ChildrenOfBodom
Moderator
to start swapping.
I’ve probably spent about 5 hours today researching transmission and 4WD conversions. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve got a few more questions until I’m ready to undergo phase #1, collecting parts.
I have a 1999 2.7 3RZ 2WD 4Runner, automatic. My latest gripe has been my transmission. There’s nothing wrong with it at all, I recently replaced my old transmission with one from a wrecked donor. I’ve got 33” tires, a supercharger, and a heavy foot. My slush box/grandma shifting auto just isn’t cutting it anymore. I need more power to make it to the ground, when I want. A manual swap would be the best solution instead of messing around with upgrading valve bodies.
Thanks to toritochis, who has provided a fantastic write up on a 2WD 3RZ Auto to manual swap, I’m ever more confident in the ability to do it on my own or with friends.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/77065-2000-4runner-4cyl-auto-manual-transmision-swap.html
As you may know, the transmission in his situation is the W59 5-speed manual transmission available in the 1996-2000 2.7 4Runner and 1995.5-2004 2.7 Tacoma. This particular transmission is known to lack strength. With a supercharger that will soon be boosting 8-10PSI, I can’t afford to have a “lesser” transmission.
There are many solutions for swapping transmissions on the 3RZ. Marlin Crawler once made a bell housing specifically to mate the R series transmission (R150/R151 pre 96) that came with spacers to match the longer input shaft of the 96+ R150. My solution has come in the form of a 2006+ Tacoma 2TR 2.7 bell housing, which conveniently bolts to the back of the 3RZ in my truck to allow the installation of an R150 series manual transmission. Much like the Marlin crawler bell, mating the 3RZ to the 1996+ R150 using a 2TR bell does require spacers or input shaft shortening.
In a nutshell, the optimal swap for me will consist of a 2TR bell housing and an R150 manual 5-speed transmission, found in the 1996-2002 3rd gen 4Runner V6. The installation WILL NOT be 100% bolt on. I have checked multiple websites and read multiple conversions using these exact parts and have found that the 1996+ R150 input shaft length is too long for this application. I will then use the rest of the write up that toritochis has written to complete the mechanical portion of the install.
Here’s where I’ve been getting stuck at, the wiring. I have barely any experience with newer manual transmissions. I haven’t been able to find what else is required in the swapping of these transmissions. Each write up I've found completely skips it entirely, which leads me to believe that it should be a direct swap without wires. It makes sense if the manual ECU takes over... the ECT power, PRND2L, and other misc A/T related functions should just go dead, I'd imagine. I’ve also heard that my speedometer and tachometer will stop working. I do not have ABS in my truck from the factory. Without ABS sensors on each wheel, I am unaware as to how the speedometer is receiving signal.
Question:
1) If any 4Runner owners on this board, specifically 1996-2000 owners (1999 SR5 preferred), with 4WD, 5-Speed manual, LEVER operated 4WD, and 5VZ-FE (this narrows it down to specifically R150F owners, JohnsD90, steezemcqueen, Duhockey, etc..) could take a photo of their transmission -or- simply tell me what kind of wires are leading to it. I haven’t found a wiring FSM that was earlier than 2002, and that gets fudged by the fact that all 02 4Runners are Automatic, plus there were features like VSC, TRAC, AWD multimode transfer cases, ADD… etc. Without ABS is a far stretch, but if you don’t have ABS, that would be ideal. My trans has a bunch of wires going to it, but I figure there's potential of them all being automatic related.
2) With the 2TR bell housing, I won't have a problem getting the R150F to work. However, one thing poses an issue: 4WD. I have a 2WD, as mentioned, though I have planned on a 4WD conversion. I don’t want multimode or whatever fancy bull. The R150 3rd gen V6 trans comes in both 2WD (R150) and 4 wheel drive (R150F). My lack of transfer case experience has left me at a cliffhanger here, again. If I were to install an R150F 4WD transmission with transfer case into my truck, given the proper driveshaft length and transmission mount is already accounted for, will this work? I am under the impression so far that, yes, it should work. I should be able to use the transfer case in 4 Low without a front driveshaft, essentially making the truck into 2 Low (allowing the front output shaft or flange, not sure which our trucks have, to spin freely while allowing the rear wheels to spin without a center differential lock). Please correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that the transfer case does not have any wires running to it, that it is purely mechanical and works whether or not the car is running. Are my conclusions correct, or will I have to run in 2Hi until the rest of the components on the 4WD spectrum have been installed? The only other way I can think of is a separate harness that simply has all of the connections ready to go, though I haven't heard of anything like this specifically for this trans yet.
3) I do not have Anti lock brakes. I have read many times on this forum that the ABS speed sensors on each axle provide the speedometer with signal to operate. On a non ABS 4Runner, what provides the speedometer with this signal? I’ve googled and searched, to no avail. I’m hoping that if it is on the transmission, If I change my auto to a manual (especially one of the same vehicle/year), will I be able to literally swap the sensor over or just plug it on in? I would imagine that the V6 trans must have provisions for those who don't have ABS if the sensor is indeed mounted there.
Hopefully, If all of these questions are easily solved, I may be able to skip searching for 2.7 4x4’s and get a V6 4x4 donor for the rest of the swap (Easily a thousand times more abundant, much easier to find them at auction yards). After all, the only steps after the trans/transfer case go in will be finding a front diff/driveshaft, front axles, spindles, and whatever else misc... wiring (I believe my 4Runner is already prewired, as I have the 4WD module already and all of the 4WD-related fuses are hot)
Please tell me of anything else you know that I might encounter on the way so I don’t end up without my truck for a long time, haha.
To those of you who have taken the time to read this and/or reply, thank you.
I’ve probably spent about 5 hours today researching transmission and 4WD conversions. I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve got a few more questions until I’m ready to undergo phase #1, collecting parts.
I have a 1999 2.7 3RZ 2WD 4Runner, automatic. My latest gripe has been my transmission. There’s nothing wrong with it at all, I recently replaced my old transmission with one from a wrecked donor. I’ve got 33” tires, a supercharger, and a heavy foot. My slush box/grandma shifting auto just isn’t cutting it anymore. I need more power to make it to the ground, when I want. A manual swap would be the best solution instead of messing around with upgrading valve bodies.
Thanks to toritochis, who has provided a fantastic write up on a 2WD 3RZ Auto to manual swap, I’m ever more confident in the ability to do it on my own or with friends.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/77065-2000-4runner-4cyl-auto-manual-transmision-swap.html
As you may know, the transmission in his situation is the W59 5-speed manual transmission available in the 1996-2000 2.7 4Runner and 1995.5-2004 2.7 Tacoma. This particular transmission is known to lack strength. With a supercharger that will soon be boosting 8-10PSI, I can’t afford to have a “lesser” transmission.
There are many solutions for swapping transmissions on the 3RZ. Marlin Crawler once made a bell housing specifically to mate the R series transmission (R150/R151 pre 96) that came with spacers to match the longer input shaft of the 96+ R150. My solution has come in the form of a 2006+ Tacoma 2TR 2.7 bell housing, which conveniently bolts to the back of the 3RZ in my truck to allow the installation of an R150 series manual transmission. Much like the Marlin crawler bell, mating the 3RZ to the 1996+ R150 using a 2TR bell does require spacers or input shaft shortening.
In a nutshell, the optimal swap for me will consist of a 2TR bell housing and an R150 manual 5-speed transmission, found in the 1996-2002 3rd gen 4Runner V6. The installation WILL NOT be 100% bolt on. I have checked multiple websites and read multiple conversions using these exact parts and have found that the 1996+ R150 input shaft length is too long for this application. I will then use the rest of the write up that toritochis has written to complete the mechanical portion of the install.
Here’s where I’ve been getting stuck at, the wiring. I have barely any experience with newer manual transmissions. I haven’t been able to find what else is required in the swapping of these transmissions. Each write up I've found completely skips it entirely, which leads me to believe that it should be a direct swap without wires. It makes sense if the manual ECU takes over... the ECT power, PRND2L, and other misc A/T related functions should just go dead, I'd imagine. I’ve also heard that my speedometer and tachometer will stop working. I do not have ABS in my truck from the factory. Without ABS sensors on each wheel, I am unaware as to how the speedometer is receiving signal.
Question:
1) If any 4Runner owners on this board, specifically 1996-2000 owners (1999 SR5 preferred), with 4WD, 5-Speed manual, LEVER operated 4WD, and 5VZ-FE (this narrows it down to specifically R150F owners, JohnsD90, steezemcqueen, Duhockey, etc..) could take a photo of their transmission -or- simply tell me what kind of wires are leading to it. I haven’t found a wiring FSM that was earlier than 2002, and that gets fudged by the fact that all 02 4Runners are Automatic, plus there were features like VSC, TRAC, AWD multimode transfer cases, ADD… etc. Without ABS is a far stretch, but if you don’t have ABS, that would be ideal. My trans has a bunch of wires going to it, but I figure there's potential of them all being automatic related.
2) With the 2TR bell housing, I won't have a problem getting the R150F to work. However, one thing poses an issue: 4WD. I have a 2WD, as mentioned, though I have planned on a 4WD conversion. I don’t want multimode or whatever fancy bull. The R150 3rd gen V6 trans comes in both 2WD (R150) and 4 wheel drive (R150F). My lack of transfer case experience has left me at a cliffhanger here, again. If I were to install an R150F 4WD transmission with transfer case into my truck, given the proper driveshaft length and transmission mount is already accounted for, will this work? I am under the impression so far that, yes, it should work. I should be able to use the transfer case in 4 Low without a front driveshaft, essentially making the truck into 2 Low (allowing the front output shaft or flange, not sure which our trucks have, to spin freely while allowing the rear wheels to spin without a center differential lock). Please correct me if I am wrong, but it appears that the transfer case does not have any wires running to it, that it is purely mechanical and works whether or not the car is running. Are my conclusions correct, or will I have to run in 2Hi until the rest of the components on the 4WD spectrum have been installed? The only other way I can think of is a separate harness that simply has all of the connections ready to go, though I haven't heard of anything like this specifically for this trans yet.
3) I do not have Anti lock brakes. I have read many times on this forum that the ABS speed sensors on each axle provide the speedometer with signal to operate. On a non ABS 4Runner, what provides the speedometer with this signal? I’ve googled and searched, to no avail. I’m hoping that if it is on the transmission, If I change my auto to a manual (especially one of the same vehicle/year), will I be able to literally swap the sensor over or just plug it on in? I would imagine that the V6 trans must have provisions for those who don't have ABS if the sensor is indeed mounted there.
Hopefully, If all of these questions are easily solved, I may be able to skip searching for 2.7 4x4’s and get a V6 4x4 donor for the rest of the swap (Easily a thousand times more abundant, much easier to find them at auction yards). After all, the only steps after the trans/transfer case go in will be finding a front diff/driveshaft, front axles, spindles, and whatever else misc... wiring (I believe my 4Runner is already prewired, as I have the 4WD module already and all of the 4WD-related fuses are hot)
Please tell me of anything else you know that I might encounter on the way so I don’t end up without my truck for a long time, haha.
To those of you who have taken the time to read this and/or reply, thank you.
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