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Converting 2WD to 4WD? Whats it involve

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by CNEDEER, Mar 17, 2012.

  1. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:45 PM
    #1
    CNEDEER

    CNEDEER [OP] If ya ain't first, your last!

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    I found a great deal on a 01 DC TRD Prerunner. Right color, right configuration etc. However, its only 2wd:(. The price on it is pretty good with only 132k miles.

    With that said, what is all involved in going from 2wd to 4wd (Im sure it is quite involved, but I have not the slightest clue).

    What all needs swapped out and replaced? How much do you think it would cost? Etc. ..
     
  2. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:45 PM
    #2
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    You need to add the 4wd parts.
     
  3. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:46 PM
    #3
    bellassaiw10

    bellassaiw10 Formally afroman5015

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    Transmission, Transfer Case, new cross member, Spindles, CV axles and all the other parts up front
     
  4. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:47 PM
    #4
    Juggernaut

    Juggernaut Captain

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    This has been thoroughly discussed (search 2wd to 4wd), consensus is it is not worth it, look for a 4x4.
     
  5. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:47 PM
    #5
    Ghost848

    Ghost848 Well-Known Member

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    Nice.....







    Its not worth the hassle, You are better off finding A 4X4 Vs converting.


    beat by 2 seconds lol
     
  6. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:47 PM
    #6
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    Actually on 1st gens it's all bolt on and rather cheap n easy if you can spin a wrench.
     
  7. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:49 PM
    #7
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    ^^^ That... driveshafts too. 2WD shaft isn't the same as 4WD.

    Not even getting into the electronics aspect.
    It would almost be easier to do an SAS from an original FJ and run manually locking hubs.
     
  8. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:49 PM
    #8
    jandrews

    jandrews Hootin' and Hollerin'

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    Did everyone miss that this is a 1st gen the OP is asking about?
     
  9. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:50 PM
    #9
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    Damn... 4 posts between when I started my reply and hit "Post"

    My " ^^^ That" was in reference to Afroman's post.
     
  10. Mar 17, 2012 at 4:52 PM
    #10
    Tacoma206

    Tacoma206 Well-Known Member

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    Buy a 4x4
     
  11. Mar 17, 2012 at 5:02 PM
    #11
    joes06tacoma

    joes06tacoma Well-Known Member

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    Unless you're paying half of what that truck is worth, it's not that good of a deal. 132K is still a lot of miles. Not every one of these 1st gens goes 300K, or even 200K. You're talking about putting a lot of work into a truck that might not hold together long term.

    If you truly do not have the slightest clue of what has to be done, then this is too much of a money pit for you. It's not going to be worth it to pay someone to do it all for you. The only way it's worth it is to collect all the parts yourself and do the work on your own.

    My uncle did the 2wd to 4wd conversion on a 91 F150. He's a career Ford mechanic with his own shop. The only reason it was worth it to him was it was my grandfather's truck, it had only 15K original miles on it, he has zero plans to sell it as long as he's alive, and he lives in Denver, so 4wd is damn near an absolute necessity.

    It's been discussed and at least partially documented on here already, but I will take a shot at it anyway:

    Pull transmission and replace with 4wd trans and transfercase, or possibly convert the trans you have to work with a 4wd transfercase.

    Driveshafts from a 4wd.

    Front diff and CV axles.

    Spindles?

    Shifters, shift boot, console.

    Wiring should be minor, if needed.

    The thing is, if you get the truck for like, 3K less than it's worth, collect maybe 1,500 bucks worth of parts for it, invest untold amounts of time researching this and doing the conversion, blood, sweat, tears, etc, what do you really have? A stock Toyota with 132K on it.

    If you're going to build up a rock crawler, then perhaps this makes sense. But if all you want is a stock 4x4, I don't think it's worth it, especially if you're going to learn as you go.
     
  12. Mar 17, 2012 at 5:06 PM
    #12
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

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    This is the main thing.

    It appears all the time on forums, where the BEST answer to a question is "If you have to ask that question, you should not be attempting to do it"
     
  13. Mar 17, 2012 at 5:26 PM
    #13
    CNEDEER

    CNEDEER [OP] If ya ain't first, your last!

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    Appreciate all the info fellas! I'll most likely just wait till a 4wd comes along. Not mechanically inclined so I would have to have someone do it. And like ya said, probably not worth all the time and effort!
     
  14. Mar 17, 2012 at 6:10 PM
    #14
    haddix

    haddix Well-Known Member

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    Don't let everyone scare you away from doing this conversion. On the first gen it's relatively easy. Read through this thread, everything you would need to know.
     
  15. Mar 17, 2012 at 7:43 PM
    #15
    MatthewMay1

    MatthewMay1 I'm an amateur professional.

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    Not worth the hassle. Look for a 4x4.
     
  16. Mar 18, 2012 at 12:06 PM
    #16
    bellassaiw10

    bellassaiw10 Formally afroman5015

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    People say its not worth the hassle but if you shop smart you can do this for under a grand I bought a transmission and transfer and front driveshaft off of a guy for 350 and my buddy is doing a sas so he just un bolting his front end for 400 so that puts me 750 in the hole then another 200 to make it all look good and drain all the fluids, its rather a simple process if you have a pre runner and a garage to do it in
     

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