Transmission-to-transfer case options

[BucketLab]

Hey everyone!

A few years ago I started a T100 SAS project. And sadly, it was never completed. I recently acquired a '02 Tacoma PreRunner. Unlike my T100, it's in great shape so I'm going to part out the T100. The PreRunner has the benefit of having the 3.4l 5VZ-FE engine, locking rear diff, and is built on the 4wd chassis. But it only came equipped with the automatic transmission, which is not feeling good right now; I suspect it'll fail on me in the not-too-distant future.

My hope was that I could use the T100's engine and manual transmission, but swap out the passanger-side-drop transfer case for a driver-side-drop t-case. If I'm correct, both the '98 T100 and the '02 4WD Tacoma came with the R150 transmission. But the Tacoma has a driver-side t-case and the T100 has a pass-side t-case.

My remaining, unanswered question is: Can I swap out the T100 t-case for a Tacoma t-case? Do they have the same bolt pattern?

The drivetrain on my T100 is pretty much completely rebuilt from front to back, from the engine (under 10k miles), clutch (20k miles) to the transfer case (almost no mileage). All of the clutch components, even the clutch pedal assembly are new within a few thousand miles, so I'm trying to reuse as much as I can. If I can't cleanly swap the t-case, I'll need to sell the drivetrain, and a completely rebuilt FJ80 front axle (with new high steer knuckles wrapping the birfields, and a new torsen differential), and a spare T100 rear axle. Or I'd be willing to trade it out. I have nearly everything necessary for a complete solid axle swap.

What I need most, is my Tacoma on the road with a non-failing transmission. I would love to have a manual transmission in the Tacoma even if I don't fully convert it to a 4wd.

Any input would be appreciated!

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

Are you going to SAS the PreRunner?
Why not use the T100 case in the Tacoma and keep it passenger drop?
Lots of buys have done it.

 

[BucketLab]

I'm waffling back and forth on SASing the PreRunner. I was hoping that I could throw in the whole T100 drivetrain, leaving the pass-side t-case intact. If I could do that, than the PreRunner would be prepped for the sas down the road. However, that would require me to first re-route the muffler plumbing; as it is now, the cat converter occupies the same space as would the propeller shaft flange.

I wasn't opposed to taking this approach, it sounds good in theory. I like the idea of being set up for a sas in the future. I'm not convinced that it's really what I want to do, though.

I like the idea of converting the PreRunner to 4wd via the stock route, and possibly upgrading to a long travel IFS in the future; there's less custom fabrication to work through in that scenario. And I'm not building a crawler. I just want a solid, reliable truck that will get my raft to the boat launch, and my mountain and dirt bikes to the trailhead. I want to be able to play in the dirt with my truck, too, but I'm not gunning for King of the Hill!