Tacoma 3rd Gen 2WD to 4WD Conversion

If you can do the labor yourself, you might break even on the costs vs just trading for a 4X4. If you're paying someone to do the work, it's a lot more expensive.

But if I were going full blown custom where I was replacing factory parts with heavy duty gear anyway I'd wouldn't cost anymore to start with a 4X2.

 

90% bolt on vs 100% custom fab suspension geometry.

~$2500 vs ~$10k (I honestly don’t know how much SAS are but this is the number I see thrown around a lot).

Having done my own 4WD swap and having looked into doing an SAS, keeping the IFS is way easier. Most of it is bolt on. If you can install a full lift kit, you can do a 4WD conversion. And honestly, it costs less than a lot of the lift kits people are buying.

 

You must be talking labor costs cause either way parts cost will be over 2500. I honestly believe if he can do the labor the SAS would be cheaper. Hear me out:

To buy all the parts off a donor truck you’re gonna be well over 5k+, we’re driving 3rd gen tacos here, hell he’ll have $2500 in just the front member not even talking suspension and electronics or T case. Add in 5k for that stuff. Parts cost on a SAS is less since you don’t need anything off a modern truck, the most expensive part he’d need to buy is the FJ T-case ($500) and a $500 front axle out of whatever. Everything else he could fab.

I was assuming he could DIY, either are gonna he thousands of dollars in labor if he’s paying labor rates and neither is feasible.

 

For the front diff, axles, FJ tube, 4WD Hubs, ECGS bushing, FJ case, auto 4WD tranny I'd budget about $4-5k depending on if you need shipping on the big items. The cost of the fab items (crossmember mod, TC shifter) depends on if you can do it yourself or not. I'd assume DIY for labor as well. If you know what you're doing it can all be done in two days. I'd bet a SAS takes a bit more time to get right.

Of course there are other items that you can add to the basic swap that would drive the cost up (lift/control arms/gusseted spindles/upgraded brakes)....but those are things that are installed on these trucks all the time.

 

I found all of that stuff used with low miles. Got new hubs and CV axles. Sold off my 2WD stuff and all in spent about $2200.

 

Suspension is the same. No electronics needed if you go with the FJ t-case.

 

I'm really not trying to be rude here....

If you have to ask, it's probably way more work than you are interested in doing.

If I was going to do that much work, I'd be chopping the whole suspension up, putting in a different transfer case, maybe different axle in the rear and installing that marlin crawler front set up while I'm at it.

 

What’s the point? The end result is that you have a 4x4 Tacoma which is the essentially the same as hundreds of thousands of other 4x4 Tacoma’s except yours cost a lot more and probably has some gremlins. If you want a project with a more fulfilling end result, do a SAS, RCLT kit, dual transfer case, 4-link, etc.

 

Less gremlins because you ditch all the electronics and have a stick shift t-case. Goes into/out of 4WD every time. No stupid computer getting confused.

 

As a software developer I can appreciate simplicity, but if technology didn’t move forward we would still be hunting elk with stone bladed spears.

 

Toyota should hire you then cause the 4WD system has lots of issues. Hit the search to see how many complain of being stuck in 4WD or not being able to get into 4WD. Advancing technology is only good if it’s reliable.

 

Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?

 

Nope, not at all. Just telling you the stock system has some flaws that are mitigated when doing a 4WD conversion.

 

Speak of the devil.

@gudujarlson check out the thread that just posted. Seems to be a new one everyday like this.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/add-issues.759964/

 

Just ditch the coils for leafs and go old school!

 

No, it's because it costs a lot and you are left with a dash full of lights and speedo and rpm won't work. That's why.

 

Yes and the sea levels wouldnt be rising

 

I’m certain this isn’t true.

 

Makes a ton of sense, nothing like a 2wd truck with a straight axle and dual transfer cases.

 

I've looked up a few 3rd gens on youtube that did an SAS. Problem is wheel speed sensors and what they do. Didn't you do it?
One guy put a 100K into his SAS. Still lights.