4x4 Conversion - 2.7 DoubleCab

Hey Gang.

I'm in the middle of a 4x4 conversion on a 2.7l double cab pre runner. I'm curious about this alignment in the photo here. From what I've gathered the J Shifter hole should be a bit more forward. I got a A340 4x4 trans from a V6 97 4runner which included the transfer case. I carried over my 3RZ bell housing with it. The cross member isn't installed yet but the trans / case is in near position to where it should be.

Anyone have any ideas why the J Shifter hole is so far back?

My only guess is maybe the double cab bodies were cut for another type of transfer case shifter? If all fails I'll notch it out and cut a custom gasket for the shifter plate.

Thanks all,

_D

 

Best guess!

Are Both bell housings are the same length front to rear ??

Your bell housing is bolted to the engine ? Engine mounts installed and not broken.

When you install your transmission mount it will raise the back end of the transfer case lining your hole up in the correct position.

If the rest of the correct parts were installed .

 

That isn't correct. I bet if you hand place the crossmember its not going to line up with the transmission mount either. I'm with @Bivouac.

Bell housing lengths the same for the 5VZ and 3RZ?

Did you take any pictures of the bell housing when you swapped them out, if so - let's see them. Did you make sure everything was lined up correctly? I ask because I just finished this job and it absolutely can be a PITA to position everything correctly 100%. Everything go ok when you bolted up the torque converter to the flexplate?

Side note: Was looking at your other pictures. Looks like you have a lot more room than the 5VZFE! Should make lining up much easier.

 

Well that’s odd haha. I did my 4x4 swap on a ‘98 PreRunner 2.7l and I didn’t have that issue.

 

Okay I found the issue. See where my j-shifter is located compared to yours? I used a 1999 Tacoma A340F transmission for my 1998 PreRunner, FYI.

 

Is it a major job to move the shifter??

 

Yeah, I'd like to hear more about this also.

@dunc_werks - open this and take a look, read the replies...

Try hitting up @pray4surf - he hasn't been on since July but might receive a notification.

 

If I were you, I'd start looking at the possibility of swapping output shafts and just keeping your stock transmission. The part# for the 5VZFE A340F is 3507335030. Looks like that output shaft was used in both configurations. I'd pull it. I can help you with documentation if you need it. Shoot me PM if you do go this route.



This is a good video that will give you an idea on what's involved with getting to the output shaft. It's a AW4 trans out of a Jeep but its going to be very close to what you have with the 340E or 340F.

https://youtu.be/vatOfJozFx0

I've timestamped when he gets to the snapring for the output shaft. Here --

https://youtu.be/vatOfJozFx0?t=1495

Might also want to hit up @Mac. as he just swapped output shafts. He might be able to provide some insight into the teardown.

 

This is where my expertise ends — I am not sure. I would assume it’s a lot of work. Hopefully you can just install the right transfer case.

 

What did your transfer case come off of? I wonder if it's a difference with the 4 vs 6cyl cases (not just spline count).

@turbodb, when you were working up your ID thread, did you come across anything on differing lengths? I haven't been looking at transfer cases nearly as long as others but I can't recall seeing one that looked like Tyler's (post#5).

I mean hell, the tcase shifter isn't even on the transfer case(?) - how does that happen.

 

This is the exact reason why I waited to buy a transmission with the transfer case already on it from a Tacoma. It’s all from a 1999 Tacoma 4WD, so I knew it would work. I didn’t want to mess with spline count and shaft lengths and shifter differences.

 

So the tcase shifter is connected to the shift rods inside the tcase from further forward on the adapter with the 2.7s I guess. Similar to how a non-jshift Tundra/Sequoia is setup. I've never looked into the 2.7 trucks much.

I used a 1996 4Runner V6 jshift transfer case on my truck. But since my truck is a V6 A340 it was fine. He's using a V6 case on a I4/2.7 truck which isn't possible if I'm not mistaken.

 

Ah yes. That’s probably why it’s different.

I always recommend people match engine displacement, and matching as many options as they could when shopping for a trans such as model year.

 

Well, it was a bit of more of a ? mark back when you did your swap so I get wanting to wait for the 'complete package'. As it sits for me, my transmission if from a 99 Limited 4Runner, transfer case is from a 1995 Tacoma and front diff is from a 2002 4Runner. When searching if I couldn't confirm it came out of a 6 cyl, I skipped over it.

Yep, being a 6 cyl, I always skipped over anything not a 6.

This is the only one I could find that lists out as from a 2000, 2.7. I know I've seen those notches/end caps on the shift rods before but I thought they were for MT cases. This case below lists as from a AT. Oh well.

 

A lot of items don't matter if it's from a 4 or a 6 such as the front end or whatever; what's important here is the date range for a handful.

1995.5-2000 Tacoma ADD are vacuum actuated vs 2001-2004 ADD are electric.

Not all Tacoma's had ABS; moot point if your vehicle doesn't have it but if it does, you'll just want the tab on your donor spindle for the ABS wire. Otherwise, just use your existing spindles to press the appropriate parts in.

The input gears on a transfer case differ from a 4 and a 6; definitely want to source a transfer case from the appropriate engine.

Rest of the guys above me will get into the specifics to help.

 

Very wise choice !!

 

Research and planning make a big difference.

I will never do another 4x4 conversion a auto to manual swap or engine swap one piece at a time.

A complete Donor vehicle so much less frustration if possible one I can drive to the shop or onto the trailer.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys. I was out in the garage continuing my arts and crafts project.

Picture attached of the new trans pre bell housing swap. It was from a 97 4runner. The transfer case also came off of there as far as I know. I bought them together, attached.

When I first put in the trans and case, absolute bear to put in. Getting it lined up and what not. I went to affix the flex plate / torque converter and realized I didn't seat the torque converter. BIG oooofffff. BUT I pulled it, dropped it, and had it back in in about 45 minutes total. The second time doing heavy lifting is always significantly faster, thankfully.

The point about the 6cylinder sitting 2 inches further back makes sense... now. I spent the afternoon getting the plumbing for the trans in place, cross member in (went in just fine). I notched my cab to afford the shifter through the hole. Now i'm concerned my new to me driveshafts may have an issue with length or lack of. TBD.

I'll report back in tomorrow if those are in the right ball park or not and readdress. I don't mind making a custom gasket or center console for the now toleranced J-Shifter. Would swapping the output shaft give me a similar case back to my original transmission, the 4x4 trans I sourced has a large housing to mate to the transfer case.

Thanks again everyone. To be continued.

 

I’m going to be real man. I’m super intoxicated preparing to pull the engine out of my 04 but I’m 99% sure the 6cyl and 4cyl transfer cases have a different spline count as well. Notching the cab might not solve the problem. I’d have to double check tomorrow at some point to be 100%.

Edit: wait are you saying you’re using the V6 A340F and the case that came with it on your 2.7? That’s wild and I’m not sure it’s been attempted before.

 

Also. If a v6 sits 2 inches further back. But the bell housings and trans are the same. Where’s the difference in lengths coming from? The rear housing of the trans / transfer case adapter?