manual conversion

is there any way to make a 4.0 2011 automatic tacoma a manual

 

There's always a way...the question is, do you have the money/time/know-how to accomplish it?

 

If you have to ask, it'll be easier and less of a headache to trade it or sell it and get one with a manual. Won't have to worry about any issues that might pop up from the swap as well.

 

Yes. Step 1. Put your 2011 up on Craigslist...

Seriously... you could sell yours in a day, then start looking for a nice manual transmission model. Maybe even make the swap in a week without ever getting a speck of grease under a fingernail.

Plus, a DIY conversion is going to kill the resale value of your truck. No one will want to pay any real money for your project.

 

I did this once on a 65 mustang. Whole other world, though. You're talking about the ECU, instrument cluster, wiring harness, cruise control...

 

So, I'm not arguing that just selling the truck and buying one with a manual may be the best/easiest option, but is a transmission swap, from one oem option to another, assuming you don't cut corners, really so extreme that you'd destroy your resale value?

 

Manual ecu, and the rest is nutz and boltz.

 

In my eyes, yes. Assuming that everything in the conversion is PERFECT -- and that's a big if... everything works flawlessly mechanically, the dash and trim panels go back in without broken tabs, scuffs, scratches, the colors match right, there are no dash rattles or missing pieces, there are no CELs or traction control/ABS electronic issues -- then what happens when you take it to carmax to trade it in? It's going to come up as an AT and I'm guessing they won't touch it. Any smart dealer or private buyer running a VIN check will see the same thing. Because you'e going to have to swap instrument panels you're going to have an odometer discrepancy statement on the title, so that's another big concern for any buyer. And if they ask who did it, how comfortable are they going to be when you say "me and my buddies did it ourselves"? Or are you going to have a stack of receipts showing that it was professionally done?

I'm guessing 95% of buyers would pass on your converted truck in favor of something stock, unmolested, and well cared for. Not to many people want to buy a project car that's flying more red flags than the Chinese capital building.

 

So do you buy stuff for you, or someone else?

 

For myself, but also with the idea/hope that I'm not completely pissing my money away. There's a cost/benefit to consider in everything.

 

On a 4x4, it's more than a transmission, ECU, and nuts & bolts. There's also the transfer case as the input shaft is, I believe, different. Then there's the interior items: instrument cluster is different, center console, pedals, clutch cancel switch, etc... Verify the driveshafts are the same length as they, typically, are different too. Can you cobble something together and get a manual in there? Sure but, to do it correctly so that it is as a manual came from the factory, it's much more involved.

 

All of which are held together by nuts and bolts. Cap'n obvious.

 

You forgot the wire plugs and snap clips for the trim...