I've been doing the research and have read some things about what's involved in a project like this.

Basically, I feel the gen 1 trucks are better than the gen 2 Tacomas. The price of a 2004 crew cab is only a little less than that of a 2005 crew cab, but being the last year for the gen 1, I find it more desirable than the '05.

Anyway, as we all now, the '04 crew cab cannot be had with a stick shift. I'm considering doing an Auto to Manual conversion.

The main question is... After finding a donor truck, is the conversion really worth the cost and the work? How much would you estimate it would cost if I did a lot of the work myself, but hired someone with more experience to help out. I'm in SoCal by the way.

 

Buy the manual already in it. WAY more trouble than it's worth to swap it.

:wabbit2:

 

01-04 double cabs only came automatic.

its do-able. since they have the same drivetrain as the ext cabs.

 

we did that with my buddies, its not as bad as you would like its just swapping the ecu and wiring thats a pain, also you need a little longer driveshaft and a custom cross member for the tranny

 

will it still be smog legal after the swap since you're in cali.