My tranny to a big o shiznit

[AZHilux]

Bought an awesome rig last week for 800 bucks, the guy did mention that it had a busted tranny and Tcase.

After hualing the thing home and getting it started (right away) the sucker drove fine. I hit the freeway from warner and I10 to I17 and Bethany. Drove the lil booger all week and hit the freeway at high speed all the time. I did experiance the sucker being a little stubborn going into 2nd sometimes and thought it might be the plastic bushing that might need to be changed.

Well this Sunday we hit Fj just to see how the 4WD works and on the way home the dam tranny didnt even want grab 2nd and it took me like 4-5 hits to grab 4th gear. Oh yea reverse stop working at this point. Now I did think the guy was wrong but now that it happen he might be right, the tranny might need a changing. Oh yea now all bottom 3 gears dont grab.

Its a 80 Toy with a 22R and a 4 speed tranny..

My plans are to do a dual tcase install anyways.

Any suggestions....

 

[RHINO]

i'm jealous, i want to acquire an early 80's 4x and kinda restore it.

i have a v-6 t-case you can get cheap if you want it. then you could swap a 5 speed tranny and use your 4 speed case for the doubler.

 

[AZHilux]

i'm jealous, i want to acquire an early 80's 4x and kinda restore it.

i have a v-6 t-case you can get cheap if you want it. then you could swap a 5 speed tranny and use your 4 speed case for the doubler.

let me just make you more jealous

www.offroadtrails.org/alex

I dont know much about the tranny options, Im new to toys, I USED to be a Jeep guy and sold that last week.

 

[Tools R Us]

The '80 4spd is a L43, IMHO not the best trans from Toyota, they are side shifter and have small main shaft bearings. Overall not a horrible trans, many have lasted for years, but there better/stronger options.

If it didn't grenade, sound like a box of rocks, the first thing to check is the shifter. IIRC it's bolted high on the right side and links to the rod going into the case. If the bolts come loose and/or the bushings are warn it will make the shifting sloppy and can get bad enough where it doesn't have the travel to shift all of the way into gear.

 

[AZHilux]

The '80 4spd is a L43, IMHO not the best trans from Toyota, they are side shifter and have small main shaft bearings. Overall not a horrible trans, many have lasted for years, but there better/stronger options.

If it didn't grenade, sound like a box of rocks, the first thing to check is the shifter. IIRC it's bolted high on the right side and links to the rod going into the case. If the bolts come loose and/or the bushings are warn it will make the shifting sloppy and can get bad enough where it doesn't have the travel to shift all of the way into gear.

Well when I try put it in gear it does not accept and it just rattles. is that what you are talking about. How much does a new unit run for? what model is recommeneded

 

[Tools R Us]

Well when I try put it in gear it does not accept and it just rattles. is that what you are talking about.

Need a little more info. How sloppy is the shifter? When you try to put it into gear does it feel like it shifts all the way in, or sloppy? When you let out the clutch, does it grind, if you let go of the shifter does it stop or continue to make noise?

How much does a new unit run for? what model is recommeneded

I haven't done a swap in years, so somewhat short on that info. The later 4 cyl trans are better/stronger than what you have, they are mostly a bolt on swap, probably floor cutting or floor plate change needed due to the shifter being centered. The V6 trans are strong, but most/all are chain drive transfer, so adapting your transfer would be more complicated, expensive.

The newer 5spd trans/transfers are pretty stout units. If yours needed to be replaced, I would shop for a good used unit and use your transfer with an adapter for a crawler. Yours should be a top shift transfer, perfect for a dual setup.

Marlin Crawler : Dual Transfercase Systems

 

[AZHilux]

Its a sloppy shift. It grinds when I attempt to put it in. (only on reverse though) 2 and 4 dont accept, to be honest I havnt tried to really ylet go of the clutch all the way to notice if it will shut off. But I do hear a small grind and those too.



Alex

 

[Tools R Us]

Its a sloppy shift. ...

On that trans the shifter pivot bolts to the side of the housing, the lower end goes into a cup in the rod into the trans. IIRC the pivot has a couple of spring loaded bushing/cups that locate it. On the lower end there is a cup bushing. Over time the bushings die causing big play, slop, this reduces the shifter stroke enough so it cant shift all of the way into gear. Also the mounting bolts are known to come loose adding to the same problem.

My first test; have a helper shift gears, climb under the truck, no need to start the motor. Have them shift second, note the direction that the lower shift cup/rod moves, then try to move it further in the same direction. If you can move it, it feels like it shifts into gear, try a quick test drive in second, if it runs in second, the problem is most likely the shifter.

When all the gears on one direction of the shifter quit, it's most often the shifter or fork assembly. IIRC that shifter is relatively easy to remove and the bushings are probably still available?

A set of bushings may get that trans working again, but what are your plans and budget $$ for the rig? If your planning a wheeling rig and ready to start now, maybe better off shopping for a later 5spd, etc now?

 

[RHINO]

kevin ya beat me to the L43 stuff, i came back to post the info you already did.

AZ on my 1980 the bolts came a bit loose a couple times, all i had to do was tighten'um up and all was good again, maybe thats all you have going on. and yeah, your truck is what i'd like to get again, i had a couple 80's and an '83. your pics sure take me back,, one of mine was yellow/tan, i'd get rid of that body lift asap.

 

[AZHilux]

On that trans the shifter pivot bolts to the side of the housing, the lower end goes into a cup in the rod into the trans. IIRC the pivot has a couple of spring loaded bushing/cups that locate it. On the lower end there is a cup bushing. Over time the bushings die causing big play, slop, this reduces the shifter stroke enough so it cant shift all of the way into gear. Also the mounting bolts are known to come loose adding to the same problem.

My first test; have a helper shift gears, climb under the truck, no need to start the motor. Have them shift second, note the direction that the lower shift cup/rod moves, then try to move it further in the same direction. If you can move it, it feels like it shifts into gear, try a quick test drive in second, if it runs in second, the problem is most likely the shifter.

When all the gears on one direction of the shifter quit, it's most often the shifter or fork assembly. IIRC that shifter is relatively easy to remove and the bushings are probably still available?

A set of bushings may get that trans working again, but what are your plans and budget $$ for the rig? If your planning a wheeling rig and ready to start now, maybe better off shopping for a later 5spd, etc now?

Ok, so buy bushings and look into fork assembly & shifter... again, Im assuming its easy. I have bnver done tranny work, but I prefer to do the stuff myself, so I can learn my rig

Well, right now the jeep funds have not yet arrived so budget will not be a problem, when it gets here. But my plans are.. Duals with crawler gears, keep the stock 4.37's, spool the rear and lockrite up front. 35-or 37's are my choices for tires. Not sure if I want to keep the bed or not. oh yes bobbylongs too and chromo shafts.

i'd get rid of that body lift asap.

i know. its horrible. I plan to do the all pro 5 inch. I have been reading about the 63's in the rear, but what do those come off of? and what will go up front. and does that budget lift flex good?

 

[AZHilux]

On that trans the shifter pivot bolts to the side of the housing, the lower end goes into a cup in the rod into the trans. IIRC the pivot has a couple of spring loaded bushing/cups that locate it. On the lower end there is a cup bushing. Over time the bushings die causing big play, slop, this reduces the shifter stroke enough so it cant shift all of the way into gear. Also the mounting bolts are known to come loose adding to the same problem.

My first test; have a helper shift gears, climb under the truck, no need to start the motor. Have them shift second, note the direction that the lower shift cup/rod moves, then try to move it further in the same direction. If you can move it, it feels like it shifts into gear, try a quick test drive in second, if it runs in second, the problem is most likely the shifter.

When all the gears on one direction of the shifter quit, it's most often the shifter or fork assembly. IIRC that shifter is relatively easy to remove and the bushings are probably still available?

A set of bushings may get that trans working again, but what are your plans and budget $$ for the rig? If your planning a wheeling rig and ready to start now, maybe better off shopping for a later 5spd, etc now?

stupid question here.. whats an IIRC?

Now would you recomend toyota parts or checkers? Im planning to do this weekend. I might just drop the whole thing. is that needed. How about just rebuilding the thing is that better and economical?

 

[Tools R Us]

stupid question here.. whats an IIRC?

IIRC = If I Remember Correctly.

Now would you recomend toyota parts or checkers? Im planning to do this weekend. I might just drop the whole thing. is that needed. How about just rebuilding the thing is that better and economical?

My first check would be the shifter bushings. If it requires internal work I would swap a newer, much stronger 5 spd. If it's not the shifter, here is one that may get you going?

1980 4 speed toyota tranny

 

[Tools R Us]

...
Now would you recomend toyota parts or checkers? ...

Define "parts"? Oil, spark plugs, etc Checkers, Wally World, etc. Shifter bushings are probably Toyota only. I get parts from lots of places, depending on the part, some I only source from Toyota, like spark plug wires, some stuff I get from BAP, depends on the part.

 

[Brian Macgyver]

My memory of Toyo trans is similar. I bought my Celica GTS needing a new trans. I paid $100 for a rare car. I bought a $12 bushing for the shifter, and drove it home. This is common.
50K later, the trans is fine, but the rings are shot. Anyone want a rare Celica? It is for sale. I'll sell it to the first person who will treat it like a collector car, not just an old car. It is a fast car. I've had fun with it. It is time for someone else to play.

 

[Hondo]

Hey AZHilux,

I've got a set of the 63" springs I'd give ya for $40 if you want them. They were pulled from an early 90's Chevy 3/4 Ton pickup IIRC. I had planned to do that same swap myself on an 85 Toyota I had but never got around to it. Let me know ASAP, as I'm coming down to Phoenix (from Flagstaff) this evening for the weekend.

Mike
928-853-5836

 

[AZHilux]

Hey AZHilux,

I've got a set of the 63" springs I'd give ya for $40 if you want them. They were pulled from an early 90's Chevy 3/4 Ton pickup IIRC. I had planned to do that same swap myself on an 85 Toyota I had but never got around to it. Let me know ASAP, as I'm coming down to Phoenix (from Flagstaff) this evening for the weekend.

Mike
928-853-5836

How much of lift will it give me?

 

[AZHilux]

IIRC = If I Remember Correctly.



My first check would be the shifter bushings. If it requires internal work I would swap a newer, much stronger 5 spd. If it's not the shifter, here is one that may get you going?

1980 4 speed toyota tranny

Just left hima a message, thanks...

 

[LUV24BY]

FWIW - I have a W56 with a 2WD tail housing. It's out of the truck and in my garage. The tranny only has approx. 20-30k original miles on it. The PO said it was pulled from a '86 4Runner, and adapted to use in his '86 2WD w/ a 4 spd. *IF you'd like, I would get rid of it for $50 - change out the tailhousing for a 4x4 housing and your good to go! I am in the North Phoenix ara, drop me a PM. If your interested, let me know ASAP, otherwise I was gonna sell it for $150-200 @ a garage sale.

It's a upgrade - 5spd vs. 4 spd. I had it for my '85 4Runner as a backup, but I sold my Runner and I don't need it.

John

 

[AZHilux]

thanks man but I just picked up that that lil 4 speed for 25 bucks, So ill give that a chance first.

Ok, so I plan to get a new clutch since Im installing a new (to me) tranny, do you guys suggest something else that should be changed too. I want to just drop it in without having problems in the future. This will be my first swap, so Im learning as I go...

 

[LUV24BY]

Cool - well good luck on that and if you end up wanting a 5 spd, lemme know!

John