Toyota t-case crossmembers

JThompson · Nov 10, 2007

Is there a width difference between them? I thought they were all universal... Oldbeercans told my brother he could have one of his three that he has, we looked at them, and they all looked relatively the same. Got it home, and it was like an inch or two short of lining up the mounting holes.

So... are the later model Toy frames narrower than the first gens?

BTW, this means that for now, I am looking to pick up a "first gen" tranny/t-case crossmember/skid plate.

84Toyota4x4 · Nov 10, 2007

True. False. Who knows.

I tried to get an answer about if they're different from 3rd gen to 2nd gen and couldn't. I wanted to know if I could take the 4 cylinder crossmember from the 3rd gen truck, and use it in the 2nd gen 4Runner to bolt the 4 cyl tranny t-case in it without any problems. Or, if I had to use a 4 cylinder crossmember from a 2nd gen only, or even if the V6 and 4 cylinder crossmembers are all that different. No one seemed to know. I'll find out soon enough, haha.

BTW, the ones I have are a 2nd gen and 3rd gen crossmember anyway, in case you didn't figure that out after reading it, haha.

~T.J.

EDIT: You said it was short of lining up, but then asked if the later frames were NARROWER than the 1st gens? That doesn't make sense, that would mean the crossmember was too long/wide if it was from a later generation. Or am I just reading too much into it?

JThompson · Nov 11, 2007

Cory said that the later model crossmember we got was SHORT betwixt the fraimrails. It seems the early trucks have a wider frame??? I don't know. All I know is that I found the 1st gen crossmembers different than the 84-95 c'members... diff. part #'s online...

So... I need a '79-83 c'member! :awesomework:

84Toyota4x4 · Nov 11, 2007

Where did you look for them online? Id like to look at some part numbers myself.

~T.J.

ToyZuki · Nov 12, 2007

Not sure what year it changed but there is a difference due to the length of the tranny. The newer trannies are longer which puts the cross member back at a wider part of the frame rails. The difference is about 5".

zig80toy · Nov 15, 2007

They are not all the same.
ToyZuki, is on the right track.
early 4 and 5 speed trans/tcases ( i think your right, 79-83) were shorter and mounted more forward on the frame.
I put a 5 speed trany out of a 86 in my 80 that originally came with a 4 speed. The mounting holes on the frame were about 5 to 6 inches to far forward for the crossmember that came with the 86. I used the crossmember that came with the original trans and bolted its front holes to the aft mounting holes on the frame. Then used u bolts over the frame to the aft mounting holes on the crossmember.

zig80toy · Nov 15, 2007

I just read over what i posted and i just about got lost myself. If it doesn't make sense, let me know, i'll try to explain better. Also, i would like to add, as it does work just fine, its kind of a lame setup. If you do end up in a circumstance like mine were a stock toy crossmember will not fit, it might be worth buying a crossmember from one of the many vendors. not only will it bolt right up with no problems but will give you much better ground clearance...

Turtle Bite · Nov 15, 2007

Toyzuki is right, there are different length trannys and the frame tapers as it gets closer to the front, thats where the difference comes from. Just take a tape measure to the outside holes of your brackets and measure any candidates to confirm your getting the width you want.

nevada · Jan 15, 2009

OLD thread..i know.

but...has anyone ever been able to make a 79-83 xmember work on an 84+

is there enough room to just drill new holes? or is that not even the problem?
ive got an 85, with duals, and can get a good deal on a 79-83 xmember. just wondering if its worth getting, and trying to make work.