Scatterbrain

Boom, new to the forums, and the Toyota world. To start off, I'm not very mechanically inclined..at all. Time to start, so I just dropped about 2500 on a new vehicle. Everything is in pretty good shape, and a lot has been recently replaced. After purchasing, and driving around more, I noticed a noise which seems to be a common issue with older tranys.
-Getting a rattling sound when accelerating *IN GEAR* and every gear, EXCEPT for 4th gear..No sound when idling, and the vehicle has to be accelerating when getting the noise, 4th may even have a slight noise, but nothing compared to 1st and 5th. After spending a few days searching the web, it seems some people suggesting the tranny is done, and some think the input shaft bearing needs to be replaced**I know what this bearing looks like, what it roughly does, and that's about it**

I know I won't be able to do this myself. Worst case, I have it taken to a shop.
Best case, I can take it to a friends shop who knows these pretty well.
Questions:
Best/worst case scenario, overall what needs to be replaced? How much will it cost if I'm not doing it myself? Is this currently damaging anything by driving it? Maybe just keep it in 4th the best I can for now? Or maybe it doesn't matter? I'm in the front range of Colorado, outside of Denver.

I know most of this is case by case, and nobody actually knows 100% since they cant see/hear anything, but I'm just to get a good idea, before I start making calls and throwing money at useless people/fixes.

I did notice this before purchase, which sucks because I thought it was something else, which would have been an easier fix. Now I'm realizing I may be in over my head, having to shell out some serious $$ and what not. Either way,
thanks for the input!

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

i had a bearing kit put in a few years ago

It cost me $750.00 if I remember correct

Then you could get a rebuilt one from Marlin Crawler

j2the-e

Are you sure the noise is the transmission? Maybe its just pinging. Have you tried running premium fuel? You said its quiet at idle, but can you hear the noise in neutral if you rev the engine?

Scatterbrain

I mean honestly no, I have no idea what it ACTUALLY is, but there were quite a few people who seemed to have this exact same problem, they all just didn't have the same fixes.... No, there is no noise in neutral, it ONLY makes the noise when the car is moving and accelerating IN gear. Just not 4th gear, something about about a 1:1...At first I thought it was just the first three gears, but once I hit highway, realized the 5th gear was just as bad.....that's when I realizsed it may not just be an exhaust issue or something like that...I mean I still hope it is, but doubt it. Truck still drives just fine, I'm just worried about driving it in any gear except 4th.

**Ouch 750**That's just for the bearing kit install though? No rebuilt tranny?

j2the-e

What rpm? What load conditions? Heavy accel, or light?

Scatterbrain

None of that matters what so ever. The faster I rev it (in any gear but 4th) the sound speeds up as well. It's more noticeable in 1st because the engine isn't making much noise, and like I said, 5th is really loud, cause the noise is just moving as such a higher repetition. Does that make sense...? So far I've been told its the input shaft bearing, could be an exhaust issue, someone even said it may be an issue with the two flaps on both sides of the timing chain. I barely understand what they are talking about, but at least I have some idea. I'm just reaaaaallly hoping if it is the tranny, it can be fixed with just dropping it instead of taking it apart...*fingers crossed*
I have no intention of turning this into just an offroad vehicle, so I don't want to pay out the ass for like a marlin tranny, or something incredibly expensive... It seems like people that are restoring these, suggest dropping big $$ on them. I just want to take really good care of it and keep it going here in the mountains, for as long as possible.

j2the-e

If it was input shaft bearing, it would do it in 4th gear. The countershaft is not spinning in 4th gear. So if it is tranny, I would lean torwards a coutershaft bearing. Might be more cost effective to purchase a used tranny. Keep yours and have it rebuilt down the road

Scatterbrain

Is there no way to just replace the bearings?

Gamefreakgc

Transmission issues are always expensive... sorry bro. If you want a new transmission installed by a shop, you're looking at about $3,000 (more than you paid for the vehicle). Try and rule out pinging (spark knock) by checking timing, running fuel injector cleaners, replacing spark plugs, etc. Those are all cheap things.

j2the-e

Of course there is. And you can change the oil without changing the filter too. If you have the tranny apart, new seals, new brass and all new bearings is the way to go. If you want a less expensive alternative, get a good used tranny. They can be had for a couple hundred. Especially without the transfer. I sold one recently for $100. Assuming the noise is actually from the trans