I went about 40 miles out of town today to test a '97 V6 5-speed w/ rear locker - I'm even more tempted now to buy it and attempt the apparently difficult swap of the transmission, motor, gauge pod, associated buttons (ECT, etc., clutch start cancel, diff. lock), front and rear differential, ECU, wiring, clutch pedal, clutch, cylinders, hubs, cross-member, shifter, shift plate, etc. I haven't gotten consensus yet from Yotatech guys on if this is preposterous or not. Anything I am forgetting?

The reason I want to do the swap versus just selling off my '98 auto:

1. Red looks like poo, my gray one looks awesome.
2. Already switched lighting on exterior, added bull bar/KC fogs, have running boards etc. as opposed to the bland stock '97.
3. The '97 rode surprisingly poorly compared to my '98. I don't even know how to explain it, but my truck rides so much better. All I've done suspension-wise is change to KYB MonoMax struts and shocks from worn stock components. Someone have an explanation? I've experienced this on Tacoma test-drives as well, maybe I just got a cream of the crop 4Runner.
4. 5-speed is so much more fun - now I know from first hand experience.
5. Rear locker!

I need some second opinions to talk me out of (or into) $5500 (minus however much I sell the donor for, so probably $500 bucks in the end) and a month or two of my life working on the rig.

I've read a little bit on the manual swaps, and it seems to me that having a *complete vehicle* of almost exactly the same type with no mechanical issues is the best way to go. Are there any major differences between '97 and '98 model year that are going to kick my butt on this project? If not I'm about 85% on buying the damn thing and getting my impact wrench out.

Steve

 

97 and 98 are the same. But I'd think you'd better be better off getting a wrecked/salvage donor car?

 

eeehhh... the 98 is kind of an odd ball year, ive had some problems with getting 97 and 99 stuff to work with it...

 

I was thinking re-sell the '97. It would be the "high mileage" rig of the two, so much less in the way of issues with the odometer... I assume. Maybe I'm wrong - but +60,000 miles makes more sense than -60,000.

 

swap the parts you want to the new one and paint it.

 

dang skovarik -when you say you are going for a 5 speed you mean like now...

following along-hope you get what you want sir.