I just finished the wifeys Mothers day present. A 1995 4Runner 4x4 v6 that I bought for a grand with a shot automatic transmission. I was going to just have the automatic re-built but when I pulled the pan I noted the case of the tranny was cracked almost all the way around. Since this year 4Runner has deplorable gas milage (16 mpg city with the auto) I decided it might be cost efficient to lose the auto and convert to a 5 speed. After many phone calls I finally found a wrecking yard that would sell me the 5 speed, the transfer case, the pedal set, flywheel, etc. basically everything needed to do the conversion for $600.00! The r150f transmission was in great shape and, surprisingly, the clutch was like new. I put a new clutch master and slave on as well as a new hydralic hose and pilot bearing. Re-surfaced the flywheel and pressure plate. I welded the cracking spring arm on the clutch pedal and installed everything. I by-passed the factory wiring to the starter and wired up my own clutch safety switch with a Bosch relay (I will have to hook up the cold start injector to my starter circuit). I also hooked up the 4wd dash light and the reverse lights. The instal came out real nice. I will have to replace the main driveshaft as it is over extended and the front driveshaft because it has a different flange. The total cost will still come in at under 1K USD.
Automatic to 5speed conversion
- Thread starter Retro_Fit
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Kamakura Kid
New member
Good on ya! I was faced with the same situation. My juicebox had a catastrophic failure and I was facing a $6500 repair bill. Since I had originally wanted a manual anyway, I decided to have the manual conversion done. I didn't get anything close to the deal you got on parts, and I paid my favorite shop to do the work, but I still ended up saving over $4000 compared to getting the auto fixed.
And, my truck is like a new truck! Much more power. Goes especially well with the Downey bumpstick I had installed during a timing chain swap a few months previously.Woo Hoo!
And, my truck is like a new truck! Much more power. Goes especially well with the Downey bumpstick I had installed during a timing chain swap a few months previously.Woo Hoo!
4K? Ouch! I did all the labor, and thats where most your 4k went probably. A Downey bumpstick? Is that a competition camshaft? I did a timing belt and water pump change on my 4runner about a week before the tranny change just cause I couldnt get a straight answer from the PO on when and if he had done them. Its a goiod thing though, because the water pump was starting to drizzle. It looked as though the transfer case on the 5 speed had an extra mounting spot that the auto didnt have, so I just did what I did to my old CJ5 and chained down both sides of the tranny....it works.
FISH HUNTER
New member
Hey Retro,
Which junkyard did you use? I want to do the same and I live in LA too. How much do you charge for the same job...LOL
Which junkyard did you use? I want to do the same and I live in LA too. How much do you charge for the same job...LOL
Fish hunter, I used a small wrecker in Sun Valley named Escobar wreckers . They are on Tuxford st. I just went back and bought the drive shaft from the same truck off him. It turns out the drive shaft that was on my truck was about 8" to short and was causing a vibration on the freeway. I would charge about 2k labor for the job. It is a pretty extensive change over.
Kamakura Kid
New member
Retro_Fit said:
Oops, sorry! Lost track of this thread.
Not that much ouch.
4K was what I saved over having the juicebox and xfer case rebuilt. The swap cost me $2500 or so total for a shop to do it. That figure includes the entire drivetrain I bought off a junked 87 manual p/u. The Downey cam I ordered was the street use, wide rpm band one. Despite what all the paperwork says, I might have actually received the high rpm one instead, the cam kicks in at 3000 rpm instead of off idle. But that's OK, now that I have a manual tranny. Downey's screwup might have been a favor in disguise. I really like the power characteristics on the truck in its current configuration.I was thinking about going with some headers, my wrench suggested measuring the backpressure first. So I had him do so, he said the engine was flowing fairly well with just the high flo cat and NWOR catback on it, going to headers would be a miniscule gain at a relatively high cost.
Kamakura Kid
New member
I'm running the KN Cone Filter that replaces the airbox. Someday I'm gonna put a safari snorkel on the truck. That will be cool!
FISH HUNTER
New member
Have you had any smog certification issues since the auto to manual swap? Still thinking about you and doing the job. Not sure where to get all the parts and the cost of the parts.
caydenkidd
New member
Im looking to do the same thing. My tranny is in perfect condition and i live in San Diego. I was wondering if we could work out a deal. Im not going to want my tranny after im done with the conversion so maybe we could work something out. So if anyone is down to help me out let me know. I just kinda need a labor price. I can get all the parts needed. Also could you let me know how much a used auto tranny usually goes for? thanks
4runner_kid
Senior Member
I plan on doing this here pretty soon. But i got all my part's for free. I was given a 92 4Runner that was running on 5. I drove it home and fixed the truck, now parting it out. I'm going to be using the 5 speed ECU however. My question is are the crossmember's different?
