I have a 'new' '87 1-ton with a 5 speed (not sure which trans it is), but I'm wondering if there's an overdrive kit for it. I commute in it and it'd be nice to get the RPM down when cruising on the highway (it runs at around 3K+ @ 65-70 MPH). Any ideas or help would be great. Thanks!

 

To my knowlage there is not any kits you can buy for that. But keep in mind, your truck is supposed to run at that RPM.

What engine do you have?

 

not sure of a specific kit or anything particular. you could possibly regear the transmission though it's not as easy as the rear end. I imagine the rear gearing is part of how they got the 1 ton rating so changing that may hurt overall performance if you use the truck for heavy hauling.
Otherwise, you may try contacting www.gearvendors.com. they don't list anything specific for toyotas, but given the fairly simple driveline of your truck, they may be able to come up with something, but don't expect cheap. it'd probably cost nearly as much as the truck.

 

You're probably running 4.88 gears in that one ton with what, 28" tires? I'd either get bigger tires or regear it.

 

Thanks for all the great info! I'm running a 22RE. Sounds like it would be a pretty involved process to OD it.

I do haul with it, but nothing close to it's 1-ton rating.

 

I have pulled a rear axle out of a 1 ton and it had 3.07 gears in it. Also it is an 8".

James

 

There's so many different gearing options that came stock from the factory, it's near impossible to guess what one yota has over another. Need to get that axle code to figure it out without pulling the 3rd.

 

It would be very helpful to know what motor you've got an also what trans is behind it. I know you said you didn't know and I don't know either but behind the 1 tons they may have an R series tranny. Now with that you can put the 5th gear from a supra in and have a nice tall OD. I plan on doing this when I swap a 5 speed in behind my diesel. The auto just sucks around town.

 

Being that it is an 87, it has to be a 4 cylinder and nothing else.

James

 

If I'm not mistaken the R151s were put behind the 22RETs weren't they? Thats why I thought they might have put the stronger tranny behind the 1 ton motor.

 

The transmission are the same as the regular models. The R151's were only behind the turbo 22ret's and nothing else. They did make 1 tons with a V6 and a R series transmission.

James

 

According to the 1987 brochure, the 1-ton has either 3.9s or 4.1s. You could swap in a regular 1/2 ton 5 speed rear end (3.72) or a 4 speed rear end (3.07). The quickest and easiest way to lower the RPMs would be to put larger tires on the rear end and swap the smaller tires back when you want to haul a load.

 

Put some 3.23 in there. It's the best of both worlds as far as torque and gas mileage.