Manual transmission converted Tundra!

Hi all! I’m new to the forum and just wanted to share my manual transmission conversion project with everyone here.

I’m pretty excited to finally have my Tundra back on the road after the factory automatic transmission failed and since I wasn’t able to find any resources from others doing manual transmission swaps in their Tundras I thought I would share my project to help out anyone else interested in a similar build.

Here are a few pictures and basic specs to get started. I’m working on the build thread to show in depth how I completed the project. Here is a link to the thread, let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...ne-into-an-overland-adventure-vehicle.209023/

Basic specs:

2001 SR5 Access Cab Toyota Tundra w/ 2UZ-FE V8
2.5” OME / Icon racing suspension lift
SPC adjustable upper control arms
BFG KM3 305/70R16 mud tires
SCS 16x8 wheels with 3.5” back spacing
Custom built rock sliders
Custom built low profile roof top tent rack
Smittybuilt XL roof top tent
5speed R150F manual transmission
J-shift manual transfer case

 

Great looking rig. Looking forward to seeing a build on this tranny swap. Those j shift transfer cases should have been standard in tundras I installed one in my truck and love it.

 

I have a 2002 tundra sr5 lifted on 315/75/16 i like those rock sliders did you make them yourself . Can you post some pictures up close. What brand are they? I have some custom side bars myself

 

Thank you! And yeah, I think the j-shifters should be standard option for sure. Did you make a thread for your j-shift swap?

 

Nice tire size there, and thanks! I built the sliders myself with the help of a friend with a tube bender. They are pretty stout and minimalistic. They need to come off the truck and get painted soon so I’ll post detailed pictures of them then. I’m going to be giving the whole truck fresh paint soon, I can cringe extra hard when I’m taking it through the brush, lol

 

Welcome from Alberta


Badass rig! Excited to watch the conversion.

 

Welcome from Ventura California

 

Welcome to the party!!!

 

Welcome from Bamaland.

This chronicle of your build will be kewl. I would happily love a 3 pedal factory option for my 3rd gen Tundra.

 

Welcome from southern NJ.

 

Welcome from Ohio

 

Nioce mate

 

Welcome from Western Massachusetts.

Nice Rig! Can't wait to see the build.

 

Welcome! Would love a manual trans option!

 

yeah i think it’s titled “Manual transfer case swap” sorry I can’t figure out how to post a link to the thread.​

 

Nice looking truck...following for the build

 

Welcome from Colorado

I love driving manual transmission but was always concerned about driving a manual off road. Too many pedals to manage on top of worrying about rolling backwards LOL

I’ve never done it before so maybe not as bad as it seems to me. But auto is easier to manage for me I believe

 

Holy shite! I love it! I’m a manual guy through and through, I would have my current Tundra manual if I could. I can’t believe anyone voted automatic. Good job man. I’d trade you right now.

 

Welcome from SoCal!!!

 

@Northboundtundra I've been following along on the gram. Happy to see her running again!

 

Love it. If the auto trans ever goes out on my first gen regular cab v8 4wd i might thing about this. Like many others have said i wish it was an option from the factory. How much did it cost to swap the transmission?

 

Isnt that the transmission that came in v6 tacomas and that kind of stuff?
Any concerins about long term reliabilty with the v8 power?
What did you have to do? Did it just bolt up?
Did you ever get the build thred done? If so post a link please

 

Welcome, nice work getting a manual on that thing!!

 

It took about 3 days to do it with a friend and at a fully equipped shop, thank you Kreations auto body, so the labor would probably be the most expensive thing if you were to pay a shop to do it.

Parts are around $1500 for the adapter plate, clutch, and various dodads to make it work. I got a used transmission and clutch pedal from a 1998 Tacoma that had been rolled. It was bargain priced at $500 but is holding up well and that was the core fee to have one rebuilt, so figured I couldn’t go wrong. I believe a new transmission and transfer case is around $2000 from marlin crawler, who was my first choice. Then to modify the driveline and replace the carrier bearing and u joint was about $300.

 

What adapter plate did you use?

 

Yeah, it is the same transmission out of the v6 Tacoma, but so it the automatic that it came with in the first place. After seeing what people do with these transmissions in the Supra drag racing circuits I was not worried at all about long term reliability and it has been working great for about 4000 miles now.

here is a link to the build thread. It still needs some work so let me know if you have questions or feedback.
https://expeditionportal.com/forum/...ne-into-an-overland-adventure-vehicle.209023/

 

I can’t remember the brand, just that they had bad customer service and it came beat up and not packaged well. Some outfit based out of Florida. I think it is posted in my build thread which I just posted a link to in my last post but will see if I can add it to my original thread post here as well.

 

If the 4 speed auto in my 4WD 2002 SR5 ever goes out, I would seriously consider this as an upgrade replacement.

 

where did you locate your clutch pedal assembly?

 

He doesn't post here often. You may want to message him on Instagram if you have an account.