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SAS vs IFS swap

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Cleeh24, Jan 13, 2020.

  1. Jan 13, 2020 at 11:59 AM
    #1
    Cleeh24

    Cleeh24 [OP] Active Member

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    I have an 04 prerunner double cab (2wd obviously) and was wondering what would be easier as far as converting to 4wd? I’ve heard SAS is easier but not really for daily driving and IFS is just all around better. I need opinions!! And I know some are going to say “buy a 4wd” that’s not the right answer. Haha I bought this truck because it was cheap and only had 87k on it. I plan to convert at some point and would like to know which way I should go. Thank you
     
  2. Jan 13, 2020 at 11:59 AM
    #2
    MattJakobs

    MattJakobs Everything but a Tacoma

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  3. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:07 PM
    #3
    02hilux

    02hilux Paved roads not required

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    Easier? 4WD prerunner conversion is by far easier then SA. The work involve with SA is night and day!
     
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  4. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:11 PM
    #4
    whatstcp

    whatstcp currently drunk so don't listen to me

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    never ever have I heard that SAS is easier than a prerunner 4wd conversion lol are you sure that's what you heard?
     
  5. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:24 PM
    #5
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    I have made good Money fixing Solid Axle swaps that went down the Road sideways.

    I wonder if it was comparing just the SAS to the complete conversion to 4wd ?

    Then you still have the Transfer case and drive Shafts to consider
     
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  6. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:27 PM
    #6
    eon_blue

    eon_blue Most Improved Member

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    Prerunners are already setup for IFS 4WD they just need the 4wd drivetrain. A solid axle swap involves waaay more time, fabrication and money
     
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  7. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:40 PM
    #7
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Well it easier to just do it right the first time.
     
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  8. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:46 PM
    #8
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Chief Executive Officer at Kwik Fab

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  9. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:54 PM
    #9
    Wyoming09

    Wyoming09 Well-Known Member

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    Does
    Does a Mall Crawler SAS have axles and and a Front differential ??

    Maybe needed for those really Big Parking lots when a dusting of snow hits?
     
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  10. Jan 13, 2020 at 12:57 PM
    #10
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

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    You end up tripping on all the panties thrown your way too.
     
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  11. Jan 13, 2020 at 1:02 PM
    #11
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    hands down a the IFS 4x4 conversion is easier, by like, a lot.

    Since the Prerunners are identical to the 4x4s, just without the drivetrain, it's all a bolt on conversion.

    The only hard part is sourcing the parts for a good price. If you take your time and do it right, you can source the transmission, transfer case, front diff, CVs, hubs etc for like $1000-$1500, and sell back your prerunner trans, too. Or you could buy everything this weekend that's rebuilt/new and spend like $2500+

    Or, you could source a transmission and T-case as you'd have to do with the IFS conversion, but then hack off the entire front suspension and re-engineer it with entirely new suspension, steering, drivetrain, with new axle, shocks, etc...

    But, before you go all in and hacking your truck apart, you gotta know what kind of wheeling you plan on doing and what suspension system is best suited for that intended use. If you just want whatever is easier so you can head up the hills in the snow, or do moderate wheeling, weekend overlanding trips or whatever, just get a trans/t-case and convert. If you are going to be doing serious rock crawling: 40's and tons.

    Or, if you're looking to do fast desert running type stuff, go long travel.

    EDIT: another thing to consider is that if you go SAS or long travel, it's not like you're going to be able to keep your rear suspension stock, so that's going to require tearing apart the rear end too and will undoubtedly significantly increase cost and complexity.
     
  12. Jan 13, 2020 at 6:06 PM
    #12
    Cleeh24

    Cleeh24 [OP] Active Member

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    JBramdt, that helps a lot actually. I’m not wanting to do any crazy wheezing. Basically like you mentioned, just go up in the mountains and screw around. It might be asking a lot but do you know exactly what I would need to do the full conversion? It sounds like I’ll most likely do an IFS. Was also considering buying a totaled 4x4 same year, one that all the lower parts are still in good shape. I know I can find one under 2,000 if I’m lucky
     
  13. Jan 13, 2020 at 6:22 PM
    #13
    ToyotaDriver

    ToyotaDriver Well-Known Member

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    The 1st Gen: All pro 3” lift (650 lbs coils, expedition rears with bilstiens),Timbren rear bumpstops, ubolt flip, diff drop, carrier bearing drop, 33’s on beadlocks ,ARB Bumper, winch, hand throttle, ARE canopy, roof bars, poly bushings all around minus the body mounts. The 2nd Gen: Leveling kit, roll up tonneau cover. 265/75/16’s
    Probably be easiest to find truck with manual hubs and a jshift tcase to do your swap. I kinda hate my push button 4wd for the simple reason that it will shift out of 4wd no matter how much of a bind it’s in. You have to make sure there’s no bind in it, and that can be difficult to do. Not a problem for normal use, but trying to shift out of 4wd to 2wd to make a corner is easier in a jshift case.
     
  14. Jan 13, 2020 at 6:26 PM
    #14
    ToyotaDriver

    ToyotaDriver Well-Known Member

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    But, if you’re keen on having the auto stuff, my extension tube, cv’s and steering knuckles with the add hubs will be for sale, hopefully before summer. Might be a while before I switch tcases though.
     
  15. Jan 13, 2020 at 7:49 PM
    #15
    slander

    slander Honorary Crawl Boi

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    IFS is just fine for messing around in the mountains. You can also do some really hardcore crawling with it with some cheap OME coils and shocks and some 33s. With an SAS you will always be dicking with it and there will always be something that needs to be tightened, finished, changed or replaced it seems. My SAS truck is DD capable and I would drive It to CA and back tomorrow with no worries, but i still have a laundry list of stuff that i could be messing with.


    Zero panties thrown my way post SAS, mainly truckers and toothless dudes giving me the thumbs up and yuppies looking at me in disgust.
     
    Last edited: Jan 13, 2020
  16. Jan 13, 2020 at 8:44 PM
    #16
    Jeremy Martin

    Jeremy Martin Well-Known Member

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    Zero panties thrown my way post SAS, mainly truckers and toothless dudes giving me the thumbs up and yuppies looking at me in disgust.[/QUOTE]

    Sounds like you may still be doing something wrong. You should at least have a couple pair of panties and maybe some socks slowly sliding down the side of your truck.
     
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  17. Jan 13, 2020 at 9:17 PM
    #17
    Wulf

    Wulf no brain just damage

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    If you have to ask... IFS
     
    Last edited: Jan 14, 2020
  18. Jan 14, 2020 at 5:04 AM
    #18
    02hilux

    02hilux Paved roads not required

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    Don't be this guy....

    82618262_1785695651560587_7008981534346575872_n.jpg
     
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  19. Jan 14, 2020 at 7:12 AM
    #19
    frizzman

    frizzman Well-Known Member

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    there are a few posts in the 1st Gen section with people's builds from Pre to 4w and the parts they sourced. Not sure which ones right off hand but do a search "on this forum only" to limit results
     
  20. Jan 14, 2020 at 7:17 AM
    #20
    coopcooper

    coopcooper certified youtube mechanic

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    sas for the panties
     
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