I've got a 91 4runner with 177k and the tranny (manual 5 speed) is breathing it's last breaths. I've got a lead on an automatic transmission with low miles on it, and am wondering if I can swap that AT for my MT. Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

BAH NO!!!!!

Never go with an auto on a 2nd Gen. I don't mean to test your gangster here, but are you SURE the tranny is going out? If it is in fact going south on you, you can usually have it rebuilt for a reasonable enough price, or just go find one at a junk yard.

 

One of the best shops I know for the Toyota manual tranny is Marlin Crawler. You might want to speak with him about an exchange unit.

Installing a auto is going to be much more involved then you think. You are likely going to have to obtain and entire wire harness for the same year truck with the auto tranny and you are going to have to get the tranny ECU. I do not know if the engine ECU will need to be replaced or not. For your year truck the tranny and engine ECUs are separate units, but they do talk to each other as far as I know.

I think you are opening up a huge can of worms by installing an auto in your year truck.

Gadget

 

Thanks for the feedback. If switching to an AT would be that involved I'll hunt down another manual and put it in.

 

Definately more involved and would probably cost more in the end. Marlin's prices are quite reasonable for tranny rebuilds.