LFaub's 4x4 conversion/camper build

Any problems with the spacers?

 

Nope, spacers never given me problems

 

Picked up a front diff for the conversion as well as the speed sensor that I was missing.
Only issue is that this is an ADD diff, whereas I plan to go to manual hubs. Luckily I know of a couple tricks to keep it locked, or I can swap the locking mechanism with one from a manual hub differential. Either way, once I'm back in San Diego for winter break I'll be getting in some more progress.

 

How do you plan on locking your actuator? I decided I'm probably not spending $140 on a non ADD tube.

 

I was going to look for a non ADD tube, but if I can't find one then I'll probably tear it open to see what I can do. I'll probably end up breaking out the welder, but we'll see how things go

Should've worded it as "I'll find some trick to keep it locked" lol

 

Did a bit of snooping around and stumbled across this write-up that fixes the issue by blocking the engagement fork with a hose clamp. Pretty straightforward solution, we'll see how it goes.
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/add/

 

Big day today! Got the last of the parts for the swap. Manual hubs/spindles and manual hub-fitting CV axles. The only bad news here is that I won't be able to install them for another two months until I get back to my truck when I go back to San Diego in mid-December. The plan then is to do the hose clamp trick on my new diff, press the hubs into my old spindles (that way I keep my ABS and don't get an annoying ABS light), and mount everything into place. The last parts I really need are the diff carrier bolts, but I'm thinking of just shelling out for them at Toyota. I'm really excited to have all the parts and I can't wait to get home so I can finish my conversion!

 

So the newer-looking axle has some issues. I could barely move the joints around when I got home with them, and they look like they’ve been run without grease for a while, and seized.



So the plan now is to buy two new axles — probably some O'Reilly’s specials, nothing fancy — and use the good axle as a spare to keep in my growing “emergency parts” bin to take wheeling just in case.

Also I’ll be able to get to my truck next week over thanksgiving, so I should at least be able to get my speedometer squared away while I’m home

 

I ate the cost and sent my two damaged ADD axles to CVJ in Denver as core for some manual hub cvs. Of course nothing beats O’Reillys price and you’ll have an OEM spare like you said.

 

yeah I thought of having them rebuilt, but I figure between the time and money I'd be fine getting some cheapo axles

Luckily they're only spinning with the hubs engaged unlike ADD where they're always spinning, so they'll have a relatively long life either way

 

Got bored today, and since I’m still 400 miles away from the Tacoma, I decided to prep my diff so it’s all ready for when I come home from school.

Cleaned some of the grime off (not all of it, but a good bit), removed the wiring and vacuum lines, and locked my actuator so that i can use it with my manual hubs



Made sure to test the diff with the locked actuator before I buttoned everything back up, and it’s good to go!



Next step is to wait another month for school to end. Luckily I’ll be going home next week for thanksgiving, but I’ll only have enough time to install my speed sensor and drive it around some more

 

Was able to put my new speed sensor on today. Code hasn’t come back, everything works, but it’s a good bit off. When Im reading 60 on the freeway, the truck will actually be going 66, which is a big difference. I think I’ll just live with it for now, and then I’ll buy a speedometer calibrator at some point (the calibrator will also be nice for whenever I change tire sizes or regear).



Until then, I at least have my speed sensor in and all my parts are in one place at the shop. Just gotta wait until winter break to get going on the rest of my conversion

 

As a side note: I was able to test how good the hubs actuate, and they’re pretty hard to lock, so I’ll probably disassemble, clean, and re-grease those before I put them on the truck

 

My speed sensor is off also. I counted 33 teeth on my gear. I think we need 28 or 29 to be accurate. The second page here on this ih8mud thread has our gears and part numbers.

 

right on, might be worth taking a look at!

 

Well damnit, codes came back. Speed sensor’s fine, but I have a code for the transmission temp sensor and the “torque converter performance”

Well shit I might have to pull the transmission again to swap in my old torque converter. No idea what to do about the temp sensor though

 

I'm guessing you've already disconnect/reconnected all your transmission connections and unplugged your battery to reset the computer. Wouldn't hurt to try it with just the temperature sensor.

 

I checked and cleared them with my OBDII reader but they came back. The issue is my torque converter clutch isn’t engaging because I swapped the valve bodies of my transmissions, and I think I need the old TC to match the valve body of my old transmission

I did some research and the temp code is because of the TCC not engaging, so the fluid overheats when I go up a hill on the freeway

 

Logan. Glad to find this thread. Going to be watching as you are about 6 months ahead of me and basically doing the same thing. Bonus your in San Diego too. Not too far south. Hope i can pick your brain as i go.

 

Gonna be back in San Diego tomorrow night for winter break, so expect lots of progress on the truck over the next couple of weeks! First things first, I have to pull my transmission again to put my original torque converter on. While getting my speed sensor cleared fixed the code, I'm still having issues with the TCC, and I'm 80% sure putting the old one on will fix the issue. After that, my knuckles are going off to a shop to press my hubs into the 2wd spindles, I'll be stabbing the front diff, finally getting my rear drive shaft balanced, and bolting everything up! Also doing my upper ball joints since my spindles will be under the press anyways.

So stay tuned!