Frustrated with my 6 speed

Remember though, FJ 6 speeds are mated up to a full time 4WD system and the Tacos are all part time 4WD transfer cases so they may be a little different. Idk though, never crawled under either vehicle to see, but just a thought.

 

Yes but that "should" be all in the transfer case.. I would think the trans itself could be swapped but I have not seen or tried it.

Maybe someone knows for sure.

 

The counter gear that mates to 6th is different, too. I bet it's possible but it would cost a lot of money. I used this gear ratio calculator

http://www.grimmjeeper.com/gears.html

and it calculated that at 70 MPH on 265/75r16 tires and a 3.73 axle ratio, a .79 overdrive ratio is only 166 RPM lower than a .85 overdrive ratio. Not much bang for the buck, desafortunadamente.

 

The ideal of the O/D 6th gear swap if nothing else will be expensive. Before you decide to spend the money look at the fuel mileage figures, the combined mileage is 1 mile per gallon different between the two. A nice used 6 spd is around $2,000 if the FJ will even work. Could you swap gears yourself? Sure first out with the Trans, a complete dismantle new counter gear and O/D gear (big bucks) and reinstall. If you have never even seen the inside of a manual Trans you'll have to pay someone to do it or at least if you want it to work when it's all back to gather you should. So figure best case you'll get 21 more miles from a full tank of fuel. If you just let the pump click off you may never even see the difference. I tow my camper (a lot) in 6th gear loaded it’s about 3000# no problem, the auto you have to lock out O/D or it will constantly shift. Toyota designed the 6 spd. to tow if you mess with the gearing you'll lose your 6th gear towing advantage.

 

Doesn't help 6-speed Tacoma owner but I find this to be pretty interesting from Honda.

The Acura TSX has the 6 speed which has 2 overdrives. The gear box for the Element 5-speed (wife has one) is identical minus a pair of gears. Here is a picture with the extra gear in green which can be added. With the 5-speed that area is empty.

Some resourceful Element owners have purchased the gears needed for around $150 and pulled the gear box apart and converted their 5-speed to a 6. One guy that did the swap reported improving from 26 to 31 mpg at 72 mph. The Element stick has some crazy low 4:88 range gears and the 6th gear drops rpm at 70 from 3500 to 3000.

Now why wouldn't Honda offer that 6-speed in the Element, I'd have paid for that option.

Toyota could have also gone with 2 OD gears, I'm not buying the idea that manufacturers are optimizing manual transmissions, seems like they are now intentionally making them lower mpg than automatics.

 

that's a bit of a shame my old supra 5 speed was a joy to shift, it almost seemed to shift on her own same with the 6 speed I drove wtf happened Toyota?

 

True my trailer empty is 2100lbs without the winch or ramps.

with the toolbox loaded and winch and ramps I have not weighed it without something on it. But 2500 is probably pretty fair. I tow empty in 6th no problems. Loaded I run 5th because its happy on power and I net a little better MPG. At max load on my last 1200 mile trip with a huge wind drag and running 55-60 most of the way, 45-55 in 3rd and 4th in the mountains going up I averaged a respectable 9.5..

In my automatic Tacoma pulling much less (still more than most would consider) and not through the mountains I averaged closer to 8, and the truck was seriously not as happy.

 

This is really interesting because we also have a 5 speed manual CR-V which is the same drivetrain as the Element. I started reading in the Element and CR-V forums and the new OEM parts from the Acura TSX gearbox are only about $300.00, including the reverse lockout and countershaft, if needed. The mod works for all 5 speed Elements and 5 speed 2002-2006 CR-Vs, both 2wd and 4wd. It also works on 5 speed Accords that have the same 2.4L I4. People who have completed the mod are getting 5 MPG better on the freeway, even in the brick-shaped Element and the engine runs 400-600 RPM lower at freeway speeds.

Now I want expensive mods for both of our cars. Thanks a lot, dick.

 

The automatic is engine managed via the ECU the auto gets it's better mile due to that, it can shift with out letting off the gas and a lot faster there is no doubt that standard transmissions are on their way out that does not mean they are intentionally causing the demise shoot 8 spd automatics are common place now personally I like to shift gears and I have shifted a lot of them on pretty much any thing that moves I have no issues with my 6 spd it is what it is and is better than a lot of rear drive vehicles there is no possible comparison between a front drive standard and a rear drive truck they are not in the same category.

 

I think he's spot on with it being the flywheel because it works both ways. When rev-matching to up-shift it takes a bit of time for the flywheel to spin up. I don't know anything about the programmed rev-hang but I can't imagine they would program it to hang when stepping into the throttle versus stepping off the throttle... programming in poor throttle response just seems completely counter intuitive to how you'd make a good feeling vehicle.

 

It's all about emissions the throttle stays open when you let off the gas and slowly closes. it is a fly by wire system that the driver has no control over. It's nothing new vehicles have been doing it for years used to be done with mechanical parts.

 

No there is no noticeable delay for into the throttle. The hang is when letting off the throttle.

 

The (rev hang) might also be an assistance in shifting to new manual owners. I've found it to be "slightly annoying"? I have found, which goes against my experience, is to shift and (ignore?) it. It lends itself to be smoother that way.

 

Yeah, in slow shifting it doesn't hurt. It is slightly responsible for no fast shifting action lol.

 

Hmm...

I'll admit that I'm not so happy with my fuel economy (I get around 16MPG in my DCSB Sport, with duratacs), and feel that the RPM difference between 5 and 6 is really quite small. I would love to have my 6 geared for highway fuel efficiency. Yeah, this might un-optimize 6th for hauling a big load.. but, maybe it's worth it considering I am usually not hauling big.

Would it be possible (within reason) to change up the gearing on 6th?

My previous vehicle had 8 forward gear and ran at very low RPMs at top speeds.

 

"Replace 6th Gear"
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/177597-replace-6th-gear.html

 

That's true. It's been my experience with Toyota truck manuals since 1981, "I've actually owned 5", that they're all (a little notchy) shifting. I guess I've gotten used to them?. I have to say, I do prefer the interaction with the truck, shifting it myself. In my case its all about the driving experience.

 

They are. They are all old Tech. If you want a buttery smooth shifting trans.. A 2008 civic Si, and and FRS should fill the need.

The w56 with a little wear shifts the best, run one in the mud truck because it tends to find a gear quicker than the others.. The R is stronger, but just never shifted quite as quick.. More missed shifts is more races lost lol. Surprisingly the w56 has been taking the beating well with very hard launches locked front and rear in 4low and the 22re putting down well over 200 ft lbs..

But they don't shift bad either, they work well and it never bothers me because its not a sports car.. the spirited shifting is minimal

 

except in 81, the 5spd was weak.. way weak.

and the 4spd was tough, but loose.. Side shift = lame.

84 and up they are better.

 

My first mud bog was with my 81 with a 22R and Toyota's "first 5spd" they offered in a 4x4 truck. I did love that truck! They classed by tire size. I was running 33x12.5's. That put me in the big boys class!. I ran anyway and, to my amazement, took 2nd! I think they were as shocked as I was. I think I could have won the dam thing, if, I didn't have to drag that 1" cable hooked to my shackle they used to pull everybody out with!!! That was a lotta weight for that little truck to pull!