Automatic to Manual Transmission Swap 4x4

Hey,

Been planing out a LT build for my 3rd gen. Currently trying to decide whether to sell the truck to buy a MT or just swap out the current automatic transmission. I’ve been reading the forums from posts a few years old and wanted to see if there were any fresh takes on the subject. The general consensus was that it’s better to trade to a new truck but it’s hard to find a 4X4 or 2WD that’s MT w/ A double cab that’s not $40k+.

Also how much harder would it be to do a Manual swap on a 4X4 truck I’ve really only looked into 2WD swaps.

Mainly looking for advice on a transmission swap, I am aware it is challenging and is not cost effective. Would like to keep my truck without going through the hassle of buying a new one and missing frame, rust, or mechanical damage that I could possible miss/overlook.

 

Sounds challenging! I live vicariously through the challenges of others.

Keep us informed...take lots of pics.

Most of all...It's all about the journey

 

There are no 2 wheel drive MT in the 3rd Gen, it would probably be less expensive to just start with a manual Tacoma instead of doing the swap.

 

Put a manual transmission in a modern truck built for automatic and your ECU will shit a brick, then refuse to cooperate.



.

 

Ya you need the ecu from the truck donating the transmission

 

Did an auto to 5spd conversion on my '93 Accord Wagon project and it was relatively straightforward (still yet to figure out clutch safety switch wiring, but the car works at least). However going 29 years ahead, I would imagine there's more wiring, sensors involved which would pose a lot of challenges. You would more than likely need a whole new dash harness along with a manual ECU just to start off with some of the parts.

 

It's not hard if there is a model made with a MT, like the Tacoma. I did this in a Fox Mustang but i had a shopping list of all the small parts from web forums. Likely you will need the same. Big parts are the trans, pedal assembly, shifter, new clutch kit, flywheel, block plate, and master and slave cylinder. But there are a lot of small parts connecting the master and slave cylinder. Not sure about the ECU. It may work, it may not. There may be a separate harness that goes on the MT for reverse lights and such.

I always thought this would be a good swap for a Long Bed limited.

 

yeahhh… but with journeys though the fire swamp with liquid sands and giant rats…

then one must consider the wisdom of said journey…

 

It’s exactly the same. Just need the transmission, ECU and pedals from a MT 4x4 along with some DIY wiring.

 

I've done this on a number of older vehicles but nothing OBD2. The wiring is going to be the issue. I'm not certain how Toyota does it to be honest but I know on other makes all the modules are coded to the VIN number. So you can't just "swap in" a manual trans ECU and be good to go. Maybe you can, maybe you can't. Getting everything physically in place is one thing. Getting it to work like factory or work at all is another entirely.

 

Being honest here and not trying to be an ass. If you don't already have an idea about what all you would need to do to make this swap, you're probably in over your head. You will need a transmission, figure out what if any wiring changes, ecm changes, console, hydraulics for the clutch, pedal brackets and pedal... just off the top of my head thinking about it.

If I was looking to go that route, I'd be asking "maybe I should be looking at an LS swap."

 

It's more than just an ECU swap. It's all the little parts that you didn't think of. The auto sport comes with a Push to start button, the manual comes with a H-key and clutch start cancel switch. You can't get the donor ECU to play nice without it, which means you're essentially swapping the entire dash.

That's more work and more potential for gremlins than I would ever want to tackle.

It's cheaper and easier to trade, and it's still cheaper and easier to get the new truck to how you had the old truck. There are better hobbies out there to spend one's time on than this.

 

Like building a truck from the ground up or maybe just going out on adventures.

 

True that. I get wrenching for fun. Personally I would rather wrench on something like an old Meyers Manx than a 3rd gen. Something that wouldn't bother me if it sat on jack stands for a year.

 

Definitely will not be cheaper than just selling a buying a MT truck.

 

There was a discussion on this in another thread a couple years ago. It may or may not be possible. There is a separate module that handles the push button start system.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-automatic-to-manual-swap.688140/page-9#post-24301860

 

Anything is possible in this regard.... just is it worth the effort. I'd just swap trucks.

 

I also did the Fox Mustang AOD to 5-Speed swap. Was pretty straight forward. Hardest part was dropping the dash to swap the pedal assembly. 1 day for the pedal assembly, 1 day for the transmission swap. With this swap you could keep the auto ECU, but one weird thing was when you pushed in the clutch and slowed down using the brakes, the engine RPM would briefly surge up like it still had the auto and was downshifting.

Good luck with a Tacoma swap as side from the hardware needed there is much more in regards to computer electronics and sensors and such.

 

You and 99.9% of people. But some people like myself just like the challenge. After a few of these kind of projects they don’t seem that big of a deal.

 

I envy the M/T folks here.
I have done auto to manual swaps on 90’s Hondas along with engine swaps etc.

I have read and followed along on folks converting E46 BMW M3 from SMG to actual 3 pedal manual transmission. The ECU is reprogrammed from SMG to manual.

Then you have our Tacoma’s with even more wiring and our ECU big brother spy equipment baked in and who knows what.

I know it’s doable but at how much $$$ .
Right now while our Tacos are still worth good money it will be better to sell, and pay a car broker to find you a M/T Taco to your spec.