My 2000 Tacoma Upgrades

Hello everyone,

I have had my 2000 Tacoma for 9 years now. It was a 1 owner well maintained truck with 225k on the odometer.

Currently it is a 2.7L 5spd 4x4 regular cab. I used it for a daily driver and tow quite regularly with it. I have wanted to go off-roading in the mountains and recently got a wild hair that it needs more power.

After researching on here and watching a few Youtube videos, I decided the best idea is to find a donor truck and make the swap. Unfortunately finding a donor manual is difficult and I found an automatic 2wd at a great price. So I jumped on in head first.

I purchased a 2000 auto extended cab 2wd that was rolled and totaled out. Truck runs great and other than every body panel is dented up it was a well maintained truck. I also acquired a transmission and transfer case for a 3.4 as well from a junkyard.

The plan is to make my regular cab a 3.4 auto 4x4 with "factory" e-locker.

What could go wrong? I have a welder friend, garage, mechanical know how and I love playing with electricity.

Stay tuned for more! Pictures will follow along with a story of how this goes. Feel free to add any comments, questions or concerns as well.

 

Welcome To TW Matt..

 

Sounds like a great project. I look forward to seeing your progress!

 

Here is an earlier picture of the donor truck. This was last weekend when we started pulling the goodies from the doors. Power windows and locks are a nice addition.


Today we finish striping the interior of the wiring harnesses and getting the motor prepped to pull maybe tomorrow.


Debating if the best way is to remove the cab or pull the engine out the old fashion way. We have removed 90% of the weight from the cab so we might try the cab lift.


Here is the 4x4 transmission, transfer case and front driveshaft that I picked up at a junkyard.


Unfortunately the donor's cab interior color does not match my, so I'm going to be looking for a lot of tan interior parts. If anyone has any to share let me know. I'm willing to pick up if not too far. Also I will be listing all leftover parts for sale as soon as I can. Need to fund the next stage of upgrades.

 

Work continues slowly as I'm awaiting several parts.

Took the cab off the truck for easier access to removing the drive train. Sorry for the crappy picture.


Went to the junkyard and found one of the many pieces I need to make this conversion. The 4WD/Auto shifter. Needs some TLC but I think it should clean up nicely.


And finally making some money back. Took the body in for scrap metal. Didn't make much, but it paid for some new gaskets/filters for the V6.


Still looking for a LH side brown/tan power window/locks arm rest if anyone has one they are willing to part with. Found RH and center console trim on E-Bay.

 

Looks like a fun project! I really like the regular cabs.

 

Today was the day that I started to rip my truck apart for the new drive train.

Went from this:


To this in about 8 hours:


All parts are acquired except waiting on the bushings for my rear leaf springs and driver's side armrest for power windows/locks (Brown in case anyone has got a spare laying around)

Tomorrow starts the rebuild process. Looking to clean the frame and paint, replace power steering rack and do the front suspension/brakes. Might try to get the motor mounts moved but the weather may sabotage the plan and make me go fishing.

 

shoulda welded both trucks beds together for extra storage. I think you missed a big opportunity, lol.

 

That's amazing, I really need a house so I can work on my cars like this, can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

Last weekend I got the engine mounts moved back. We contemplated bolting the motor and transmission together and lining it up that way and welding it with the engine in the way. But since I have the old frame still, we took many measurements and found that the V6 mounts sit 7/8" of an inch rearward from the 4 cylinder. So we cut and welded them in place.


Early this weekend we got the frame cleaned up and painted.


Then installed the new rack and pinion (old one leaking).


The motor and transmission/transfer case went in next. Fought a little with the engine with the new mounts but got it bolted down. And when the transmission went in, it lined up perfectly!


Just finished tonight installing the OME lift, JBA offroad UCAs and front brakes.


We measured for the drive shaft and found that the original one from my 4cyl/5spd 4x4 will fit exactly with a 6cyl/auto 4x4. Who would've thought!

Up next is figuring out swapping the e-locker ring and pinion with the existing set to match the front gear ratio and wiring the transfer case. Guess I'll be studying the electrical diagrams this week.

 

Dang that looks like a really clean frame. Where did the donor truck come from? I'm used to East Coast trucks looking really rough underneath. Though I suppose southern Virginia might not get a lot of snow.

 

Donor truck came from Elizabeth City, NC. The truck was less rusty than mine which has lived it's entire life in SE Virginia. The donor frame unfortunately has slight damage at the left front strut tower. Otherwise it's in beautiful condition!

 

Hey thanks for replying. I am on the lookout for a replacement frame myself. I wasn't considering that I could get one as close as North Carolina. That's encouraging!

 

Craigslist find. Guy rolled it and every body panel was smashed. Thought the frame was perfect until we got the body off and saw the strut tower. It's probably repairable if you have some welding skill. Hell you might be able to beat the thing back into place. Not sure how it got messed up. I'll take a picture of it next time I'm over there.

 

Dang that sucks. Hopefully it's repairable with the amount of work you have in it.

 

No pictures today to show. Was up late last night pulling the axles off the e-locker rearend.
Things I have learned this week -
- The ring/pinion gears are not the same in the TRD e-locker and standard 4x4 rear.
- bearings are not removable until the snap ring is removed
- The whole question about if it has ADD or not doesn't matter.