Scale of 1 to 5: How difficult is a A/T swap in a 2002

SeaBass8

SeaBass8

New member
Pink milkshake victim here... I know I know... I said to my son we'll need to swap the rad on this because blah, blah, blah... And sure enough before we got to it, it happened.

So my question is on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 easy/ 5 difficult) how hard is it to do an A/T swap in a 2002 4Runner?

In in effort to save on the labor (and actually be worth doing) I'd consider swapping it myself. I've never done a trans swap but I do things like brakes, suspension, exhaust and basic maintenance stuff myself. Also, I am YouTube Certified. This will be in a driveway so no lift but I would borrow a trans jack.

Any other special tools needed or concerns for a trans swap?

If anyone knows of a youtube vid that outlines the steps please share.

Thanks in advance.
 
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It may seem like a 5, because its your first time. But with 2 people and the right tools, it's not that bad. It's a project, so treat it like a project and take your time. I'd say Timmy and Sean's videos are the most thorough online right now. It's a 3 part video. Below is part 1. Good luck!

YouTube
 
Its a lot of work but not technically that difficult, so 3-4 in my opinion. If you have a level hard driveway and a transmission jack thats half the battle. Make sure you have two 12" extensions and a swivel connector for those upper transmission bolts. Also make sure you find a 2001-2002 transmission. The other years are different
 
St Runner said:
Its a lot of work but not technically that difficult, so 3-4 in my opinion. If you have a level hard driveway and a transmission jack thats half the battle. Make sure you have two 12" extensions and a swivel connector for those upper transmission bolts. Also make sure you find a 2001-2002 transmission. The other years are different
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice on the extensions and swivel. I was wondering about compatibility.

I think I would likely just have the existing trans rebuilt by a reputable shop.
 
RotaryDreamz said:
It may seem like a 5, because its your first time. But with 2 people and the right tools, it's not that bad. It's a project, so treat it like a project and take your time. I'd say Timmy and Sean's videos are the most thorough online right now. It's a 3 part video. Below is part 1. Good luck!

YouTube
Click to expand...

Good advice on the project mindset. Thanks for the link.
 
SeaBass8 said:
Thanks for the advice on the extensions and swivel. I was wondering about compatibility.

I think I would likely just have the existing trans rebuilt by a reputable shop.
Click to expand...

Make sure you use a reputable transmission shop. Reman'd units can be less reliable than used units that have never been cracked open. You have access to a trans jack which is good that's not optional it's 100% required. It's possible to bring one down on a floor jack (I've done it) but you can't lift it back up.

Buy a set of swivel joints, universal joints as well as a variety of rachet extension lengths up to 12". They also sell "wobble extensions" that have about 15* of rotation from the extension itself. There's two bolts at the very top of the transmission that are in a very tight spot between the transmission tunnel and the transmission itself so you need to get the exact length and angles. I also recommend a set of needle nose and other pliers to get all the connectors & clips off. If they are covered in grime they can freeze up and be very difficult to remove. Small hands and slim arms are a plus here.

If you have a 2WD 4Runner, you are in luck since there's no transfer case. Makes the job easier since you only have 1 driveshaft and more room, probably a 3 out of 5. With 4WD, it's more difficult and more like a 5 out of 5, meaning a major engine repair. Give it lots of time like others said and don't rush it and you'll be good.
 
I've done it twice and I'd say the job is a solid 4. It's not as much work as swapping engines but it's no walk in the park either.

When you install the new/used/rebuilt tranny, make sure the torque converter is fully seated before cranking down the bell housing bolts. You need to push/rotate the TC to make sure it is seated all the way in. If it isn't, and you try bolting it down, you can break the tranny pump.

You definitely need a tranny jack and helper.

Good luck
 
For reference, this is how we got to the upper bellhousing bolts on my 4Runner when we swapped transmissions:

8479ORrh.jpg


The picture is taken from behind the second crossmember (front of gas tank).

A well experienced friend and I were able to swap transmissions and modify the body for 4WD in a day and a half...

-Charlie
 
Thanks for the reply's!

At this point, being realistic, I'm not going to do it myself. Nor at all. It's a shame because it a decent 4runner but I just don't have the time and space to do it.
 
I know a fella that just exchanged his fluid out of his runner and his runner is still going strong after the milkshake incident. Granted we all know this does damage. I know he still going strong after several thousand miles thus far. I am curious how long it will go berore failure myself.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
 
It's impossible to say. It may last another 20k miles or shit the bed in the next 200.

I got a PMS and that tranny lasted about 14k miles after flushing it with probably 10 gallons of ATF. I'd say a safe bet is 90%+ of tranny's that get a PMS will fail within 10k miles or less, even after flushing.

There are a few cases out there on the web where the tranny has survived long term but it is definitely rare.
 
thegipper said:
It's impossible to say. It may last another 20k miles or shit the bed in the next 200.

I got a PMS and that tranny lasted about 14k miles after flushing it with probably 10 gallons of ATF. I'd say a safe bet is 90%+ of tranny's that get a PMS will fail within 10k miles or less, even after flushing.

There are a few cases out there on the web where the tranny has survived long term but it is definitely rare.
Click to expand...
Right now he is at 2k. Luckily,his son works at large forien auto recycler. So he can get a used on very reasonable. When it decides to implode. :)

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk
 
SeaBass8 said:
Thanks for the reply's!

At this point, being realistic, I'm not going to do it myself. Nor at all. It's a shame because it a decent 4runner but I just don't have the time and space to do it.
Click to expand...
Have you tried flushing it yet? If it didn't get driven too long after the radiator failed and it still moves it will probably be able to be saved at least for a few more miles. My brother is still driving a 99 that we flushed out 2 or 3 years ago. I just picked up an 02 that was taken off the road immediately after the radiator failed, still had forward and reverse and seems to be alright after flushing it. When I pulled the drain plug hardly anything came out. I looped the cooler hoses, poured in a quart of diesel fuel and ran it for about 5 minutes. When I drained it a nice thin pink mixture poured out. I filled with dex III and ran it again then put the output cooler hose into a 5 gal bucket and poured in ATF while running the engine. Filled it again, added a Seafoam trans flush/conditioner and ran it for a while. I then pumped it out again and refilled it with fresh ATF. It is now pretty clean and works perfectly. When I get the timing belt finished and install the new radiator I will dump in another Seafoam, drive it a little then drain and refill it one more time. I will also replace the filter once I have determined that there is no more PMS residue in the tranny. If you have ATF in the engine cooling sytem, drain it, remove the thermostat and flush it with a garden hose. Break the center out of the thermostat and re-install it. Fill the engine with water and Simple Green or Purple Power and run it for a while. Drain it and flush it out with a garden hose. If it seems clean replace the radiator, clean the overflow jug, install a new thermostat and fill it with fresh coolant.
 
4Runner does not move. No forward or reveres.

I wasn't in the car when it happened. My son described it as he felt the trany start to slip and drove a couple of hundred feet to a stop sign then nothing. Radiator overflow threw up all over the engine bay.

Anybody in the Boston area looking for a project or great parts vehicle let me know. Timing belt was done, the vehicle has about 135,000 miles.
 

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Look at timmy’s YouTube channel he swapped sean’s Tranny and did a fairly detailed video

Hmmm crap it’s a 3 part video

YouTube

While your in there check the rear main seal as well hahaha
 
Seabass if I didn't have 5 and you were close I would snag that rig. Hopefully, somebody nearby you will buy it. If I had 6, i think my family would send me for therapy. Lol. I got slightly carried away with these.. Having all the same gen though makes 98% of my parts interchangeable. Thats quite a drive for one. PM me if you can't sell it few months and will chat..:P

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