Well after quite a bit of research on this website, many trips to the various junk yards in the area and some wrenching my 99 Tacoma is now locked!
After making up a wiring harness and testing it. Getting the new rear housing complete from drum to drum ready for the install my buddy and I tore off the old rear housing and istalled the new one. I then spent the whole next day wiring but it's done and it works! See here under the Taco E-locker retrofit folder for some pics:
http://community.webshots.com/user/p1michaud

Anyhow, I just wanted to send a huge thanks to all you folks for providing excellent ressources, inspiration and advice!
You guys are excellent!
Cheers,
P

 

That is just too cool. You have inspired me to tackle the wiring once again once the temps in my garage drop below the daily 110°

Nice work!

 

Congratulations, I may have some questions concerning the wiring when I'm ready to set mine up, did you use the stock computer? Seems like there are an awful lot of wires coming out of it.
matt

 

Good Job!

if you don't mind my asking, how much did you get the complete axle for? And what did the swap cost you total?

 

Sean -

I know you might be talking to "P" but I wanted to mention the route I took. I found a donor rig with a 4.30 ratio, purchased it for a good price, swapped out the front and rear axles to my rig, installed my old axles on the donor rig (4.10's) and sold the donor rig for $300 more than I bought it for. I actually made money on the deal. If you can swing it, that is what I suggest.

 

Never thought about it that way. Might just have to do that with my Landcruiser. Got a quote from a local mechanic parts and labor he would install front and rear arbs for me $2000. Save me a load of cash if do it this way.

 

Wow! That sounds REALLY cheap? How much are the parts alone?

 

Don't know I just asked the guy if he can install front and rear ARB lockers on my Landcruiser and her said yes. Total would be $1965, this is the email he sent me.

 

That's a pretty good way to do it I suppose, especially considering most of the lockers out there aren't ever going to be used.

I have an ARB in my truck but I am always curious to know what's going for how much out there.

 

P1 - Congrats! Were you prewired or did you have to run a wire to the dash light?

 

Hi fellas, my roomie's home computer took a crap and the hard drive is dead. So I don't have easy access to the net for a bit. Anyhow to answer a few questions.

Transalper, The wire to the dash light was already there, I just figured out wich one was there, easy as you had mentionned just follow the trace, and taped into it. Worked great.

Goldrunner, I'll try and help you out with your wiring when the time comes. I used an ECU pulled from the 96Runner along with the RR Diff Lock switch. I know what you mean with all the wires but it looks worse than it actually is.

SEAN_at_TLT, here is the parts breakdown in Canadian funds:
1-First 96 4Runner rear axle assembly drum to drum with 4.30 gears, ECU and RR Diff Lock switch was $650 but I got lucky and found another exact match for my Tacoma since the 4Runner housing was going to require extensive mods for it to work (going from coil springs to leaf springs). I still have this E-locker and might put it up for sale. I have not decided yet.

2- 4.10 Gears because I was originally going to re-gear the 4Runner for my Taco about $ 65 delivered to my door. They were a used set from a fello 4x4wire.com member.

3-99 Tacoma rear axle assembly drum to drum, new bump stops, wires, connectors, new gear oil, brake fluid, paint and a few other odds and ends came to about $950.

96Runner, good luck with your wiring. Did you ever get the ECU problem straightened out?

Cheers,
P

 

Thanks for the info.

I'm sure you can get good $$$ for that 4Runner axle if you choose to, 4.30's are somewhat rare and good for up to a 32" tire.

 

So you basically just used the rear end from a TRD Tacoma? And it bolts right on? Does that price include the diff/locker assembly?

BTW, Congrats! Looks very professional.

 

Yes, I sent it back to Jim and he tested the ECU. It worked. So, the problem has been narrowed down to my retarded wiring job. I think the problem lies where I soldered into the harness at the locker.

As soon as the weather cools down, I am going to have to rewire everything back there. I must have missed something.

 

Hi again folks, not having access to the net a home sucks!

96 Runner, let me know when you start re-wiring and if you run into any problems. Just follow the diagram in your locker wiring post and it should work out fine. I'll try and give you a hand to work things out. I've got a digital camera for pics if you need any... Good luck and keep with it.

roger, yep I picked up a used Tacoma TRD rear end it bolts right up. I did check the gear ratio before buying but that would not be too big a job to change. Yes, $950 includes everything.

Cheers,
Pierre