PreRunner to 4x4 Swap

[alove0750]

I just thought I would make a thread of my play toy. I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner. It has the 3.4 DOHC with 4.10 gears and a factory E-Locker in the rear. I really wanted a 4x4 but I got a great deal on it from a family friend and I couldn't pass it up.

A few months down the road I wanted to give it a mild 3 inch lift just to give it a lil better stance and I threw some wheels on it.

After catching immortal hell from all my buddies about having this nice truck only to have it shot down when people found out it was 2wd I decided to look into a 4x4 conversion. Me and my buddy were able to locate the tranny/transfer case, front drive shaft, front diff in a couple months. In 01 they swapped everything over to automatic hubs so I got the diff out of a 97 Tacoma which had manuals. Josh Abernathy at Universal Automotive did the conversion for me off of my word that it should be completely bolt on.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Wow,cool. Are the frames etc the same? Surely it''s not just that easy ;-)

 

[nckrawler]

fianlly listened to us

 

[alove0750]

Nah, the PreRunners are 4x4 look alike without the front diff. They have the same frame, suspension and everything. It even has all the holes needed to bolt everything on

 

[alove0750]

My next step was to upgrade the tires, so I went with a new set of Goodyear Duratracs 33x12.50r15. This is my DD/play toy and these have done everything that I have thrown at them.

Last fall I had a chance to get a front bumper built by Damien at M.O.B.S. Fab in Concord,NC. I took him a pic of what I wanted and 3-4 days later I was picking it up. I then mounted a Smittybuilt 8,000lbs winch, Hella fog lights and turn signals.

 

[alove0750]

I got a wild hair and decided to tint the tail lights, I think it turned out alright

After noticing a drop in mpg/power I decided re-gear the ole yota. I did 4.56 Yukon with the full bearing kit. Chance at Overdrive Rebuilds hooked me up with the install. I have really enjoyed the gears. It performs like a stock yota, maybe a hair better... Mpg is back up to 17.5-19 around town and I have gotten 22 highway.


I then started getting it ready to play in something a lil tougher than mud. I had M.O.B.S. Fab build me some sliders and a full under-belly skid. I wanted the sliders to be square to match the bumper and also because I haven't seen many around here with square tubing. The under-belly covers everything from the front diff all the way back to the transfer case and cat.

 

[alove0750]

Just thought I would put a update. I am now running some Bilstein/Toytec coilovers in the front and got some Bilstein 5150's for the rear. I was cautious about spending the money, but it now rides like a caddy!

I also had Damien at MOBS Fab in Concord build me a rear bumper and I must say that it came out even better than I had expected. He is a true perfectionist when it comes to this stuff!

 

[cgm147]

dig the bumpers!!!

 

[95yjjeep]

you've got one good lookin' 'yota! if you wana trail rig buy an old 4runner or something. you gota keep this one nice. good work so far!

 

[NCrunner4x4]

Truck looks good. I think I used to see it at the shopping center on Union St?

 

[alove0750]

Thanks, it's my baby. I try to not push her too hard, more of just a play around. I have taken it to URE a few times and it has gone up almost everything I have pulled up to. I would like to find something to play around in, but once I'm out of school and can afford another vehicle I may SAS it. Until then this is how she'll stay.

Yeah I work at Carquest. I'm there just about everyday

 

[alove0750]

 

[criket]

I really like your yota man!!! If it was SAS's, it would be even more awesome!!! Keep up the good work man!

After reading your thread, I may look into a 2wd and then SAS from there.

 

[HGSR]

to bad i didnt read this a week ago, i would have just bought a pre runner.... o well.. do you still have that stock front bumper?

 

[alove0750]

Yeah, I have the stock front and rear bumper. They are the "sport" bumpers, they came painted to match the truck.

 

[alove0750]

I really like your yota man!!! If it was SAS's, it would be even more awesome!!! Keep up the good work man!
After reading your thread, I may look into a 2wd and then SAS from there.

Thanks, it was a fun project and I'm sure that parts will/have become more available. The big thing I liked about the conversion was being able to put manual hubs on a model/year that they were available and by doing that being able to run a front locker.

I have a feeling a SAS will come some day. If I do I want it done right, I want to do a yota axle. So I would either have to flip a yota axle of buy the adapter to swap in a right hand/gear driven case.

 

[criket]

I'm sure you have already heard about Sky Manufacturing SAS's for yotas, s10's, etc. They have some good looking kits.

 

[alove0750]

Yeah, I have seen them and trailgears stuff. I also talked to MOBS Fab and Mars Fab about a possible three-link setup. I would really like to SAS but right now just isn't the time for me. Maybe when I have another vehicle to daily drive. Plus when the time come I want to go all-out when it comes to lockers, axles, etc...

 

[houdini]

definitely a nice truck and congrats on the 4wd conversion. i did the same 4wd conversion to my nissan back in 05. doing the 4wd conversion is a good way to learn your truck and how to work on it without having to get too much into custom fabrication. give it some time and SAS when you are ready. i rocked my frontier IFS for several years before the solid axle was dropped in.

congrats!

 

[RatLabGuy]

I'm diggin' the de-badged front grill.

 

[alove0750]

I'm diggin' the de-badged front grill.

Thanks, I'm wanting to either paint it black or possibly make a custom grille for it that kinda looks like the new FJ's or have something like the old school, 82 yota symbol

 

[shagy9888]

Am really liking those bumpers. Truck looks good. Am trying to talk my g/f into buying a prerunner so I can make it 4x4.

 

[alove0750]

Thanks man. The conversion isn't that bad, it's just finding all the parts. My buddy is actually doing the same conversion. He already has the diff and has located a tranny.

 

[alove0750]

Well figured I would post a update. Nothing amazing, more small detail stuff.

I took my tool box out for the time being. I was planning on selling it, but I am thinking about putting some compartments in it with possibly a dual battery setup, and having it powdercoated black.

I also purchased some blacked out headlights and corner lights from my buddy. The only problem was the trim on the corner's were just flat black. So I hit up Bradleys Auto and they were able to take my factory color and put it into a spray bomb, along with some clear coat in a can. Here is my final product.

 

[alove0750]

Been a while since I updated everything so here have been my last couple projects. Mostly small stuff but has been fun.

I had the black headlights for like two weeks and my buddy starts talking about HID's and possibly doing a retrofit conversion. So after a lil homework I pulled the trigger and ordered a full 5K projector kit for the headlights and 5K HIDs for the fogs.

http://s1112.photobucket.com/albums/k487/alove0750/?action=view&current=009-3.jpg

I also got a wild hair and decided to Plasti-dip my badges. It didn't turn out to bad...

And finally, I got an Ultra Gauge. For the money this thing is awesome. $68 to my front door, it looks and feels pretty sturdy and easy to use.