04 Prerunner to 4x4 Auto swap

Hey guys I have an 04 Prerunner. Have just came up on a complete 2000 forerunner for 500 bucks minus the motor. And plan on beginning my swap slowly but surely in this thread. I jumped on the forerunner quick without even knowing tHe comparability but it's a 2000 Forerunner SR5? 3.4L 4x4 auto hubs( I believe ) and auto tranny
I have a 2004 V6 Auto trans. Will this forerunner be able to help me for most of the big components ... before I start the journey. Thanks again guys!

 

Sub'd

 

Ah dude, finding all the parts is the most difficult and time consuming part of the swap.
You have all the parts. Pull em off the 4 runner and put em in the Tacoma. It's that easy.
This is literally the only "issue" that you will have swapping parts. Figure out how to make this work and you can have this done in 2 days.

Quoted from here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2001-3-4-4x4-auto-transmission-replacements.295142/
Just did a quick search

 

What @frenchee said quoting @hossmaster

 

Hm confused... so I would have a problem with my year and the 2000 trans .. not quite following. But yea man I'm excited ! My buddy hooked me up with the full 4runner. Glad to know I have everything. Will I run into any problems with the ADD or computer changing etc? Still researching those little things and components. But have a good amount of knowledge to bolting everything up. I have a buddy who is helping me out that is fairly good at this stuff.

 

Also what extra components do I need that the forerunner doesn't have ?

 

Well after doing some research seems the 2000 forerunner tranny won't work with my 04 because it has the kick down cable or something and my 2004 has a electric solenoid ? Only in the 03/04 can someone shed some light on that

 

That's my understanding and experience... The 04 trans I bought for my 4WD conversion wouldn't work on my 98... Same issue, 'drive-by-wire' vs kick down cable.
You could try to find a local TW member needing the trans for his/her 4WD conversion.
You should be able to use the 4Runner for the rest of the swap parts.
* Front diff
* F&R driveshafts
* Spindles and CV's
* Interior trim?

Don't get discouraged - you'll be happy when done (at least I was with mine - YMMV)

 

Thanks for the clear up man! So for sure the drive shafts will work? Could I bolt everything up and just wait to get a tranny ? I'm bummed about that though :/ anyway to bypass or work with the tranny? Also anything to know about ADD or the 4wd computer system?

 

See if you can get your hands on the appropriate factory service manual.

Swapping in the transmission for me was the first step... But there's no reason you couldn't swap in the front drivetrain (except for the front driveshaft) while looking for the 'right' transmission...

You may be able to 'work' with the current transmission, but I don't know enough myself. It wasn't that long ago that someone figure out the process to simply convert the tailshaft on the A340E, turning it into an A340F... My guess is, you'd have to tear into the transmission to convert it to the cable-type.

There are two types of ADD setups, vacuum and electric. Mine was vacuum and I needed the VSV's and a location to 'T' into the existing vacuum setup along with the vacuum tank/reservoir which goes in the drivers front wheelwell. I had no computer issues. And according to @SafetyDang, you don't need the 4WD computer - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/4wd-conversion-request-for-4wd-computer-part-number.212009/

 

How would I figure out what system I have or is related to auto vs Manuel hubs

 

I haven't done additional research for you so I can only offer you one option to fix your transmission compatibility issue.
This is the route I went with. Pull the 4 runner transmission out. Pull your tacoma tranny out. Take them both to a transmission shop. Have the guys swap the 4wd output shaft from the 4runner tranny into the tacoma tranny. Problem solved. The main difference with the A340E and A340F is the tail shaft. If you look at my thread you can see it.This should only cost you ~200 ish dollars.

 

Hmm this seems like something doable! 200ish? Ya think? How reliable would it be...I would like to keep my tranny because of the low miles I believe the forerunner has a little more than mine and that way I can keep my speedometer reading right ? Or is that like way off

 

Speedo shouldn't change with this conversion. You might have issues with the speedo not working. I had to locate a higher tooth count VSS gear...

Work done by a competent toyota transmission specialist should be reliable.

 

The parts interchange so there is no problem with reliability as long as the person doing the work is experienced. I took mine to a friend who happens to work at one of the most popular transmission shops in the area so I had full confidence. Any reputable transmission shop can easily do this. Just call and ask for a quote, see what you come up with.
Its been a while but if I remember, for the 2wd transmission the VSS is in the tail housing. For 4wd it is in the transfercase. That should be noted in my thread somewhere. So theoretically your 2wd vss wont fit in the transfer case because its a different type. You will use the one that comes from the 4runner.

(Although now that I think about it, the 4runners might use the ABS rings in the spindles to determine speeds, because some 4runner cases have the VSS plug filled with just a blank).

I personally wouldn't worry too much about it. You can easily swap it/figure it out after the swap.

I'm just gonna give out a suggestion. If I were you, start pulling the parts @pray4surf mentioned. Get under the 4 runner. Pull the uprights, the front diff,transfer case, all the components. That will give u a good understanding of how that shit works. Then you can see what u have. For example you will see if you already have the VSS in the transfer case. It will be much easier instead of surfing the internet for hours. I'd start parting the 4runner asap.

Also, apart from your transmission "issue" you will need to get the front half of the rear drive shaft from a 4wd tacoma. Your Tacoma will need 2 drive shafts. The first is the rear drive shaft, this one connects the transfer case to the rear diff. It is made up of 2 pieces. You need to get the front half of it from a 4wd tacoma. The second drive shaft is the front drive shaft. That connects your transfer case to your front diff. That shaft you can take from the 4 runner.

Make sure to read my thread. There is a lot of info.

 

Appreciate it man! Seriously! There's tons of threads out there but sometimes I get lost... so the rear forerunner driveshaft won't be compatible ? But the front ds is good? I might just start the search for a 4x4 taco tranny instead of piecing apart my current 2WD. I'm currently on a fire in Six Rivers NF I should be home this weekend to start ripping apart the forerunner !

 

No problem. I'm a firm believer in learning by trying so that's why I'm referencing you to threads and such because the info is out there. If you really understand why something works or doesn't then you have more chances being successful with the swap!
I would love to make you a list of what you need but the issue is that there are a lot of small nuances and the list wouldn't be perfect.

Yes, you can use the front 4runner drive shaft. For the rear drive shaft you can either buy the 4wd 2 piece shaft off a tacoma or buy just the front part of the 2 piece shaft off a 4wd tacoma. Then you would combine your 2wd rear half with the 4wd front half. It was cheaper for me to buy half the drive shaft and modify mine vs buying the 2 piece shaft. Does that make sense?

The transmission thing is a not a huge deal. Its just paying a transmission shop to swap output shafts. If finding a 4wd tranny for ur year is difficult, id go that route. Let me know what you decide to go with in the future.
I don't want to sound annoying, but once again, if you look at my thread closely you will see what you need.
Also once you take the 4runner apart you will understand what you need way faster than looking at online pics.


I've attached a picture of my 2wd tranny. That is the A340E. The blue circled part is the "tail housing". That needs to be removed and replaced by the 4wd tail housing. If you look closely, that tail housing has a flange on it. That is where your 2wd drive shaft attaches. We don't want that shitty 2wd anymore right? So that will be taken off, and you will add the 4wd tail housing from the 4runner tranny. This tail housing then allows you to attach the transfer case to it.
In the orange is the transmission mount. This is the 2wd mount. You cannot use it. Buy a 4wd mount. That mount will be connected to the 4wd tail housing. In red is the 2wd VSS. That sensor is no longer there since we removed the 2wd tail housing right? So now your VSS will be located in the transfer case. Your case off the 4runner should have one, or a plug. Either way is fine.

I don't mind answering questions. I recommend reading my thread and asking what you dont understand. Its all on there. If u have any questions let me know.

I have a buddy fighting fires all over CA recently. Be safe.

 

I got name dropped .

Here is another great resource. About 5 of us from Ttora did the conversion in this one thread on top of doing a 5 speed swap.

Links in a FAQ section of the thread as well.