Fulltime 4WD modification

C

ChargedinSD

New member
Hello all,

I'm pretty new to this forum, but I've heard awesome things about you all. I have a 2003 Limited 4WD V8 which has the fulltime 4WD drive train. I was wondering if I could swap the front drive shaft and the transfer case from a Sport or SR5 V8 4WD model for my current transfer case and drive shaft. I am hoping I can do this so that I can achieve 2WD/4WD. There may be computer issues, but I'm hoping Toyota's awesome interchangeability will win through. Thanks.
 
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Well not ALL V8s are 4wd.......they made a lot that were Rear Wheel Drive.
There are no V8s with switchable 2 to 4WD that were produced.

Can I ask WHY? The V8s Torsen(edit:) diff is super sweet IMO. Why would you NOT want that?

That's the main reason I am keeping my 4th gen......there is nothing out there better!
 
Last edited:
slyfox75 said:
Well not ALL V8s are 4wd.......they made a lot that were Rear Wheel Drive.
There are no V8s with switchable 2 to 4WD that were produced.

Can I ask WHY? The V8s torsion diff is super sweet IMO. Why would you NOT want that?

That's the main reason I am keeping my 4th gen......there is nothing out there better!
Click to expand...

Torsen** center differential.
 
ChargedinSD said:
Hello all,

I'm pretty new to this forum, but I've heard awesome things about you all. I have a 2003 Limited 4WD V8 which has the fulltime 4WD drive train. I was wondering if I could swap the front drive shaft and the transfer case from a Sport or SR5 V8 4WD model for my current transfer case and drive shaft. I am hoping I can do this so that I can achieve 2WD/4WD. There may be computer issues, but I'm hoping Toyota's awesome interchangeability will win through. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Why?

All it will get you is the ability to drive in 2WD. That's it. It might get you 1/2 mpg. In exchange you will have spent a bunch of time and money. For what?

What is it that you are trying to achieve?
 
Ah yes [MENTION=8828]slyfox75[/MENTION] is correct, you could have a V8 with ONLY 2wd, but you can't have a V8 4x4 with 2wd / 4wd option.
 
slyfox75 said:
Well not ALL V8s are 4wd.......they made a lot that were Rear Wheel Drive.
There are no V8s with switchable 2 to 4WD that were produced.

Can I ask WHY? The V8s torsion diff is super sweet IMO. Why would you NOT want that?

That's the main reason I am keeping my 4th gen......there is nothing out there better!
Click to expand...

All North American 4th Gens with 4WD came with a Torsen T3 Lockable Center Differential in the transfercase. So if you ran a 1GR-FE or 2UZ-FE, if you had 4WD you had the same T3 Torsen Center Differential and for the most part the same transfercase.

This has been discussed a few times in the past, but the only real difference between VF4AM (used for multi-mode 4WD in the V6 units) & VF4BM (used for All-Time 4WD in the V8 units) transfercases is that the VF4BM does not have have a provision to freewheel in 2WD like the VF4AM. Otherwise the cases are almost identical in construction. Not sure why Toyota chose this set-up but they did. So to recap, all VF4xM units equipped on North American (mainly US) model 4th gens have a T3 Torsen Center Differential.

As for trying to retrofit a VF4AM into a V8 4WD vehicle, you'd need the following components:

-VF4AM Transfercase
-Front Axle from a 1GR-FE 4WD 4th gen with ADD actuator
-4WD ECU for a VF4AM transfercase (not entirely sure if it will play well with a V8 ECM, but I don't see why it shouldn't.)
-Proper Wiring from 4WD ECU to Transfercase and front actuator (I don't believe they're pre-wired for both as the differences between V8 & V6 are enough to need different harnesses)

All in all, I don't really see a benefit to 2WD vs. All-Time 4WD. In fact I specifically enjoy the fact that my 4Runner is always in 4WD and I don't have to worry about it, or forget to turn it on and get in a situation where it's too late.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
All in all, I don't really see a benefit to 2WD vs. All-Time 4WD. In fact I specifically enjoy the fact that my 4Runner is always in 4WD and I don't have to worry about it, or forget to turn it on and get in a situation where it's too late.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Changing all those parts would be a huge amount of work, and for what? What's the point?
 
maybe he want to do donuts or have drift suv. If you are looking for that then look for some manual locking hubs if the computer allows it. Actually I've never seen it on IFS
 
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