Rebuild Transmission, or Used one?

Hey Everyone!

I am happy to say that I bought back my old Tacoma! (2000 4x4 2.7 5speed)



Long story short is I bought a 00 Taco from a friend with 320k miles on it a few years ago, did some work to it, drove the piss out of it for a few years and sold it to a couple at 420k miles who drove it from Texas to Alaska TWICE (neither them nor I have ever had a break down).

Anyway I bought it back, it has 474k miles on it - and its now a complete project rebuild truck. It has too many memories for me to get a different truck. I partially want to get it to 500k before touching it to say that it ran 500k without an engine or trans rebuild and only 2 clutches, one at 200 and one at 410.

Funny thing is that it drives the exact same way it did 250k miles ago. Now I have a real job and income to build it into the truck it deserves to be.

ANYWAY

Transmission is, well, special it has been for the last 200k, reminds me of a land rover gearbox, each gear was in its own special place.

3rd gear syncro is so worn out so bad the shift lever can move 6 inches in either direction when in gear - no griding and goes right in and out everytime.

Should I have someone rebuild the trans, or find one out of a totaled truck and throw that in?

 

If you have the tools and want to rebuild it I'd do that, but with these transmissions so easy to buy with low miles it would be hard to rebuild it for less than buying a used one with lower miles. I want to rebuild a transmission but I live in an apartment and putting a press in my bedroom might not work out lol. Marlin Crawler sells high quality rebuild kits, but they are expensive. Unless you know a good shop I wouldn't mess with a rebuilt one - too many horror stories of places that half @$$ their work and the customer has to pay literally and figuratively for their screw ups. Nice looking truck btw!

 

I won't be able to do this myself, so maybe putting in a low mileage tranny isnt a bad idea. Plus who doesn't like a low mileage tranny

 

Are you sure it's the synchros? I would check the fluid for metal shavings and the shifter seat bushing for wear

 

I am not sure what the issue, I was just guessing synchros

Having transmission, transfer case, and both diff fluids replaced next week, I guess I'll see if that helps. Also found out the water pump hasnt been replaced it at least 250k miles ... no leaking and fluid level is fine hah

 

I had my R150F go out of my 98. Replaced it with a used manual trans out of 97 4 runner. Worked for a little bit. Sheared a bolt on the inside. Broke that one to. Took it to a reputable transmission shop and had them completely rebuild my trans. $2800 later I have a transmission that will outlast my pickup. lol

 

If there is no grinding then it is your shifter seat bushing causing the slop. Toss a new one in and it'll be as good as new for $12

https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts/heavy-duty-seats

 

Start with the basics . A new shifter bushing as mentioned above is going to make that transmission feel like new

Snowy beat me to it

A very common problem is the shifter bushing .
Marlin Crawler . Guys are saying this bushing is much stronger than the factory bushing . Also stands to reason that if your changing the bushing , you might as well change the transmission fluid and transfer case if 4X4 . It,s so much easier filling the transmission through the shifter hole and it only uses 2.3 quarts . This is going to save you from trying to use a flimsy pump underneath the truck .
https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts/heavy-duty-sockets


Lower in this thread , you can find all the info you need for your transmission
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...on-your-5-speed-transmission-write-up.338836/

 

SWEET I'll get a bushing then

 

yeah, start with the little things before throwing more expensive parts at it. Even if the bushing doesn't help you can slap it in the new transmission.


If it's not actually grinding in/out of gear or whining I doubt it needs to be rebuild

 

Damn, good to hear you're trying to save your truck.

 

Bushing makes a big difference - the hack that installed a short shifter on my truck before I bought it had the metal ball contacting the metal below where the ball should be if it were properly installed. Maybe 1/16" of clearance difference that my replacement trans shifter had when I stuck it in my old trans made a night and day difference. Had I known to check that I may have not wanted to buy a new trans.

Old shifter on top: