Converting 1st generation from 4x2 to 4x4

How do you convert pre-runner to 4x4

 

Go on auto trader and look for a new one! Just my opinion. And welcome to TW

 

$$$ 8)

i would consider looking into the cost of a decent 4x4 and consider selling , purchasing ? And what he said , welcome

 

A good chunk of money, a capable and Willing shop

 

The truck I am looking at is an 03, is one owner and has 55,000 Kms, it has so much potential and these trucks are so hard to find.

 

At least one person on TW has done this and he spent a shit-ton of money doing it. Buy a 4X4.

 

@SilverGhost did it.

 

What did it take to do it, I'm sure you could buy used diff,axle and transfer case

 

Hey bud if you check out my build you'll see what I did. There is no easy answer to what you'll need to do. Thanks to Sam for tagging me.

Edit: Now that I have the laptop I can try and give you a better answer. First off don't get discourage from the guys that say don't do it because in all honesty they never done it and it's cheaper then buying a new truck. Tacoma's hold their value. But the head aches will be there while you do it.

You have to start off with doing your homework first. Make sure you know what you want to do. Do you want to go manual or ADD? If your going with manual I know a guy that did and I'll point you to him for answers. I went with an 03 ADD so everything I'm talking about goes with that. Are you buying new or used parts? I bought both. Stay within your year of model when getting the parts because it will save you the hassle with wiring. trust me!

So this is what I did. I went from an 02 2.7 prerunner to 03 3.4L 4x4. I had to change the ECU, Dash harness, engine cab fuse box with harness. I got an 3.4L, transmission and transfer case from one truck. It was a matching set with wiring harness. Drive shafts. Front diff of an 04 and dash cluster. You'll also need front CV's with nuts, castle nut and cotter pin. You'll need 4x4 spindles. It's cheaper to get used then converting your own. Remember to get ABS if you have ABS. For the front diff make sure you get the right gearing. If your a prerunner you might be 4.56 because I was and you'll have to have the front diff regeared to match the back. There is welding and fab work evolved. The transmission crossmember had to be cut off and moved forward about 3-4". This was on an auto A340F tranny. There is a 4x4 relay ecu under the driver side kick panel that you'll need and under the passenger side kick panel there will be a transmission relay you will need. Another thing with the ECU make sure its a non Cali ECU if you do not live in Cali because the ECU is programed for Cali emissions. Now if you get the ECU flashed then I don't know, I never went that route.

So it's possible if your motivated. It will take some time. Now if you decide to pay someone to do it then you'll run the price up very high. How much, I don't know. Good luck. Hit me up if you have any questions.

 

Most these guys saying it's overly expensive own 2nd gens, and in that case it is. But the best way to go about it is find a donor truck so you have everything you need and can just swap it over. The swap isn't that difficult, gathering up all the parts you need is the tough part and that's what most people fail to realize before doing something like this.

That aside, the first gen Tacoma was the last generation Toyota truck where interchangeability was still relatively easy and affordable. On them newer ones, forget about it, time to trade it in for a 4WD truck because you'll sink more money into the swap than any trade-in route.