People with manual swaps, auto or manual t4r

kolelt

New member
So yesterday, me and my friend finished putting in a 5 speed in my 97. Originally it was auto, no elocker. I never really paid attention to how the rpms were compared to my speed. Now with the manual tranny in it definitely feels different. I have stock differentials. Dont know the gear ratios. I'm on 285/17/R16. With the manual tranny, I went on the parkway and 70-80 mph 5th gear its around 2900k-3100k rpm. Does that seem normal, safe to cruise at for long road trips ??

At what rpms is it good to shift and drive around town ? Average ....
 
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Hmm, good question, I haven't really noticed what RPM's I'm at when traveling at those speeds. I will soon check it out when on a road trip on Wednesday. However I have noticed that I'm hard pressed to get up beyond 3,500 RPM's.
Which I've always thought to be weird. I can do it, but the motor is just plain screaming at those levels.
 
I have 32's and stock 4.10 gears. I usually shift around 2500 RPM, unless I am racing myself :)

I think my RPMs in 5th gear at 70 MPH is around 2600.
 
That's approximately where I'd be at going that fast, if I can actually get going that fast is a whole different story.

But the serious answer is, yes 3K at 80MPH is within the realm of a normal RPM for that speed in a 5 Speed Toyota of any year, but since most of the 5 speed Toyota trannies use pretty much the same ratios, the RPM is affected more by the final drive ratio (AKA gear ratio in the diff), than the OD ratio in the trans.
 
So its all good ? Idk why it just seemed as if the auto tranny was little quicker and cruised at lower rpms. But maybe it's because I'm new to the 5 speed in my 4runner. I forgot to add its 5vzfe. I'll post more rpms/mph and you guys tell me what you think.
 
So its all good ? Idk why it just seemed as if the auto tranny was little quicker and cruised at lower rpms. But maybe it's because I'm new to the 5 speed in my 4runner. I forgot to add its 5vzfe. I'll post more rpms/mph and you guys tell me what you think.

It's probably all in your head, I'd assume you're paying more attention to RPM with the manual trans than the auto and that's why you notice it now.
 
It's probably all in your head, I'd assume you're paying more attention to RPM with the manual trans than the auto and that's why you notice it now.

Exactly what my friend told me haha. I'll make sure to post pics soon. I only took few pics of the swap. But soon I'll be repining the harness.
 
So went on the highway, and here are my observations. 2200 - 50mph 4th
2600 - 60mph 4th
2600 - 70mph 5th
3000 - 80mph 5th
3400 - 90mph 5th

These are steady throttle.

Also, I've notice a gear oil leak on the tcase. Looks as if its coming from the top. Could it be from the tcase 4wd shifter? I only saw one metal gasket. Between the shifter and the tcase. I hear there are two ?
 
So went on the highway, and here are my observations. 2200 - 50mph 4th
2600 - 60mph 4th
2600 - 70mph 5th
3000 - 80mph 5th
3400 - 90mph 5th

These are steady throttle.

Also, I've notice a gear oil leak on the tcase. Looks as if its coming from the top. Could it be from the tcase 4wd shifter? I only saw one metal gasket. Between the shifter and the tcase. I hear there are two ?

You are brave... There is no way I would drive 90MPH in that pile.
 
Also, I've notice a gear oil leak on the tcase. Looks as if its coming from the top. Could it be from the tcase 4wd shifter? I only saw one metal gasket. Between the shifter and the tcase. I hear there are two ?

My transmission and t-case shifters were leaking when I got my T4R. I replaced both gaskets with new ones from the dealer. No leaks so far!

I also replaced the inner rubber boots and greased the joints. That made shifting a lot smoother.
 
Haha, @90mph it moves. I trust it. So let me ask you all, those rpms/mph seem good/safe rpms to cruise on highway ?

I wonder when I put the manual ecu if the rpms would change in different gears ?

About the gesr oil leaking, can we eliminate where the tcase is put together ? Like there's red rtv around it. ? Where it splits ? I highly doubt it would leak from there unless someone has split it before !

I'm aiming towards the shifter of tcase. However can anyone confirm that there are indeed 2 gaskets, because I only have one thing metal gasket. But a metal gasket on metal don't make any sense.

The gaskets you replaced , were they paper gaskets or?
 
I'm on 285/17/R16. With the manual tranny, I went on the parkway and 70-80 mph 5th gear its around 2900k-3100k rpm. Does that seem normal,

Assuming an R150, 4.30 diffs, and 287/75r16, your RPM at 80mph will be 2957. Here's the calculator, if you wanna play with it.

So its all good ? Idk why it just seemed as if the auto tranny was little quicker and cruised at lower rpms.

It did. With the auto, your RPM at 80mph was 2500. Toyota assumed that people buying the auto trans just wanted good mileage and a quiet ride and that people buying the five speed wanted performance, so the five speed has an overdrive of .85 where the auto has an overdrive of .71, that's a huge difference. If you want lower RPMs at freeway speed, drop your differential gear ratio or get bigger tires. Just be ready for the performance hit.
 
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Haha, @90mph it moves. I trust it. So let me ask you all, those rpms/mph seem good/safe rpms to cruise on highway ?

I wonder when I put the manual ecu if the rpms would change in different gears ?

I would be more worried about stopping than "moving".

The ECU does not contain any magical powers to change gear ratios so you won't see any change in RPMs. Don't worry about them seeming high to you, it's working just like it should.
 
Assuming an R150, 4.30 diffs, and 287/75r16, your RPM at 80mph will be 2957. Here's the calculator, if you wanna play with it.



It did. With the auto, your RPM at 80mph was 2500. Toyota assumed that people buying the auto trans just wanted good mileage and a quiet ride and that people buying the five speed wanted performance, so the five speed has an overdrive of .85 where the auto has an overdrive of .71, that's a huge difference. If you want lower RPMs at freeway speed, drop your differential gear ratio or get bigger tires. Just be ready for the performance hit.

So its safe to cruise at 3000 @80mph for long period?
 
Yeah, I recall 80mph being around 3k rpm. Cruising at 3k RPM will do no harm to the drivetrain. Just keep in mind that fuel consumption will suffer and you'll get a lot more road noise :)
 
Yea I guess. It was auto so I don't know the diff ratio lol.


Can anyone confirm that there should be 2 seals for the 4wd shifter ? Or only 1 metal ?
 

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