May buy a wrecked 3G, tranny question

[thegipper]

So some of you know I'm having issues with my tranny and I'm looking for a replacement. A fellow member on here unfortunately was rear ended and his 3G is wrecked. It's a 99 SR5 with 207k miles on it. He lives like 20 minutes from me. It does start/run but is not road worthy, I would have to tow it.

Tranny is supposedly in good shape with frequent fluid changes etc. The only thing is it did have a cooler failure back in 2010 and about 100k miles ago. He had it flushed at the dealership and changed the fluid a bunch after the failure, he has not had any issues with it. It's probably fine given the extensive time/miles post cooler failure.

My biggest question is the compatibility. I know the valve body is different on a 99 vs a 97 but it still uses a kick down cable. Does anyone know for sure that a 99 will work in a 97 and if so, what is needed to make it work? This would also be more work since I would have to pull this tranny instead of just buying one from a yard.

It looks like it was very well taken care of. It also has a few other parts I might swap like a Detroit/Eaton LS diff (4.10 gears) and a TRD stainless exhaust. I would also have a bunch of other random stuff should I ever need it.

Also, assuming the gear ratio is the same, can I swap the entire rear axle from mine with the donor vehicle? Is it a direct fit?

If the price is right, think I should snag it up?

 

[thegipper]

Ok I did some more searching and I've found numerous people swapping 96-98 tranny's into 99-00 and vice versa. The internals are a little different (valve body) but everything is plug and play.

I also checked my gear ratio and its a 4.10 which is what is in the donor vehicle. It has some after market goodies (eaton LS diff), TRD exhaust, newish Toyota rebuilt rack and more.

For the price, I think it's a deal since I Need a tranny anyways.

Talked with the owner and he was very friendly and had lots of information on it. Looks like it was very well taken care of. I'll be able to keep it at my work indefinitely so I should have a nice parts vehicle to snag stuff off of as needed.

I'm hoping to pick it up tomorrow once I look it over and everything checks out.

I'll post pictures if it all goes through.

 

[gamefreakgc]

With a 99 you can also swap out the center console to have cup holders, and other nice addons.

 

[thegipper]

Well, last night I went and picked her up. I got it from a fellow WI member on here who was a very nice guy. I got a very good deal on this 3G given the parts that can be saved. I looked it over good and he gave me an entire folder of paperwork verifying everything he has done to it. This truck was very well maintained, damn shame it got totaled. It's a 99 auto SR5 4Wd with 208k miles.

here is what I'll be taking and swapping with mine.

99 front Tall springs/struts
Entire rear axle (same 4.10 gears) with Eaton LSD
Tranny
Front seats
Center console with cup holders
Tires/wheels (my rims look like trash), Tires are BF KO's 265/70/16, one size smaller than mine 265/75 but it keeps me from having to buy a new set of tires this winter
Some odds and ends

Other good parts worth saving:

The engine
OEM reman rack only a couple years old
TRD stainless steel exhaust (cat back)
Other odds and ends

I drove it around his block to make sure it ran good and shifted good, it ran like a dream.

Looks like I'll be pulling two trannies and installing one in the near future. Plus other work, my wife is going to be thrilled!

https://goo.gl/photos/HdP18ZhcgXTcrTKd6

 

[19963.4lsr5]

If the newer trans isn't plug and play please document the difference. I.E. Had to swap sensors etc......


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thegipper]

If the newer trans isn't plug and play please document the difference. I.E. Had to swap sensors etc......


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

From all the information I've read, it will be a direct swap and no modifications needed. I found at least 3 people who swapped years similar to mine (or vice versa) and they all said everything hooked up fine.

The valve bodies on the 96-98 are a little different than the valve bodies on the 99-00 but everything still connects/bolts up the same. It's only the 01/02 that don't have a kick down cable and a fourth solenoid that makes them not work with the earlier tranny's.

I've watched Tim's video for tranny removal/install, that should help. A friend of mine has also pulled several tranny's from similar year Taco's so his experience should help.

 

[LittleCaesar]

What a nice find. It does look like it was well cared for. Was someone texting behind him and didn't look up in time?

Keep us posted.

 

[thegipper]

The old owner didn't say in much detailed how it happened other than he was rear ended by some douche with no drivers license, no insurance and he drove away! Thankfully the police found him, drunk, and arrested him for OWI hit and run.

The owner dropped his full coverage about a year ago so it was a total loss to him minus the money I paid for it.

If it happened to me, there would be two people in jail after I found the guy....

It is a travesty it happened because this thing is SUPER clean. The frame is damn near spotless, he fluid filmed it several times a year since he bought it back in 07.

 

[phattyduck]

I'm one of those guys that swapped transmissions... I did the opposite - a '97 trans into my '99 truck. No problems and it works great.

And if you decide to no use that TrueTrac... let me know! :becky:

-Charlie

 

[badattitude]

It was nice meet you Mike. I'm so glad my old 4runner will get some additional usage through another forum member. I'll add anything I can and will be watching the updates.

I already have a coat of Fluid Film on my new 4th gen.

 

[thegipper]

I will certainly be using everything I can! Thanks again badattitude (Rob)!

P.S. I'll post all of the work and things I'm doing with this truck on here. I think I'll swap the Truetrac in this weekend, sorry phattyduck =(