Help out a newbie

[BirdManzFJ]

Hi everyone, looking for a little advice building a runner.
I have a chance to pick up an 89 v6 manual that has been sas'd and rolled. I am a para so I NEED an auto tranny. Found an 88 v6 auto, close by. My thoughts were to combine the 2 and build a dedicated trail rig. Will the 88 auto trans, also mate up with the 89 engine? That way I can choose which motor is strongest.
And how about xfer cases, possibly adding a doubler or at a minimum 4.7 gears. sifted thru faq's till my eyes blur

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I don't think the early autos are adaptable to a doubler or a geardriven T-case, there is a way to do it, but I think you need a 96+ auto to do it... Dont quote me, but I'd give a call to Marlin Crawler to double check on that.

Which engine is better? Well I'd maybe use a separate oil pressure gauge to check them both, and test compression as well... 88 and 89 was before the major headgasket issues came up, so you might get lucky. So being a para, you're already going to hand operated brake and throttle..... why not hand operated clutch?

 

[bryan89]

im pretty sure the 88-89 3vz engine blocks are the same. so the trannies should swap. not 100% on that though. someone should chime in and confirm that.
but other than that, your drivetrain is going to be pretty complex.lol

lets see, if i am thinking about this right, you will have 3vze engine, then the bellhousing and front half of the auto transmission. then the marlin adapter to get the stock transfer off the auto and adapt to the RF1A case pattern. then you need another marlin adapter for Dual cases. Then you will need the acutal reduction housing from an RF1A (prob with stock gears). Then, finally, the RF1A out of the manual trans, regeared of course, behind all that.
phew, thats a lot. not sure but you may be running out of room for drive shaft there. not to mention cost.

I hope you are planning on having several buddies help you assemble/install this monster. right?

edit: oh second gen beat me to it i guess., i thought marlin had an adapter for the auto to the rf1a? maybe not.

 

[BirdManzFJ]

waiting on answers from Marlin already, thanks.

And hand clutch... I'd have to let go the wheel to shift, and how do I clutch, steer, work the skinny without setting my beer down. Asking a lot : )

What I asked was (due to lack of knowledge) can I put an 88 auto tranny on the 89 engine after removing the 5 sp. Giving me the option to use either engine

 

[Combat Chuck]

you should be able to swap said transmission onto said engine without an issue, but support for earlier automatics is very very limited.

good luck!

edit: instead of a Marlin-style doubler, one could do a divorced doubler, and then add a manual lockup control into the cab...

 

[bryan89]

if the engine blocks are the same (which i think they are) then it should bolt up.

i say this cause i remember seeing a thread somewhere about toyota only using two different bolt patterns for the bell-housing to transmisison mating surfaces. both use 9 bolts i think. but one was just a larger pattern than the other. but the different pattern was in the later year models or something. so what i am trying to say is odds are the back half of the bell housings are probably the same cause there was only one pattern. its the engine side of the bellhousing that would be your problem. but i dont think that there was a change between 88-89 3vz engines. but like i said, im not an expert on that.

 

[KLF]

You'll also need to check the business end of the cranks, sometimes they will be for EITHER a throwout bearing OR the nose of a torque converter, not both. Not saying that's the case with the 3VZ, but just be sure to check.

 

[freds40]

The bolt pattern at the bellhousing to the block will be the same between both years 3VZ. As far as the adapter, we do not offer one for the 3VZ auto to RF1A gear drive t-case but Inchworm does. Inchworm Gear - Toyota Rockcrawling Equipment
We can get you set up either way as can Josh over at Inchworm.

 

[BirdManzFJ]

Awesome!!! Thanks everyone. My 89 will go on the transport soon and I pick up the 88 this weekend. Yee haa, getting excited to get started.

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

I almost peed myself at your beer comment.... nice one! I'm not too up on modifications for para operation, but I was thinking hand throttle on the shifter, clutch on the left side of the steering wheel, and brake on the right side of the wheel. That combined with some super power steering, and a short throw steering box, so you only have to turn it 90* to full lock. I was imagining a beer helmet though, so you could concentrate on driving....

My sister just said that paraplegics should not drink and drive...

I look forward to this build, get some pictures when you can!

 

[Combat Chuck]

BirdmanZ, please share your build!
I'm really curious to see what tranny/t-case combo and other choices are made during this build!

 

[BirdManzFJ]

I almost peed myself at your beer comment.... nice one! I'm not too up on modifications for para operation, but I was thinking hand throttle on the shifter, clutch on the left side of the steering wheel, and brake on the right side of the wheel. That combined with some super power steering, and a short throw steering box, so you only have to turn it 90* to full lock. I was imagining a beer helmet though, so you could concentrate on driving....

My sister just said that paraplegics should not drink and drive... LOL She is right... have to set yer beer down to answer the phone.

I look forward to this build, get some pictures when you can!

I have the "controls" part down. This is at CoalMineClassic,Rausch Creek.
CMCC 2011.wmv - YouTube

My bud "Bud" BudBuilt, and I were enjoying black trails at Rausch and talking, how cool it would be to some how have like a push button, servo, type set up for fwd and rev. And hydro assist is definately on my TO DO list. After 4 or 5 , "hard driver, hard passenger's " from a spotter, the right arm say's "Please buy me Hydro".

 

[BirdManzFJ]

Thankx for your interest Combat Chuck, I'll do a build thread for sure. The guy I got the rollover from want's to stay connected with his old runner too.