4x4 Conversion - 2.7 DoubleCab

I saw a lot of 4x4 conversion threads, but I haven’t seen anyone talking about the legal side of it. I live in California and I would like to know, it is legal to do 4x4 conversion? Will it pass Smog? Do you have to inform dmv of the modification since in paper the truck is still 2wd? Can someone shine some light on this topic?

 

Yes. The transmission plugs and sensors were all identical. They were also the same on the 1997 4runner transmission I first mistakenly had. I carried over most of my original sensors as I knew they were working. You should be A OK with the manual kick down transmissions.

I believe manual hubs stopped after 2000.

The 4x4 conversion doesn't touch any smog equipment, sensors, or computers. As far as a smog tech goes there's nothing they would interact with to cause an issue.

 

You're not messing with any smog related equipment; non-issue.

You'll notice a lot of members that converted to 4x4 are indeed from CA. Trucks out here cost a lot more, so from a financial standpoint it's cheaper to get a clean Prerunner and convert it.

So no, you don't say anything. There's no such thing.

 

I'm wondering if the 3.4 will bolt up to my 2.7 transmission would a new bell housing be enough or is there more I have to do.they are both 95

 

With the 3.4 bell housing it will bolt right up, use the 3.4 torque converter. For 2wd you're good. For 4wd, the transfer cases are different. The 2.7 setup uses a forward shift transfer case while the 3.4 uses a top shift. Farther back in this thread there's an image of the two transmissions side by side. They'll both work, except you'll want the correct placement of the shifter inside the cab without trimming and adding a new gasket.

 

Running into a similar situation where I got a deal on a 4x4 conversion from a V6 4runner. Did anyone ever confirm in order to shift the transfer case forward all you would need is a 4 cylinder case?

 

not sure if I’m understanding the question correctly but the 4cyl and v6 tcase are different. Hence, different input spline count.

 

Post #43 referenced the part #'s and said the input spline were identical. Only difference was the obvious bellhousing. Hoping someone else had experience with this, in that case I would pick up a 4 cylinder transfer case.

 

No issues with smog or the dmv. Converted since 2021 I believe.

 

Post 43 part number reference the transmission assembly between a 4cyl and v6.

Your question reference the 4cly transfer case and you got access to a 4R v6 setup. I can confirm that there is a difference between the 4cyl and v6 transfer case, which is the spline count on the input. V6 has a 23s and a 4cly IIRC has 26s. The coupler is also different length for the input. A 4cyl tcase will not bolt up to a v6 transmission nor will a v6 tcase bolt up to a 4cyl transmission unless you swap the input.

 

Ah ok copy that. So besides the shifter hole having to be modified, and most likely driveshaft length modification would there by any issue running the v6 setup? I could always resell and find the 4 cylinder transmission+transfer case.

Only asking because on the Supra side of things running different r154's (chaser, soarer) you'll see shifter extensions etc.

 

Keep in mind, all 3G4R don’t use a VSS. They get their signal from the ABS. Running a 4R tcase in a Tacoma will work but you’ll get a P0500 code. You’ll have to modify the 4R tcase to accept the VSS. There’s a thread on here regarding that topic. You’re better off sourcing a tcase from a Tacoma, depending on which transmission you have or plan on using. The hardest part is, if it’s a v6, it’s much harder to find a v6 23s j-pattern case vs a 4cyl 26s j-pattern case. Swapping the input will make it work in either transmission, as long as the input is correct.