bigtrucknwheels

well, as some of you may know, I have a 4 cylinder rear end in my truck due to the original being bent beyond any kind of help.

here's the thing: I was at my local wrecker on Monday, and they have two 4Runners sitting there, one 22RE, one 3VZE, both with 31" tire options. I have two trucks, one 22RE, one 3VZE, and would like to buy both sets of differentials as to have 4.56 gearing so I can run 31x10.50's without having to pay a ton of money to regear.

sooo, my truck having the 4 cylinder rear end, is the V6 differential able to replace my 4 cylinder differential?

and if the 22RE 4Runner has V6 gearsets (G254 instead of G252), would it work in my 22RE truck? or are we talking some major modifications? are the axles different sizes? I believe the 22RE 4Runner had a w series transmission, as I do believe there were manual hubs on the exterior.

ANY information would be much appreciated!!!!

Thanks so much in advance!

Matt16

It is a direct bolt in swap. The V6 diff has 4 pinion gears versus the 4cyl. diff has only two. This information is really irrelevant unless you want to want to put in an Aussie Locker which is available for only the 4 cyl. diff, all other lockers are available for both diffs.

Not all 4Runners with 31" tires on them currently came from the factory. Many 31" tires were installed by the dealer and thus have only 4.10 or 4.30 diffs.

One thing that might be an issue is having an ADD front diff versus a manual hub from diff. the diffs are the same, but that without the ADD vacuum lines, the collar that engages the diff will not be powered. You can probably overcome this obstacle in about an hour. Search for "defeating the ADD" or something.

thook

Is the V6 4rnr at the yard an automatic or 5spd?

And, what years are these? I can tell you for sure if that 4cyl Runner is a 1st gen, it won't have 4.56. Not sure if it was 2nd gen, though. If the V6 is a 2nd gen, it may have 4.88's....if it's auto.

bigtrucknwheels

1994 4Runner V6 Auto
and
1993 4Runner I4 5spd

I checked the gears on the 22RE before, this past summer, and I do recall it being a 4.56 gear, just wasn't sure of the pinion configuration.

and if the 94 has 4.88's, fine by me. I'll swipe the VSS and instrument cluster (was planning to anyways) from it and put it in my truck. then I can run 32/33's, right? (I mean while maintaining stock gearing feel, I have 4.10's on both of them now and 31x10.50's)

thook

You can always verify with the VIN placard, but it probabl is 4.88's. In which case, you can run the up to the 33's.

bigtrucknwheels

thats how I plan to do it, I just really need to know the compatibility of the differentials across the housings and stuff.

haha

basically, what I really need to know is if I can bolt either of these sets of diffs up to either truck of mine. my V6 had A.D.D., so it has thicker half shafts, does that affect the housing and how it connects to the differential? and if the 22RE 4Runner had A.D.D., will its front diff work with my 89 w56 setup?

and to get a second opinion, not that I at all doubt anyone, just to verify before I drop money into this to find it doesn't work, but the V6/I4 differentials are direct bolt ins? a V6 differential will work with my 4 cylinder rear end with no problems?

bigtrucknwheels

and is it common to use 4.88 gears with 33's? I want it to have the exact feel of a stock tire/gear combo, no under/over gearing. I want, at all costs, to avoid power loss as I am now with the 4.10's. 4.56 and 31x10.50's are perfect, as are 225/75R15 and 4.10, so what's closest in those aspects for a 4.88? 32's or 33's?

4runnerx3

bigtrucknwheels

nice pics! so the rear will work, no questions as far as that goes anymore.

anyone know about the front differentials?

bigtrucknwheels

anyone?

Diggity

Yes it will work in the front. In both the front and the back you might need to take an angle grinder to the housing. The ring gear was too thick for the housing by about a quarter inch. Not a problem, just don't take too much. It was necessary to do both front and back. Here's a thread with a picture for you, it's just as the picture says....

http://board.marlincrawler.com/index...hlight=v6+diff

mr_schuster

I am using the rear diff out a 1998 v6 four-runner in my 1993 4cyl. truck. It swapped out fine. The cases are the same for the most part. The pinion shaft diameter on the V6 is larger in diameter than on the 4cyl. and the pinion bearings are larger aswell. I found that out when I ordering 4cyl. gears.

AxleIke

LOL. There are about 2 or three threads that answer all of your questions in the offroad tech and fab sections, but oh well.

To beat a dead horse, it is a direct bolt in.

To continue to beat a dead horse, 4.88's are a factory feel for 33's. You will actually be just slightly over geared, which will give you just a little extra pull on the uphills, but its so slight that you don't experience adversely high RPM's on the highway at higher speed.

My truck has 4.88's, and 33's. My speedo is about 3% off. This means that at 60 mph, my speedo is reading 1.2 mph faster than I'm actually going. I'm fairly sure I can't tell the difference given that my needle is about 1mph wide.

The front diff will depend on whether your truck and the donor truck have the same set up. There is some stuff you gotta rig if one has manual hubs and the other has ADD. If they are the same, it is direct bolt in.