Tyler James Inc's Ultimate '01 SR5
- Thread starter Tyler James Inc
- Start date
Mauzer
New member
The classic internal struggle, at least your wife is on board! When I start talking about the cost to do EITHER I get "the look" from my totally amazing wife (in case she ever sees this) :rofl:
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Okay guys, I gotta be honest with you- as excited as I am to have done the swap- and have it turn out so well- manual 3.4's are turds without a S/C. [emoji19]
My 2nd gen 4Runner- that I manual swapped, dual cased, and 3.4 swapped- was a complete turd on STOCK size tires. I was really disappointed in how much of a turd it was after I finished the engine swap. When I got the '97, I'm like "hey, this isn't a turd at all!" [emoji1598]Even after I put 315's on it, it got up and moved just fine. Power was definitely satisfactory to me. I put the stock sized tires on the '97 when I was getting it ready to sell- expecting it to be more peppy- and it felt exactly the same as when the 315's were on. Got the '01, and I'm like "dang! This feels like it runs way smoother, and is even more peppy!" Put the 315's on, and it felt exactly the same- really great!
After the 5 speed swap- not so much. Acceleration sucks, doesn't seem to pull any harder past 2k rpm, so no reason to rev it out. Feels exactly like my 3.4 swapped manual 2nd gen. [emoji18] Oh well. I need boost badly.
I know I'm not alone, because the father of the '97 buyer came to look at the rig for his son, as he lives in AK. He was talking about when he was looking for a new pickup, he was looking at 1st gen Tacoma's. He said he felt like the autos had WAY more pep than the manuals he test drove.
Anyway, just wanted to share.
I also removed the stupid clutch spring. No squeak, and the pedal returns fully- as long as the push rod is adjusted properly.
My 2nd gen 4Runner- that I manual swapped, dual cased, and 3.4 swapped- was a complete turd on STOCK size tires. I was really disappointed in how much of a turd it was after I finished the engine swap. When I got the '97, I'm like "hey, this isn't a turd at all!" [emoji1598]Even after I put 315's on it, it got up and moved just fine. Power was definitely satisfactory to me. I put the stock sized tires on the '97 when I was getting it ready to sell- expecting it to be more peppy- and it felt exactly the same as when the 315's were on. Got the '01, and I'm like "dang! This feels like it runs way smoother, and is even more peppy!" Put the 315's on, and it felt exactly the same- really great!
After the 5 speed swap- not so much. Acceleration sucks, doesn't seem to pull any harder past 2k rpm, so no reason to rev it out. Feels exactly like my 3.4 swapped manual 2nd gen. [emoji18] Oh well. I need boost badly.
I know I'm not alone, because the father of the '97 buyer came to look at the rig for his son, as he lives in AK. He was talking about when he was looking for a new pickup, he was looking at 1st gen Tacoma's. He said he felt like the autos had WAY more pep than the manuals he test drove.
Anyway, just wanted to share.
I also removed the stupid clutch spring. No squeak, and the pedal returns fully- as long as the push rod is adjusted properly.
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So does this mean a supercharger in your near future?
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
[MENTION=124101]Chim[/MENTION]
Hahaha gladly! Anything for the good of science [emoji6]
I'm afraid a SC isn't going to be possible in the near future. I'll just have to get used to the turd-ness of it. Despite the less-than-thrilling power- I still really enjoy driving the manual, and I don't regret doing the swap. I haven't cut any wiring, so it could actually be swapped back to an auto pretty easily. That said, I don't see that happening in its future at all.
Finally got it registered! I love the Pacific Wonderland plates so much.
Its not that I don't like the badges, but I can't stand not being able to clean and polish in between all the letters. All the different fonts really bother me too. A little OCD like that. Considering getting an earlier plate bezel that has the 4Runner badge on it. Then it still says 4Runner, but isn't getting in the way of polishing. Also, symmetry [emoji23]
Hahaha gladly! Anything for the good of science [emoji6]
I'm afraid a SC isn't going to be possible in the near future. I'll just have to get used to the turd-ness of it. Despite the less-than-thrilling power- I still really enjoy driving the manual, and I don't regret doing the swap. I haven't cut any wiring, so it could actually be swapped back to an auto pretty easily. That said, I don't see that happening in its future at all.
Finally got it registered! I love the Pacific Wonderland plates so much.
Chim
New member
I really like the PW plates. I bought them cause I think they just look way more classy!
I was going to dip my rear badges but now I am thinking of pulling them off as well.. With mine you cant really see them anyway with the tire carrier. That way I would only have to dip the "limited" on the sides.
Did you just heat them up or use a fishing line? (You going to leave the toyota emblem?)
I was going to dip my rear badges but now I am thinking of pulling them off as well.. With mine you cant really see them anyway with the tire carrier. That way I would only have to dip the "limited" on the sides.
Did you just heat them up or use a fishing line? (You going to leave the toyota emblem?)
Mark_BC
Senior Member
Interesting about the turdness of the manual transmission, I thought it was the opposite, because the auto sucks up power. My other runner is an automatic at my mom's house so I'll do a comparison next time I have the chance. From a science perspective, I don't understand why this would be the case. The manual should have less power loss being a simple gear box right? And when you gun it the automatic doesn't have time to down shift until a little while later. I don't recall my manual being wimpier than the automatic but I didn't really pay much attention to it because I try to drive like a granny most of the time to save gas.
phattyduck
Elite Member
The manual might feel slower, but it is *has* to be faster. Probably because you can feel how the torque drops off a fair amount at higher RPMs where you are more likely to be with the manual. The auto really keeps the RPM's down...
-Charlie
-Charlie
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
[MENTION=124101]Chim[/MENTION] I just used a straight blade screw driver with a rag for leveraging off of- if that makes sense. The adhesive was like concrete, I swear. Once they were off for a few days of rain, it was much easier to scrape it off. I can't find my 3M eraser wheel, otherwise it would have been easy. I like the badges black, so that should look good on yours! I'm keeping the Toyota emblem for sure. It has holes with plastic retainers in the body, so it's easy to take off and put back on. I never re-applied adhesive to my '97 emblem, and it stayed tight. Makes it easy to take off to polish the paint too.
[MENTION=146628]Mark_BC[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139000]phattyduck[/MENTION] I hear you 100%. I am just basing it off of how I used to be able to pull out onto the highway when an oncoming vehicle was at a certain point, and I've had to adjust the gap quite a bit, because I am not able to get up to speed as fast. I've tried revving it out to 4k+, but I still can't get up to speed as fast as I was able to in the '97.
[MENTION=146628]Mark_BC[/MENTION] and [MENTION=139000]phattyduck[/MENTION] I hear you 100%. I am just basing it off of how I used to be able to pull out onto the highway when an oncoming vehicle was at a certain point, and I've had to adjust the gap quite a bit, because I am not able to get up to speed as fast. I've tried revving it out to 4k+, but I still can't get up to speed as fast as I was able to in the '97.
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
I mean, I never checked, but I assumed my '97 had 4.3, and assume this has 4.1. But it's not the gearing; I drove the '01 around with the 315's before I parked it, and it was awesome how peppy it was.
I think it's the witchcraft in the torque converter that makes it work so well.
I do need to do plugs still, as well as clean the TB, MAF, new air filter, etc. I know that can have an impact, but like I said- I'm comparing it to driving the same rig on the same tires with the same gears with an auto.
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Started polishing the paint out, just because I couldn't wait. Started with working on getting the "4Runner" adhesive(aka concrete) off. Still not all gone, but not too noticeable-
Polished and waxed the driver rear quarter and door-
The 315's get shoved into the stock mud flap/flare and bumper when they start gettin jiggy with their bad selves. I think it looks trash when guys just remove the flare flaps, so I came up with a solution. After trimming the inside of the flap and bumper, it reLly looked like crap-
The flap is just kinda dangling down there, and it's pretty obvious some things(fender liner) are missing. Well duh, my big ole tires hit them.
Here's what I came up with-
Little tin snip action, followed by some sanding of the edges.
Much better! [emoji1360] I may trim some more, and DO need to trim some more of the bumper and brackets, but I'm stoked to not lose my flare, but also not rub. Side shot looks good-
Rear is kinda funny, but I don't hate it one bit-
Im actually pretty proud of this chop. I think it could be pretty popular. You saw it here first, guys. I better trademark it right now- I did the Tyler Chop on my rear bumper flares [emoji23][emoji1598]
Here's what I came up with-
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4Reak Show
New member
Mines a 3.4 and manual swapped 2nd gen. I'd totally agree the overall power difference wasn't spectacular... Now she's SC'd AND 7th tuned pretty well and those higher RPMs start screaming! It was a bummer initially tho when it just seemed like the power fell off after 2-2500 RPMs. The SC really wakes up a manual, especially in the 3-4K rpm range.
Maybe a short throw shifter would help a little? I don't have one but its something I've considered. $300 and easy install.
https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Went to see the homie [MENTION=124101]Chim[/MENTION], and exchange a 22oz for the head unit from his '02. Of course, I couldn't leave without his generous self offering some parts from his '99 as well. 
He also made me feel much better about the power/drivability of my rig with the manual, and made me realize I was just goin too granny on it- gotta stretch her legs a little!
Anyway, SUPER stoked to have a nice replacement head unit, new hump carpets, and a replacement antenna!
My hump carpets are matted down and TRASHED, and his are in excellent shape! Besides the actual mast missing, the trim around the power antenna was missing, so it was just rattling in the fender hole. Not anymore [emoji5]My stock head unit had almost all of the finish worn off the buttons-
And his was in excellent shape!
Im not sure if it's a Limited vs SR5 thing, or '02 vs '01, but his is a 6 disc changer, while mine was a single disc. Not like I'll actually use either, but it was just something I wasn't aware of before.
Kinda mad I missed the 222,222 picture yesterday morning, but I got the next best shot today-
He also made me feel much better about the power/drivability of my rig with the manual, and made me realize I was just goin too granny on it- gotta stretch her legs a little!Anyway, SUPER stoked to have a nice replacement head unit, new hump carpets, and a replacement antenna!
Kinda mad I missed the 222,222 picture yesterday morning, but I got the next best shot today-
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
Kinda surprised my fuel mileage isn't any better than it was in the auto, but maybe new plugs, and clean MAF and TB will help that slightly. I got 15.8mpg on the first tank after the swap. I guess slightly better, since the speedo/ODO is off.
fourfive
Senior Member
Interesting observation and glad you mentioned it. I've tried hooking up several different aux input adapters in the external disc changer port on the back of my single disc factory radio but none of them worked. Now I'm thinking it my work on the 6 disc changer you have.
fourfive
Senior Member
Are your fog lights Toyota or aftermarket? Been looking to get some oem fog lights but the new ones are $450 a piece & the used ones I've come across were in rough shape. Saw some aftermarket fog lights on amazon that state they are direct factory replacements that run about $80 a piece but I'm skeptical since my experience with many aftermarket parts, especially lighting stuff, has generally been not all that great.
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