PreRunner to 4x4 Swap (Smooth Brain Edition)

Status (11/23/21)

Many great lessons learned from the project. I'd say anyone can do it as I explain below. 2,000 miles since the conversion and it's been running smooth.

Some highlights/lessons to find in this thread:

• Realizing you installed the transmission wrong: PreRunner to 4x4 Swap (Smooth Brain Edition) --> Lesson: Make sure the transmission is flush and dowel pins are in the holes before you start bolting the bell housing. As you tighten each bell housing bolt, ensure you can still rotate the flex plate

• Flooding the ADD because you forgot to install a breather: PreRunner to 4x4 Swap (Smooth Brain Edition) --> Lesson: Don't drive with a breather disconnected

• Do yourself a favor and delete the ADD from the start. How to: Deleting ADD system

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Original Post:

Hey everyone. New to the forums but have been lurking for the past ~6 months or so reading all the different 2nd gen PreRunner 4x4 conversion threads. @pdaddy had the thread that got me ordering parts, so rather than continue polluting his thread I will start my own

For starters:
1. Yes, I am retarded.
2. I hate both my time and value of the truck.
3. I love spending money.

I'm not done with the swap yet, but I believe I have 98% of the parts to complete. This is just to track progress and post questions. At the end of this journey I will tidy things up.

My resume as a mechanic is... Oil Change. So enjoy the show.

For some reason 1st gen owners and their forums aren't afraid of these swaps. That's a rant for another day.

Status (07/22/21)

Total Cost of Parts (With Shipping to HI): $4,350.02

Picked up the major components on July 9th, 2021 and have been ordering the remaining seals, bolts, washers, etc. The full list of parts I ordered is attached to this post.


Started yesterday with painting the front differential and replacing the needle bearing with the bushing from ECGS.

 

You are bold and brave, my friend.

 

Aaaaaah shiiiiit another smooth brain converter. I’m in

 

Aloha James, hope the conversion goes well.

 

My biggest fear is dropping that transmission haha. Starting with the front end first so I can gain some confidence at the wrench

 

You may have already done it, but be sure you can remove all the drain/fill plugs on all the new cases before you install. They appear to be made of cheese and round off easy.

Better to fight with them out from under the machine if need be..

 

Good point. Front diff plugs too. I stripped the hell out of the drain plug, I’ll have to weld a nut next time I change the oil

 

same thing happened on mine. I went back with this and haven't had any more problems:
https://www.kaon.com.au/front-diff-drain-plug-to-suit-toyota

 

or pick up one of these

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222153295083

 

I’m sure @Brian422 can supply some knowledge in this act of craziness

 

Thanks for the heads up! Will give that a try tomorrow, I haven’t messed with those yet

 

Definitely supplied the motivation for this insanity LOL. read his thread many many times

 

sub sammich

 

Holler at ye boi if anything pops, you’ve got this. NonADD gang

 

If it weren’t for the ridiculous prices of used Tacoma’s, especially in Hawaii, I’d say you are retarded and don’t value your own time or money. Lol. Good luck man.

 

#nobodyneedstoaddme

 

hope this was a joke

 

for real. 2k and a couple of hours is nothing. I value my time and would gladly swap in the 4wd gear time and again. It’s one step more than replacing a clutch which is normal maintenance.

 

Fun process and you get to learn how the truck works so when it breaks you can fix it. Also like you said it is a lot of work but honestly 2 guys in a garage at home after work could get it down in about a week working after work everyday.

 

I don’t get the negative comments on this process, I have never heard or read anyone having issues with the conversion. Everyone to include me can be a witnessed of how fun and fulfilling the conversion process is. The only issues I have heard of is when people was having a really hard time with some clowns that claimed to be specialist and professionals running a business of conversions which their names I’m not gonna mention. Cheers!