Is is possible to make a standard Taco into a Prerunner?

I know you can do anything with enough money. But, I'm tryng to outsmart Toyota by doing it myself, IF IT'S DOABLE for cheap.

The standard crew cab V-6 is much cheaper than the same version in Prerunner.

Is it possible to practically convert it to a Prerunner. In my short sighted feeble mind, all I have to do is lift it and install a rear locker.

Is this right, or is there MUCH more to it than that?

 

I'm pretty sure the suspension is different. You'll have to wait till some of the knowledgeable people chime in beyond that.

 

There is no such thing as a "Standard Suspension V6" in the 2nd Generation Tacomas. You can only get a V6 in the X-Runners, PreRunners, and 4WD configurations.

 

007: i think you're wrong (although im not positive and it may be a regional thing) but i think you can get the doublecab V6 with "standard" suspension. i'm not totally sure but i think i remember that being an option when i built my truck

 

If you look on the Toyota website...

http://www.toyota.com/tacoma/specs.html

...the largest "Standard Suspension" that you can get is an AccessCab 2.7L. The 4.0L automatically moves you up to the PreRunner or the X-Runner as a minimum.

You can get a 1st gen V6 in "Standard Suspension" configuration, but that hasn't been an option in a long time.

 

The toyota sight is notoriously wrong though, before I bought my taco, I went on to build a taco, with the 4x4 sport v6 6spd and it told me the only color option with those specs was the raceway blue, that is obviously not true since I bought one in silver streak, and many other people on this sight have other colors. From what I can tell the Toyota sight has a few bugs, and doesn't allow you to choose all the options that are actually available.

 

However, I don't know anything about a V6 in standard suspension.

 

I dont know enough about it to argue but since 007 is a texan i'm just gonna assume he's wrong...

 

Here in SoCal, I don't think I've ever seen a 5 lug 2nd gen Taco with a V6.

 

if its not a 6lug or an xrunner then its a 4cyl

 

Are we comparing the differences between the MINI and the PreRunner?

From what I understand, the MINI is the short 5 lug version tacoma.

I'm not sure about the suspension parts themselves (coils/leafs) - but I'm pretty sure the MINI is sprung-under axle configuration in the rear and the Pre-Runner is sprung-over axle configuration in the rear.

When you convert from Spring-under to a spring-over ....you get approximately 5 inches of lift in the rear.

I'm not sure how they are different in the front suspension or how you'd gain 5" of lift in the front on a MINI.

 

Yeah, that is the "build-it" section. This is the Specifications section.

See you assume - that is why I am right.

But not all 6 lugs are v6

You know, I never thought about how they are different. That makes sense.

True. Lifting a "Mini" is completely doable, but there is no "mini" that has a V6.

 

So from what I gather, it can't be done easily and is better to just buy the Prerunner as is, already made?

 

It's hard to say. Everyone discussed your engine rather than your question.
I would guess it's just a matter of changing the suspension and adding the locker. I don't know how that may affect the warranty. Consider cost involved as well. Would you install everything yourself?

 

Yes, I was afraid of the sideline questions and answers. But it happens as seen here.

Most discussion was elsewhere, not whether it could be done for the same performance, but cheaper.

I wouldn't install it. I'd have to get a shop to do the work as I'm only mechanically inclined for the most simple things.

 

instead of turning it into an actual prerunner, consider just using a procomp 6 inch lift kit that comes with the bilstein shocks and springs, and then buying the locker for the rearend. that way you'll have your lift and off-road capable suspension in one, and then just do the rearend at the same time. i believe the lift kits with the new shocks and springs are between 1500 and $2000

 

here are a couple links to procomp's website so you can take a look at it. i think this will be the best route for you if u have a tacoma with standard suspension.

http://www.explorerprocomp.com/

http://www.explorerprocomp.com/PDFs/07cat/54-59.pdf

the second link is to the page with the 05-07 tacoma kits

 

Now that's what I"m talking about. Thanks so much man!


I assume the rear end gearing is the same as the Prerunner.

 

Assuming 007’s idea is wrong because he is from texas.... that is a very well thought out logical deduction.... and an extremely creative way to research the matter and conclude a definitive answer to the problem at hand.

-just for clarification, I am being sarcastic-

 

the gearing in the rearend of the prerunners are 4.10, i am 99% positive of that because i always see people complaining on here about how badly it kills the gas mileage on the prerunners. if i were you, speaking from experience i would have the rear end rebuilt with a 3.73 or a 3.90 gear set at the most. a 4.10 set will let you accelerate a little better but there will be a good sized mpg difference between a 4.10 and a 3.73 gear.
if you're going to be going offroad often, you'll definately want a rear locker if your truck isnt 4wd. however, be sure to track one down that is electronically controlled, or find an OEM prerunner rear end at a salvage yard or something and throw the entire rear end in your truck. the problem with a full time locker is that your inside tire will always hop, skip and chatter when you're turning. a limited-slip differential eliminates this by allowing the outside wheel to rotate slightly faster than the inside wheel, compensating for the turn. a limited slip differential will kick in if you're in the mud or low-traction situations, as it will only allow a small difference in speed between the two wheels and it will lock them and split the power evenly when one wheel spins too much faster than the other