Ok, I have a 77 20r with a 4 speed automatic. My tranny is squealing and making a nasty burning smell. Time for a new tranny. I don't want to rebuild it because I drive on I-5 a lot to get to work. Lol needless to say 50 miles a day on a 4 speed 6 days a week will take its toll on a 4 speed. I want a 5 speed so I can cruise at 60+. Im getting dual webbers pretty soon so a 4 speed is a no go. Not on the freeway. What 5 speed will drop in. I'm not a mechanic so it would be great if someone around the Tacoma area would give me a hand. (free beer!) lol but, what challenges will I face, what to expect, etc. I need help ASAP. This is my daily and I don't have a way to work soon if I don't get daisy back on the road soon.
my old 77 had a 3 speed auto haha, I stuck a 5 speed from a 79 in but had to mos the trans cross member since its a longer trans. Also there was almost NO difference between 4th and 5th gear because the rear is geared for the auto.
LOl I could be wrong. It could be a 3 speed. It shifts so jaanky, it would shift to second way to late. Can't expect a car with 400,000 plus miles and an original tranny and engine to run like a champ though. I'm doing an engine rebuild and tranny swap and I'm gonna try and swap out the gears in the rear to. Not shure what to go with. I heard 4.10 were good, but that was for Chevys. Lol
I have a trans and flywheel if you can't find one on the wet side. What rear axle do you have? 7.5" or 8"?
If your is a 77 with the 20R motor you should have a 4.11 rear in there already. The lowest ratio I've been able to find is like a 3.93. Toyota made 5-speeds (called W-50's) for that year model with the 20R engine, so you should be able to find one from a junk yard-don't think you would need any mods if you get the shaft with the tranny.
I have a 5 speed W50 in my 77 with the 4.11 rear end and it doesn't exactly LOVE to cruise at 60. I mean, it certainly will, but you'll be pushing high RPMs.
super late update. swapped in a w50 last summer everything pretty much just dropped in place. only thing i had to fab was a new hole for the shifter. Driveshaft and xmember all matched up with a little grunt and a shove. Picked up everything i need from pick and pull for just 130bucks. Had the flywheel resurfaced for just 20 bucks. Replaced the clutch fan with an electric. My truck now cruises effortlessly at 65, and ive topped out my speedo for ****s and giggles. THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO GUYS. Im running a youtube channel for our trucks. With how to upgrades and simple fixes for those small annoyances that can go wrong with our second gen pickups
