2WD to 4WD conversion
 

Hi all. First time to post on here so let the newbie beating begin. I have a 97 2wd 4runner Limited that I am going to convert to 4wd. I know the logical thing would be to buy a 4wd and leave this one alone. That's not possible for several reasons. My wife bought this truck in 1999 after she got out of college. It was the first major purchase she ever made without the help of her parents. When we got married I had a 03 VW Passat that was a daily driver and a Ford truck that I used for construction side jobs. We traded the Passat in on a new Yukon XL and the plan was to sell the Ford and the 4runner and buy a used Tacoma. I sold the Ford and when it came time to sell the 4runner I quickly realized it wasn't happening. She would not accept reasonable offers on it and I eventually took it off the market rather than continuing to argue with her about sales price. So for the last 3 years it has been my work truck, daily driver, kid taxi, and all around thorn in my side. Its not that I dislike the truck it that its somewhat impractical for me. I pull a trailer a lot and while its got good pulling power I have got stuck in this thing several times. Its not a matter of want but a matter of I NEED 4wd. So here is my question. Will the driveline out of a 95 4wd 4runner fit my 97? I found one being parted out and can get the rear diff, complete front suspension and diff, transfer case, cross member, driveline, and shifters for $300. I know I will still need a tranny but will everything bolt up? Once this is done then I hope to be able to afford a Tacoma in the next year or so and then I'll get this thing repainted and prettied up a little and give it back to my car hoarding wife as a b day present or something. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.
Calvin

95 NBS? Or Old Body Style?


Not a single part from a Torsen bar and coil spring will interchange.

Let's just say Toyota made everything backwards when they made the new 95 and up models...

The TC drop is on the other side, the diff is on the other side and is a high pinion diff...

The exhaust manni, battery and starters swapped sides on the 4 cylinders... They're all swapped around.

Find one in your same body style and grab all the diffs, the transmission and TC, the wiring harness and speedo cluster... (if it was me)

Its the new body style 95.

Should be ok, I don't know for sure since that truck's not my cup-o-tea...

I believe since they did away with the H case in the OBS 95's, both the V6 and 3Rz have the f TC.

...I believe

Should be cool. Just MAKE SURE you get BOTH diffs. Do NOT pass one up b/c you think you have it.

You mentioned the cluster and harness. What wiring will I need to change?

I don't know for sure, b/c car companies sometimes switch from sharing wiring harnesses, to using different ones b/c it can save the company money.

1 foot less wiring, times however many come off the line = $$$$$$$$

Your truck should not be wired for a 4WD sensor and indicator... But I don't know for sure.

It's little things like that you'll need to think of, and if you want them bad enough...

B/c it could be as simple as changing a piece of the harness, to having to tear the whole dash out TO wire it...

IDK...

But you did say leave you alone on the logical reason... so...

Here's another place to look...

http://www.google.com/search?q=conve...-8&sa=N&tab=iw

Thanks for the help. I want it to be done right so stuff like indicator lights are important. I would think for $300 I can't go wrong and if the stuff don't work I pass it to someone that can use it. I'll grab the cluster and harness while I'm at it. I appreciate the help.