Elocker retrofit and regearing

[tS_kStin]

The ONLY difference in a open V6 3rd and a elocker 3rd (aside from the obvious diff and housing shape) is that the carrier bearing on the driver side is larger to accommodation the shift mechanism. Everything else is the same.

So yes, you could put 4.10's in a elocker housing. I don't see why you would want to though. The cost of gears, install kit, and labor to do so would be more expensive then just getting a matching front diff with 4.30's in it. Swapping 4.10's in would be easier, I suppose, as the front diff swap can be a tedious job. If you're willing to put in the work though, you'd be better off and save money swapping out front diffs. 4.30 fronts are cheap. There's nothing special about them other than the fact that people need them to match rear swaps.

Thanks, I am leaning towards just getting the matching front diff but was still curious if I could just take the gears out of my open and put them in the locker. But that seems to be a less than ideal thing to do.

 

[runnyrunnerton]

Pretty sure when you yank a gear set out of a rear you have to reset the backlash and install a new crush sleeve as all housings are not exactly (think thousandths of an inch) the same, front chunk should be plug and play. I bought a e-locker 4.30 and planned to do the same thing you are doing, but the ring gear in the e-locker was chipped (Open whatever you buy before presenting payment, fyi) Thus, I pulled the third member and front chunk and sent them to ECGS. They do hundreds of these a year. 3 weeks later, brand new arb equipped front chunk, rear .488's all installed with paint on the teeth verifying the backlash was perfect and ready to break in. It was a blessing I had to stop and save money for my swap. 3.73 to 4.88's was worth the wait. 4.10 to 4.30, I would only fool with it if I had a donor truck with matching front and rear, and I knew they were in great shape, otherwise save your money and get new gears in the housing you want. While your at it, I read an article in 4wheeler, where a 3rd gen swapped in a front Chunk from a tacoma that was .5 "'s larger than our stock one. Id look into that, wish I had.

As far as wiring, search my posts, I wired up mine independently as i wanted to lock in 2wd. I posted a wiring diagram I understood. I used HD trailer wire bundled up and haven't had it fail yet, and it was way simpler for me to wire it new and independent of the stock system.

 

[JWaldz]

I read an article in 4wheeler, where a 3rd gen swapped in a front Chunk from a tacoma that was .5 "'s larger than our stock one. Id look into that, wish I had.

Sounds like that was Brian's 4Runner, owner of Diamond Axle and Front Range Off-Road. He swapped in an 8" and made a custom long travel. All the information, parts, and long travel stuff should be released in a couple months. They're still fine tuning everything. If I don't SAS this will be the route I go. Unfortunately, I'm in the same shoes as you as I already have a front 7.5" with an ARB and 4.88's. It would fetch good money but I'd still be short $500+ for a new 8" with 4.88s and ARB by ECGS.

 

[tS_kStin]

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Alright I just bought a 4:10 Tacoma 3rd member elocker with harness that plugs into the locker. It will get here Friday. I have been looking through low range off-road for the extra stuff I will need. So far I have the stud kit for the longer studs, might get the drill and tap kit, the gasket as a template and a locker switch. I will be custom wiring it because I do not have a locker harness in my cab. Aside from the wires, I will get those local here along with loom. Is there anything I might need for the swap of the 3rd member into my housing? I have grinders and a welder and all the tools I'm pretty sure.

 

[JWaldz]

Alright I just bought a 4:10 Tacoma 3rd member elocker with harness that plugs into the locker. It will get here Friday. I have been looking through low range off-road for the extra stuff I will need. So far I have the stud kit for the longer studs, might get the drill and tap kit, the gasket as a template and a locker switch. I will be custom wiring it because I do not have a locker harness in my cab. Aside from the wires, I will get those local here along with loom. Is there anything I might need for the swap of the 3rd member into my housing? I have grinders and a welder and all the tools I'm pretty sure.

Sounds like you got everything planned out well.

 

[tS_kStin]

Sounds like you got everything planned out well.

Awesome, now to see how well I can actually do the install and wiring in the next week or two.

 

[JWaldz]

Awesome, now to see how well I can actually do the install and wiring in the next week or two.

Good luck!! I thought about doing the retrofit for the diff but then my buddy sold me a whole elocker housing with diff, end to end, for a price I couldn't turn down. So just swapped the whole axle in and retrofitted the wiring. So much easier lol.

 

[tS_kStin]

Good luck!! I thought about doing the retrofit for the diff but then my buddy sold me a whole elocker housing with diff, end to end, for a price I couldn't turn down. So just swapped the whole axle in and retrofitted the wiring. So much easier lol.

Yeah that was the way I would have preferred but my dad and I are pretty handy when it comes to metal work so it shouldn't be bad at all. Unfortunately for I am the guy that my friends here get ideas and stuff from. They picked up their 4runners because of mine so I am the guinea pig haha!