2001 manual transmission swap questions

[Project_toothless]

Hey guys! So here's the deal, I found a wrecked 1998 sr5 3.4l v6 manual transmission for $800. I want to put in my 2001 limited 3.4l v6 automatic. I've found a couple treads but none for my year. If anyone could give me any advice, or links to helpful treads I would really appreciate it. I am not a mechanic, and Don't know a whole lot. The guys who is helping me with the install is and has done swaps before. Thanks in advance, I really appropriate all the help you guys give.

 

[Supermoney]

I am going to guess that swapping into a 01-02 will be more difficult due to many electrical changes that took place.

 

[FeralCat]

Hey guys! So here's the deal, I found a wrecked 1998 sr5 3.4l v6 manual transmission for $800. I want to put in my 2001 limited 3.4l v6 automatic. I've found a couple treads but none for my year. If anyone could give me any advice, or links to helpful treads I would really appreciate it. I am not a mechanic, and Don't know a whole lot. The guys who is helping me with the install is and has done swaps before. Thanks in advance, I really appropriate all the help you guys give.

I did a similar swap on my 1997 4runner. I went from a 2.7L RWD auto to a 5spd 4x4. What I know for 90% certain:

The 5spd and auto trans will swap out with no problem as long as its from the same engine.

You will need the 5spd ECU since your original auto trans ECU will keep throwing a code for the missing auto trans inputs & outputs.

Adding a clutch pedal is easy as long as you make a cut out paper pattern off the wrecked 4runner to show where the clutch master holes are. Then you have to drill out the two spot welds that hold in the clutch master reinforcement plate on the inside of the fire wall. You can then use the paper pattern to mark the approximate location of the holes. Then use the reinforcement plate to mark the exact hole locations.

You will need the 98's drive shafts since the auto trans is a different length then the 5spd.

It the 98's transfer case is different then your 01 you should try to swap them.

Kris

 

[FeralCat]

I am going to guess that swapping into a 01-02 will be more difficult due to many electrical changes that took place.

I used 2002 parts on my 1997 4x4 conversion. The mechanical parts are the same except that the ADD uses a electronic actuator instead of the vacuum unit. The transfer case should be the same except the 01 may have a electronic actuator. The transmissions are unchanged so swapping a transfer case is the same.

 

[Project_toothless]

I did a similar swap on my 1997 4runner. I went from a 2.7L RWD auto to a 5spd 4x4. What I know for 90% certain:

The 5spd and auto trans will swap out with no problem as long as its from the same engine.

You will need the 5spd ECU since your original auto trans ECU will keep throwing a code for the missing auto trans inputs & outputs.

Adding a clutch pedal is easy as long as you make a cut out paper pattern off the wrecked 4runner to show where the clutch master holes are. Then you have to drill out the two spot welds that hold in the clutch master reinforcement plate on the inside of the fire wall. You can then use the paper pattern to mark the approximate location of the holes. Then use the reinforcement plate to mark the exact hole locations.

You will need the 98's drive shafts since the auto trans is a different length then the 5spd.

It the 98's transfer case is different then your 01 you should try to swap them.

Kris

So if I change the transfer case, will I lose my 4WD multimode?

 

[4Running Daily]

So if I change the transfer case, will I lose my 4WD multimode?

Yes, you will have a J-shifter instead

 

[FeralCat]

Yes, you will have a J-shifter instead

Agreed. You will have to change between 2x4 and 4x4 manually.

Or you can try to swap the transfer cases. Take your 01 transfer case and bolt it to the 98 5spd.

 

[St Runner]

Yes, the easiest way to do it is to lose the multimode. You have a 2001 which I don't think ever came with a manual trans so you are not going to be able to replace the ecu. The easiest way is to swap the trans,transfer case, engine harness and ecu. and then you are going to have to figure out how to make it work with your diff setup Otherwise you are going to have to do a lot of wiring and will probably always have a cell

 

[Project_toothless]

Yes, the easiest way to do it is to lose the multimode. You have a 2001 which I don't think ever came with a manual trans so you are not going to be able to replace the ecu. The easiest way is to swap the trans,transfer case, engine harness and ecu. and then you are going to have to figure out how to make it work with your diff setup Otherwise you are going to have to do a lot of wiring and will probably always have a cell

Okay so I'll change the transmission, transfer case, wiring harness, and ecu. What do you mean make it work with the diff?

So if I change the transfer case, will it work with my center locker? Because my 4WD system is different then this one

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Okay so I'll change the transmission, transfer case, wiring harness, and ecu. What do you mean make it work with the diff?

So if I change the transfer case, will it work with my center locker? Because my 4WD system is different then this one

If you use a '98 transfer case, you will lose multi-mode. That came in 1999 on the Limiteds. You will have a fully-locked center diff.

 

[Project_toothless]

Okay, so my last question is this. The 2001 transfer case will not work with the manual transmission? If so this is the route I will go in order not to lose multimode but if I have to change the transfer case, will it install correctly from a 98 to 01?

 

[St Runner]

The j-shift on my 97 and the 98 you have is a simple locking transfer case it is either on or off Your transfer case with the multi mode is more complicated both wiring and mechanically . Also your front diff is more complicated in how it activates. None of the wiring for a 98 is set up to run multimode and there is no ecu that is going to run your 2001 as a manual. You are going to have to decide whether to run it as the simple earlier version of the 98 or try to figure out how to run the manual transmission with the ecu that you have now and keep your multimode. I would recommend swapping the same year which i did on my 97 but there is no same year for you so it will not be that easy

 

[ShooterMcGavin]

Okay, so my last question is this. The 2001 transfer case will not work with the manual transmission? If so this is the route I will go in order not to lose multimode but if I have to change the transfer case, will it install correctly from a 98 to 01?

You are asking good questions, but I think you are in mostly untested territory. The 5-speed was never meant to bolt up to the multi-mode transfer case. Also, the '01/'02 ECU was never meant to work with a 5-speed. I don't know, but I suspect that you will need to undertake a lot of custom work, both mechanically and electronically, to get this to work.

 

[Project_toothless]

Okay so from what I understand the ecu and transfer case will not work from and the 2001 so if I pull my transfer case and my ECu and install the 98 transfer case and Ecu will the transfer case still connect to my car because my four-wheel-drive is electronically engaged and the transfer case from the 98 is mechanically engaged 4wd

 

[absalom]

From what I've found so far, you just need to provide speed and RPM inputs to the VSC controller and x-fer case plug. This will make a lot more sense to you if you grab an 01-02 FSM.

Also, $800 for just a trans is way too much money. I've found cherry trans/x-fer cases for ~$300. Don't forget you also need clutch, master/slave cylinder, clutch lines, pedals, etc.

On my swap, I'm trying my absolute hardest to retain AWD/multimode. The only issue I can foresee so far, is getting the TDI to "talk" to the VSC ECU. There's 4 wires used to interface the two, and I can't decide how I'm going to mimic this communication. I'm actually not even 100% on their functionality, but I'm guessing they provide RPM's and fuel cut signals in the event of a slide.

 

[Project_toothless]

From what I've found so far, you just need to provide speed and RPM inputs to the VSC controller and x-fer case plug. This will make a lot more sense to you if you grab an 01-02 FSM.

Also, $800 for just a trans is way too much money. I've found cherry trans/x-fer cases for ~$300. Don't forget you also need clutch, master/slave cylinder, clutch lines, pedals, etc.

On my swap, I'm trying my absolute hardest to retain AWD/multimode. The only issue I can foresee so far, is getting the TDI to "talk" to the VSC ECU. There's 4 wires used to interface the two, and I can't decide how I'm going to mimic this communication. I'm actually not even 100% on their functionality, but I'm guessing they provide RPM's and fuel cut signals in the event of a slide.

I misrepresented the price, $800 includes everything for the swap from a wrecked 1998, what is an 01-02 FSM?

 

[absalom]

Factory Service Manual. In that case, $800 is a fair price. Mind as well do an engine swap while you're going to all this trouble. 1JZ's can be had for a decent price and have been swapped before.

 

[kolelt]

96-00 5speed manual 4runners all have different ecu and plugs between auto. This mean that a 96 manual has a different ecu and different engine harness plugs. Only correct repin of engine harness will make the ENGINE CODE go away when the manual swap is done.

Anything above that is simply plug and play. Meaning only need to swap the ecu.

 

[St Runner]

I am pretty sure the 98 trans will bolt right in to your existing transfer case and engine. if you leave all the wiring intact you can probably get everything to work. The problem is the ecu will always be looking for the missing auto trans functions which no longer exist. If you live in a state that doesn't check the cel to register/inspect it and you can live with driving around with your cel light always on it is probably the easier way. If you use everything from the 98 it will function just like a factory manual but you will not have your multimode. The first case will be the first I have read about. Changing it to a 98 is pretty well documented

 

[willhaman21]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe there is a way to 'trick' the 2001 ECU into thinking the trans is in neutral all the time, which should eliminate the Check Engine Light. I read it in a swap thread somewhere on this site, and I feel like the solution was fairly simple. A little searching and you should be able to find it.

If I were you, I would try to reuse your current ECU, because as others have said, the 98 ECU will not work for your engine (drive by wire), and trick it into thinking the auto trans is in neutral. Then reuse the transfer case from your 01. You will need to extend the linkage for the shifter as the manual trans is longer and will thus move the transfer case shifter farther back, requiring an extension towards the front of the vehicle. I am not very knowledgeable with this subject, so this is just my $.02. Good luck with your swap.