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!

 

[what now I broke it]

Have you checked Advanced Adapter's to see if they have something that will work?

 

[BucketLab]

Have you checked Advanced Adapter's to see if they have something that will work?

I just did. That's a great resource, if you have the patience to sift through it all; they dont have very good search options.
I spent 20 minutes sifting through it all, but I didn't see what I was looking for.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll probably find this site helpful down the road

 

[what now I broke it]

I should have mentioned that you might try emailing them with what you're trying to do. Their website is a little overwhelming.

 

[Corbet]

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!

Seems like a lot of work to convert the pre runner to IFS verse just selling what you have and buying a 4WD. If going SA then I get it.

Swapping in the T-100 drivetrain is certainly possible but again a ton of work, present lots of unforeseen issues that nickel and dime you in the process.

 

[what now I broke it]

I reread your post and I see what you're trying to do a bit better now. The manual swap is reasonably common on the 1st gen Taco's.
The R150F will mate up to the 3.4v6 but will need the correct bell housing which you might have on the T100 (does the T100 have a 3.0 or 3.4 v6?). You can get the correct bell housing from a junkyard or from advanced adapter. For the transfer I would just get one used along with a Taco front differential from a junkyard and use the T100 case to make a doubler or sell it to someone looking to make a doubler. That's a lot of work, cash and a bunch of places to introduce gremlins to your drive train.

In my opinion it's a lot of work and money to change what is a unicorn of the first generation Tacoma. Lot's of people are looking for a prerunner with the locker. Not many have it. If i was dead set on 4x4 and a manual, I'd just sell the prerunner and buy the one I really want. My 2 cents, take it or leave it. If you decide to build it, take pictures. I'd like to see it.

As far a SAS why didn't you finish it on the T100? Could that happen again to what is a rare Tacoma???

Edit, that 2x with the locker will go on probably 75% of the trails around here. What I'd do is get a 4x4 Tacoma driveshaft and throw the transfer case on there and have 2xLow for it. You'd be able to do Kingston peak and Mammoth or bill moore lake and trails like that no problem and maintain decent gas mileage of a 2x vs autohub 4x4.

 

[BucketLab]

I reread your post and I see what you're trying to do a bit better now. The manual swap is reasonably common on the 1st gen Taco's.
The R150F will mate up to the 3.4v6 but will need the correct bell housing which you might have on the T100 (does the T100 have a 3.0 or 3.4 v6?). You can get the correct bell housing from a junkyard or from advanced adapter. For the transfer I would just get one used along with a Taco front differential from a junkyard and use the T100 case to make a doubler or sell it to someone looking to make a doubler. That's a lot of work, cash and a bunch of places to introduce gremlins to your drive train.

In my opinion it's a lot of work and money to change what is a unicorn of the first generation Tacoma. Lot's of people are looking for a prerunner with the locker. Not many have it. If i was dead set on 4x4 and a manual, I'd just sell the prerunner and buy the one I really want. My 2 cents, take it or leave it. If you decide to build it, take pictures. I'd like to see it.

Thanks for your input. The T100 is the 3.4, so the bellhousing will bolt on directly. I tend to agree with you about the complexity and the gremlins. That's all more than I want anyway.

I think I'd prefer to keep the truck in it's stock condition. Still, the current AT is starting to fail so I need to address it regardless. I would love to have a MT.
It's a shame because the drivetrain on the T100 has very low mileage.

Money and time are my two biggest limiting factors. If I can sell off the FJ80 axle and and the other misc parts, I'll just rebuild the boring old AT.

But on that note, I might also install the T100 MT/t-case combo (as well as the accompanying clutch pedal assembly and computer) anyway. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the biggest hurdle here would be swapping the crossmember, rerouting the exhaust pipes, and altering some wiring in the harness (something I'm not too clear on yet). This setup leaves the truck primed and ready for a SAS later on. Still a lot of work, but I already have most of what I need.

Sounds reasonable, right?