How To Install a 3rd Gen Off Road OR Axle On a 2nd Gen Tacoma (or non-OR 3rd Gen)

Awesome! I’ve been interested in the FJ t.c. case swap. It essentially makes the truck full-time AWD with a selectable locking center diff?

 

It depends on which version of the fj case you get. Either the VF2A(M?) or the VF4B(awd with center diff).
I'm aiming for the fj auto trans cause most have the manual t.c (VF2A) and more write up/swaps is found.
The fj manual transmission has the awd (VF4B?) version and also has the front axle without the actuator (solid axle shaft which some use for ADD delete on the tacos).

I'm going down the rabbit hole with these VF2's/VF4's...has in my area these fj t.c. are unicorns and usually bad shape and high mileage.
Looking at alternatives like the VF2A(M?) version of 4runners from more recent years.... Hard to get info on this since it seems that the 4runner's version is less popular...more research on my end.

But for me what was more important was the 3rd gen axles swap. My t.c. for the 08 works....for now.

I'm just trying to bombproof my truck for our big 2 months in the PNW.

I'm also trying to figure out how to activate the front axle/diff when I do that swap...but that more research and another tread!!

 

Hey, question on the front differential of the 3rd gen. I want to do this swap as well but I don't have any confirmation if the 2nd gen ADD actuator and extension tube housing will bolt up to the 3rd gen differential. Or can we use the entire 3rd gen differential with its actuator.l and extension housing etc. I'm unsure if the actuators are the same electrically for plugging into the second gen harness. Are you able to clarify if they're different or the same parts?

 

To my understanding, everything about the front diffs is exactly the same from 2nd to 3rd gen, including the ADD, — EXCEPT — a couple (early-mid?) years of the 3rd gen diffs came with an extra port on the pumpkin where an oil temperature sensor would screw in. Toyota stopped doing this for the final years of the 3rd gen, and you can simply install an appropriately threaded generic drain/fill plug into the port and forget about it.