Lucky 07 PreRunner to 4x4 Conversion

Y U NO POST UPDATES??????

 

Had some delays... changed jobs, moved, etc.. Starting to ramp back up on this project. Have new 4x4 tranny and twin sticks on the way. Still need to build a tranny x-member and get a new rear driveshaft - thinking of going one-piece. Also delayed by the 1300 I spent on 5 new BFG 255/85-16 KM2's.

 

Tranny arrived yesterday. I took gamble on a 2006 unit with under 100K, but had damage to the bell housing and pan... the plan was to use my existing bell housing and pan on the a750e currently in the truck to make the a750f whole. I only paid $350 for the tranny, plus $150 to ship from WA to TX. The gamble paid off, but not how I was expecting.

There was more damage to the unit than vendor described - input shaft was beat up since it wasnt protected by the bell housing, the shift shaft was cut off short with no threads to attach shift linkage, it appeared that previous owner was running Royal Purple, and one of the bolt holes on the bell housing side was damaged - looked like the unit had been dropped hard. I was ready to return the unit and pissed b/c I would have to pay return shipping.

After closer inspection of the 750e and 750f, I decided to swap the tail sections. 8 bolts and the a750f tail is off and it bolts right up to the a750e, making it an F. It also appears I can do the tail section swap while the tranny is still in the truck and I have the peice of mind of using my current tranny which has no known issues. This is a WIN in my opinion.

I shopped around and found you can buy a brand new tail section from Toyota without bearings and seals for around $360, add bearings and seals and its over $400 before shipping. So although I paid $500 for a used tail section, I learned a new way to tackle the tranny requirement for prerunner conversions.

This weekend will be the twin stick procedure for the FJ case, ordering a one peice driveshaft from local shop today, picking up crossmember from lkq, and tranny mount from a-zone. Still need to fab a new Y-pipe and modify the x-member, but I'm getting closer to finish.

Here's a few pics of the turd a750f and the tail section I pulled from it.




See the purple?

 

Talked to local driveline guy. He spent over 15 minutes talking me out of doing a 1-peice. SAys he will build me anything, but will not warranty a 1-peice on a d-cab taco that has a stock 2-peice. He did say he would shorten and add the correct companion flange to my stock shaft, balance, etc... for $200 or less.

Called LKQ. they report there are no tranny crossmembers at any LKQ nationwide. The search continues.

Got off work early so I decided to do the twin stick conversion to my fj case. It took me 2 hours, thanks entirely to Wyatt at RST and his excellent write-ups.


Sensors and shift springs out.


Before pic


Case opened


Only pulled the hi-lo rod out. Didnt have to mess with the 3 keys.


Fork, springs and the pill


Trick to extract the pill without removing the other fork... a magnet.


Bench grinder, minus the bench.


Modified rail back in


Added additional spring to center of stock spring on both sides, but they may be too strong


Ready to put case back together


Sealed back up. Foot ground off.


New shifter base for twin stick.


Close shot of the base. I'm going to attempt a cable operated setup.

 

Lookin good, nice job with the xfer

You can get a crossmember from Toyota parts, kinda sucks cutting it up but there available. I bent mine pretty good at the center section wheelin rocks, make sure to plate er good for strength.

1pc only works if you have a dual case, otherwise it's too long, won't balance out and going to eat joints. Good call with shortening the 1st section. Also add a slip joint if it doesn't, my prerunner shaft didn't have 1

With the tranny, I thought the output shaft was different on the different transmissions. Just make sure your E output shaft is the same length and spline as the F series and it mates with the xfer.

If your struggling with the add wiring message Wyatt he'll make you a harness I gave him $120 or something. Worth it

Let me know if you got any questions.

 

Here the tranny info

http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf

 

Thanks for the link, I was looking at a similar pdf earlier today. It clearly states on page 1 that the output shaft is different. Judging by the diagrams, its longer on the E. I'm going to pull the rear housing off of my E and see if it will work anyway - might be room to get creative.

 

Thanks bro. I'll stick with the 2-peice plus slip joint.
I had high hopes for the "F" tail section swap, but it aint looking good.

On the ADD, I'm working on a new housing to replace the plastic one and going to attempt to actuate by cable. My prototype is almost done. If it works out, you'll see it soon.

 

After reading and re-reading the pdf's on the Toyota A750E and F trannys, I discovered the a750E and F were also used in the Suzuki Grand Vitara between 2005-11. Did some more looking and found that the value of the a750f, when you search for Suzuki tranny, is much different than the Yota. LKQ wants $275 for the one that goes in the Suzuki and wants $1300 for same a750f that sits in Taco, FJ, 4.7 Tundra, 4.7 Sequoia, 4runners, Landcruisers and the Lexus LX470. So, I just bought a 63k mile 2007 a750f with 6mo 36000k waranty for $297 out the door. I pick it up next Tuesday. If when I get there to pick it up, it doesnt match, I wont take it. No loss. If I'm right, its a pretty sweet deal. I suspect all I'll have to do is put on my taco bell housing and tail section. See attached.

 

Worked on x-fer case cable operated setup today. The shift base I'm using required a little modding. I had to grind out a little extra space on one of the shift feet from the shifter base in order to get in low range. I discovered this could also have been taken care of by grinding a little more material off of the hi-lo shift rail, but since I already have the case back together, i just modified the shift base. The extra springs I added to the case definitely firmed up the shift engagements, however, the shifters I intend to use have a spring loaded lever that forces it into a gate. I just need to make custom gates for the correct stopping point for each shifter.

As long as my Suzuki a750f is a winner, I think the final steps of this swap will occur next weekend, minus the driveshaft shortening. My local driveline shop isnt open on weekends.

I plan to make my own crossmember and custom y-pipe. I also intend to engage the ADD by cable, but my prototype isnt quite ready. I'll run with the electric motor and momentary switch setup for now.

 

Picked up my Suzuki Vitara a750f tranny today. Its good to go. Only physical differences are the bell housing, which i'll take from my existing a750e, the tail section, which I have from an 06 yota a750f, and the pan - the suzuki has a tranny dip stick attached on driver side towards the front... if it doesnt get in the way, I'll probably leave it there, otherwise, I'll take the pan off of my 750e.

I'm guessing I'll also re-use the torque converter thats in my truck now.

Was hoping to do the swap this weekend, but work travel will get in the way. I'll at least get some pics posted of the "suzuki" a750f.

 

Its raining right now and I dont have any help to get it off the truck and into my garage. Tranny is partially wrapped in vanilla scent tall kitchen bags. I grabbed the first thing I could find to keep the rain off of it.

passenger side


driver side


dip stick

 

Suzuki 4x4 a750 was a no go... the 4x4 grand vitara uses the a750e. Returning it tomorrow for a Yota a750F, so no conversion savings on the tranny, and further delayed project completion.

 

Subd

 

With this attachment you could use your A750E.

http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/yota...ner-adapter-by-inchworm-tcase-iw-600-055.html.

 

I know, I even considered making one v/s buying it. I ended up returning the Suzuki tranny which was an e and buying a yota 750f, which is what I should have done in the first place. To take it a step further, I should have bought the Taco 4x4 in the first place... but no worries, I'll get this conversion done.

 

I like your attitude! Good luck with your conversion.

 

Prototype Complete. I call it the L.M.D.D.

Lucky's Manual Differential Disconnect

It will be operated by a CableCraft Twist Lock control cable. I havent decided where I will mount the control head yet - center console somewhere. It wasnt too hard to make, I already have a few ideas how to improve it. Might make another one or two.

Now that I have this done and no more work travel the rest of the year, maybe I can get this damn conversion complete.

 

Interesting, like the idea.

 

damn that's sweet! I'd be interested in one of them if you decide to make some more