a wiring harness! Thanks alot for this writeup!

 

This is extremely dope and your documentation is incredible. Thank you very much for putting in all the extra effort.

Now do one for 2nd gens, eh?

 

Just watched your video. Great stuff!

 

I have a multi mode tcase in my Tacoma. I used the 99-00 ecu and wiring. That eliminates. The need for the button in the dash, and keeps the “j-shift tcase feel. Although I am pretty sure the 99-00 multi mode case is the same as the 01-02, just controlled differently. I also used the ABS light( my truck doesn’t have abs) to indicate when the center diff is locked. 4wd light indicates when the front diff is active.