Which manual transmission do the 3rd gens have?

[yotatake2]

Hey guys,

I have a 99 4runner with a 3.4 and auto trans. The trans is probably on it's last leg, so I'm starting to look into options for the future. I want to do a 5 speed swap. I think the 3rd gens have the W59, but I'm not totally sure. I also noticed there's either an A or a B after W59. I'm wondering if it either designates the engine it's mated to or if it's used for 2 or 4 wheel drive trucks. My truck is 4 wheel drive. Would I need the W59A or W59B, or am i totally wrong and need a different transmission? haha. Also, if I put the 5 speed in, will my transfer case be in the same spot or will i need different length driveshafts?
Thanks!

 

[St Runner]

W59 is for the 2.7 four cyll. You have the 3.4 so you need the R150. Do your research, there are few write-ups for the 5 speed swap. It is not that difficult but it is a lot easier with a same year donor vehicle.

 

[yotatake2]

Did some research and confirmed i need a R150F. Does anyone know if i would need to change out either of the driveshafts? And how hard would it be to swap out the ecu for a manual one? I saw Jon's writeup and i'm not half as comfortable with wiring as he is so i'd like to avoid as many bypasses as possible.

I also read somewhere that the cranks on the 3.4's are different between manuals and autos. Is this true?

 

[kolelt]

I did a 5 speed swap.

You will need both drive shafts. They are different lenghts between auto and manual. The swap is pretty straight forward. You'll need to cut out more of the metal where the shifter will go through. You'll need to make new holes for the shifter seal boot to sit nicley. You basically need all trim accessories, both drive shafts, clutch cancel start button, flywheel with the flywheel bolts, clutch pedal with all the bolts and accessories , you'll need brake pedal also. You will need to install the clutch pedal.

As far as swapping the ECU. Well, its easy. But here's the thing, anything from 96-99 the manual ecu and the auto ecu are completely different. Meaning the plugs/pins are different location and different on shape. So you won't be able to just swap a ecu. You will either need to repin your auto harness to the manual ecu or swap the ENGINE harness and the ECU. You will need to wire in clutch cancel start switch and the clutch pedal switch if you repin your harness or swap the harness. Otherwise you will need to trick your auto ecu to thinking its in neutral but you will have a check engine light. Currently I have my auto ecu tricked, so I could drive my truck. Soon I'll install my clutch switch and clutch pedal switch and will repin my auto harness so it can accept the manual ecu. I have a 97.

The cranks should be the same. The auto will accept the throwout bearing. There are cars that do have different cranks. But our 4runner, I have never heard it. So I'm 100% you don't have to worry about that.

 

[kolelt]

And it should be the r150f , assuming you got the 3.4L, also down the road, you'll want to wire your reverse lights. Another hassle, but it can be done. And you will want th e same type of transfer case that you currently have.

Your transfer case shifter will be in different location.

 

[St Runner]

As kolelt said the easiest way to do minimal wiring is to replace the engine wiring harness too. This is how I did mine. It takes about three hours and you should replace your intake manifold gasket when you do it(needs to be removed to get the wiring harness off) Now everything on the transmission plugs in including reverse lights and three of the four plugs on the ecu plug right in (on a 97, a 99 might be slightly different). The only rewiring will the dash harness to ecu. Once again I will remind you that you will need a same year donor and it is better if you get the whole vehicle so you can have all the parts you need. There is a writeup on TTORA of some one who did it by buying all the parts piecemeal and it was more work than the swap!

 

[kolelt]

As kolelt said the easiest way to do minimal wiring is to replace the engine wiring harness too. This is how I did mine. It takes about three hours and you should replace your intake manifold gasket when you do it(needs to be removed to get the wiring harness off) Now everything on the transmission plugs in including reverse lights and three of the four plugs on the ecu plug right in (on a 97, a 99 might be slightly different). The only rewiring will the dash harness to ecu. Once again I will remind you that you will need a same year donor and it is better if you get the whole vehicle so you can have all the parts you need. There is a writeup on TTORA of some one who did it by buying all the parts piecemeal and it was more work than the swap!

I'm going with the repin harness route. I already have a repin chart and I have a 97 manual Engine harness to have as a reference then sell it.