99 4Runner : 2WD to 4WD

[Scuba]

Hey Guys.

So a few of you know that in our family of yotas is a mint 99 2WD 5Speed 2.7 4Runner.
Did you read the problem in that ? Yeah, Back in 98 when my pops bought it new he got a 2wd :chair:

Anyway, I know the Tacoma prerunner to 4wd swap is already pioneered, But I have only found 1 thread about a converted 4Runner.
Now, Im a Tacoma guy for the most part but here is what I do know about the 3rd Gen 4Runner's :

They have the same suspension as 4wd 4Runner's and Tacoma's

The transmission is basically the same

What I dont know :

How would I go about re-using the original transmission? New trans output shaft or something ?

Since the suspensions are the same between 2wd and 4wd, The frames are the same.. Yes ?
So that would mean the front diff and all would be a simple bolt up just like on a Tacoma conversion, Correct..?


For this conversion I would use Tacoma manual hub spindles and such..

I've mentioned this idea to my dad and recently he has been thinking about actually doing it.

If you have any good links to read please LMK, Im trying to do some research via google but I figured you guys would be a good source to bounce ideas off of.

Thanks Guys !!

PS. Sorry if that seemed mumbled, I tend to not paraphrase what I am thinking and just blurt it out :hillbill:

[Obi..]

Look under the front of your Dad's rig, see if it has all 3 of the chassis mounting points for the front differential, or, if like mine, there's only the one on the cross brace. If it has all 3, you're good. If not, you'll have to do like I did, find a donor frame to cut the frame apart on, that way you save as much of the 2 side braces as possible (6" off either side of the mounts is best..read on why.). You don't cut the brace off yet, you make a jig to use on your frame that places the 2 side mounts where they need to be. You only partially tack them, then put in the center section, using a trans jack, support it, and do all your final tweaks to the mounts, then burn them in, prime, paint, and seal.

As for the 4wd indicator on the 3rd Gen Runner, it's also really easy, just like mine was. You run the negative lead to a ground point and the hot lead to the output terminal on the back of the console..I'd have to look it back up, but for the '97 we just did IIRC it was 12 like mine was..give me a minute to recheck.

*The electrical's here: http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/fsm/wiring.html

[Obi..]

*Part of the cruise control's here (http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/1996/SIL/techinfo.toyota.com/ileaf/ewdtmc2/ewdtmpdf/ewdsourc/2002/024runne/overalle/overalle.pdf), scroll down to the 4th through 5th pages "M"s b/c it also shows part of the 4wd circuit (officially page "3" center, right is the junction block, wire code W-R goes to the 4wd box..again, if you go with a manually controlled case like Marlin's, you just run the indicator wire, bypassing all the other junk, and although it's a 2002 manual, most of the basics of the wiring are the same, just watch for little changes and map everything out and you'll do just fine.

:wrenchin:

[Scuba]

Thanks for the wealth of info shane, When im not buzzing and can fully understand that ill have an actual reply.

I still have alot of info to search for.

PS, This this is a W59 5Speed manual, We'd like to keep the same transmission if possible, if we cant we will go for a 4wd W59, But my simple understanding is that I can just get the tailhousing off of the back of a 4WD trans and then throw a case on it..

Anyway, I'll read this again in the morn ;)

:drink:

[Obi..]

*Yeah, those two posts are a bit of overload, so I went ahead and chopped them down.
:D Since your Dad's apparently getting into this, help him feel the love and be sure to log into IH8Mud and order up some Amaurer knobs or some really retro stuff from either mmw68 or cruisercrap.com.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3656434110_5e49d4d48e.jpg
http://forum.ih8mud.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=300374&stc=1&d=1235183631
http://cruisercrap.com/shifter/twoballs_v2.jpg

[Casey Likes Metal]

I did this a few years back. Here's a write-up of sorts with a lot of photos. Good luck!

http://www.sonoransteel.com/2WDto4WD_Conversion/index.htm

[Scuba]

Thanks Casey, Thats awesome !!