DC LB 4x4 AT-to-MT Conversion

Looking to buy my first Taco soon(ish). Want a DC LB 4x4, but with a MT......which appears not to exist. Of course, anything can be had with enough work, right?

Done a little snooping around TW, found some helpful info. But, couldn't quite get my question(s) answered:

What all is involved with swapping out the AT for an MT in a DC LB 4x4? Rough estimate in total price? Parts list? Things to be wary of? Impossibilities I need to find a work-around for? Anyone here actually done one?

I 'spose I should mention: I'm looking at a new Taco (2012, if all goes well) with a V6. But I think that might have been implicit already......

Fwiw- I'm not at all intimidated by the work--I've done a similar conversion, putting a Mustang 5-spd into a FrankenVolvo with an AT.

 

Yah agreed with whipper, From what ive read and what ive actually felt first hand, The six speeds aren't worth it. Honestly if i had a choice id stick with auto all the way. Six speeds are fun in sports cars, In a Tacoma they just dog and aren't very practical.

 

Yeah, well, I just cannot stand ATs. I like having a stick to play with .

Is the AT able to driven almost like a full MT? Like, full control over every gear? If not, is there a mod to make it so? (If not, I can talk to my neighbor about where he got his Isuzu AT custom tweaked to all hell).

Still interested in what all is involved with putting a MT in. (Y'all haven't quite convinced me yet that an AT is superior......yet......).

 

It won't be worth it in the end.

Fink

 

I love my 6 speed, had auto and hated it.

 

I love my MT, but I don't know that I love it enough to do what you're suggesting.

I am absolutely certain it is possible, and probably pretty easy as these things go. I just don't think it's worth it.

 

Certainly doable if you have all the MT parts. (Transmission, shifter, clutch, parking brake handle relocation.) Not sure if the ECU needs to be replaced or reflashed.

Other quirks of the 6-spd:

• 6th gear is shorter than the 5th gear in the auto, resulting in worse highway milage.
• AT is faster 0-60 mph and in the 1/4 mi according to Car and Driver, potentially due to 1 fewer shift with the AT.
• Clutch throwout bearing shaft was known to wear prematurely, due to inadequate fork support. This was fixed via TSB, so 2012 models are probably not affected.

 

Well, let's see..
You'd definitely need the following

Transmission
Shifter Assembly, knob, etc
Shifter Boot (If not the whole center console out of a MT)
Clutch Pedal Assembly
Clutch Master/Slave Cylinder/reservior/Line
Bellhousing
Clutch
Flywheel
Probably the ECU from a MT Taco
Possibly Driveline Mods, not sure if the MT and AT are the same length
Misc Bolts, fittings, etc to make it all work

I am sure it is doable, and likely not that difficult (once you have all of the parts). I am sure that all of the mounting holes, etc are there on an Auto, Toyota wouldn't make the two any more different than absolutely necessary. But, If I were to try and do this on a Brand new truck, I'd want to use brand new parts. I sure can't see swapping in junkyard parts into a truck with 0 miles. So you'd probably drop ~$5k (and probably more) on new parts from Toyota. Not worth it IMHO. And I love my 6 Speed Taco...

I bought an Access Cab OR 6speed because the things I would not compromise on were OR, Long Bed, and 6 Speed.

If you do it to a new truck with new parts, make good friends with a GOOD toyota parts guy. The exploded diagrams and parts lists that they have access to would be worth their weight in gold...

Good Luck

 

And our autos are electronic based shifting...meaning the tranny isn't connected to the actually shifter at the top inside the truck...So for the conversion your going to have to cut thru the truck (regardless your going to have to do it for the manual tranny...)

 

It would probably be cheaper to order a shortbed with the six speed, then get a longbed and have someone fab the frame to handle it and get a driveshaft. Doing that you would have voided every warranty known to man, so good luck if you want to try it!

 

Don't forget the parking brake relocation from the footpedal to the T-handle.

 

If you did do this, swap in a t-56 instead of the 6-speed.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/x-runners/109773-t56-transmission-swap.html

 

this

 

Ah, didn't realize. Oh well. Op, get a SB or an auto...

 

Thanks for all the info.

How sure is anyone of ECU swaps? I was thinking parts would consist solely of mechanicals...?...

I'm not sure how enamored I am with the idea of converting a DC SB MT to a LB--that gets into frame mods, and I've never been comfortable with tweaking with a frame. Plus, wouldn't the cost between a frame mod and swapping trannys be negligible?

Is anyone familiar with how open Toyota would be to custom ordering one?

Btw- I was originally thinking getting what I want with the Access Cab. But thinking further into the future (I tend to keep my vehicles 'til about 200K miles), I'm not so sure a family of four would be particularly thrilled with having to ride in the cramped quarters of the back of an AC.
I'll probably go my original route if the MT conversion is just too much to do.