Does the 2nd gen have can bus and is that easy to program?

I don't know how much this will help. It may lead you to where you want to be though.

https://www.domi-works.com/collecti...ts/canformance-cantcu-transmission-controller

 

I would have done a few upgrades first before learning them the hard way. I would have installed a heavy 45lb flywheel like the one from Underdog Racing Development, fluid damped harmonic balancer like the one from Fluidamper because without these the syncromeshes rattle like crazy over 3500RPM. I would also have used a clutch friction disc from a diesel Toyota Hilux with a heavy pressure plate like the one from Underdog Racing Development from the beginning because I sheared the hub out of a stage 2 friction disc for URD after 22,000km. I think the part number is in my build thread. I also would have put an EGT gauge and KKK BV43 turbo on it before I burned a whole in number 3 piston on the first BHW engine after 50,000km. I think was lugging the engine for a few minutes between 2000 and 2500RPM. It is a lone story but I was on a road trip from Ontario and I had to get the truck shipped back to Ontario from Whitehorse, Yukon which was $6000 and 6000km. Since the second engine, larger turbo to reduce EGTs and EGT gauge to monitor them I have gotten 42,000km on the truck and it has been quite reliable.

I know you can buy standalone transmission controllers for some popular domestic transmissions.

TD Conversions https://tdconversions.com/ builds an adapter kit to bolt a TDI engine to the 4L Tacoma transmissions. They didn’t have one available when I did my swap otherwise I would have bought one.

 

Dam.. sorry to hear about your engine. That sucks.
Do you think it burned a hole because it was a bad tune, or something else?

I would def get the upgraded turbo and maybe injectors too. I have gone through every inch of the td conversions website and also fast forward automotives website, articles, and anything else I can find.

In the entire tdi lineup, only 3 interest me: alh, bhw and the cjaa
The alh is the most plentiful and easiest to source, also cheapest, but you need minimum of a turbo and injectors and cams to even get started.
Bhw is the perfect middle ground but they are harder to find and they have the bonus of a rear facing exhaust. They dont need much to make respectable tq. Downside is that the pump deuce system runs the individual pumps off the cam which can lead to problems and you have to run the correct oil.
CJAA seems to pop up every now and again but a lot of these engines are robbed of parts that you need. They seem to respond super well to tuning, but the downside is you need a different hpfp and there are some mounting issues also but nothing too crazy. I think there is an issue getting a power steering pump to mount.

at the end of the day, either of those would absolutely transform the truck which I cant wait for.

Thanks for all the insight and sharing!