The Cream Pie - A 2005 4wd/LS/5-Speed/SAS Conversion

Made a little change in base vehicles over the weekend. Ive been looking at the manual trans swap stuff in an auto tundra and it seemed like a lot of unnecessary work when Toyota was nice enough to make a 5/6-speed Tundra from the factory. So i began to search high and low for the mythical 6-speed 05/06 Tundra. And in the meantime i put the auto up for sale. It sold pretty quick for close to my asking price. Good thing that i found an '05 6-Speed Tundra about an hour away from me that i grabbed yesterday.

Here's the new cream pie. '05 Tundra Sr5 4.0l, 6-speed manual with 247k miles on it. Runs great. Interior color is now tan and it has bucket seats which is an upgrade in my opinion. Everything else is a carbon copy of the original one I had. So what does this get me? I now have OEM toyota pedals, parking brake handle, and clutch master cylinder to use instead of spending hours upon hours of fab work just to replicate what Toyota already did. I feel like im time and money ahead in the long run. I have a wheeling event at the end of the month im rushing to get my crawler done for, then after that its time to start taking the 4.0 out.

 

They are few and far between for sure. I found one more on craigslist locally. Id love to see the sales figures to determine how many actually came in manuals in 05. Im betting less than 2-3% of the total sales. In my search, i came across something even more rare, a 4.0/6-speed/4x4 tundra.

 

Meh. Been there. Done that. My crawler has a 4l60e in it. I enjoy driving a manual trans. The auto is better for rock crawling for sure, but there is just something special about shifting gears. Plus its something different.

 

I think so. I have a few friends that have lost 5th do to that stupid collar. Ill do some research, but youre right, it would be definitely easier to do while its out.

 

That might have been a typo, or did they have photos proving this configuration? I was under the impression they never made that model with the 4.0 (I know they made one with the 3.4, though...I've seen a few of those).

 

The 05 and 06 had 4.0 base engine replacing the 3.4. it came in 5 speed auto or 6 speed manual

 

He's referring to an 05/06 having the V6/6-speed AND 4wd. It may have been a type but i feel like thats what i remember.

 

Yeah, the 4.0/manual/4x4 is a trim I've never seen. Would love to see one though if they made it!

 

Youre right. the one i saw was on copart and is a 3.4. Nice truck though if someone wants to bid on it.
https://www.copart.com/lot/48687569

 

Wait so is the one you picked up just 2wd and manual v6? I guess it doesn't matter if you plan to sas and crawbox anyways

 

yes.

 

The 03-05 4.0 engines have known issues with blowing head gaskets either on the #4 or #6 cylinder. It usually happens between 160-220k miles. I have an 03 4runner that I recently had to do the head gasket replacement to cure the #4 cylinder misfire.

So like "Watt" said, check the gaskets, pretty common problem on the 03-05 4.0 engine.

*update*, I see you already traded it for a different truck.

 

Traded it for the same truck basically just different transmission. The new one has 247k on the 4.0 and its still holding strong. I am yanking it all out anyways.

 

Did a little work on the cream pie last night. Turns out a late model disc braked 14b has damn near identical spring spacing as the Tundra. Bolted right up.

 

Picked up my new (to me) wheels from a buddy. 39s are getting sold to another buddy. Wheels are ATX Chamber Pro 2 beadlocks. They will be getting powdercoated something kinky down the line. Not sure what contrasting color i want just yet. Probably a bronze type color.

 

Pulled the exhaust and transmission yesterday. Came out very smooth. Its for sale if anyone is interested.

 

This happened last night. The 4.slo was taken out and set aside. Front frame section is getting cut out today after i remove the ABS shit and clean up some of the stuff on the frame rails i dont want to cut off.

 

Bye bye IFS junk. Anyone need any parts from the front end? I’d post it up but don’t have 50 posts...

 

Yet

 

Man, this is the perfect beginning to the 4wd conversion that I have been wanting to do. You’re in Texas too right? I think I saw your first 6cyl on Craigslist.

 

Yessir. Outside of Houston.

 

It wasn't 4x4 to begin with? Damn I would've bought your CV axles

 

I thought it was 4x4 too, thats what I get for looking at it on my phone.

 

It never was 4wd, but it will be.

 

Don't forget I'm interested in your trans cross member if you remove.it

 

Mocked up the front end to get the look. Some trimming required.

 

Also built the new front frame rails. 2x4x.120 tubing cut and notched. The frame is about 5" higher than stock would be for more uptravel. The pie cuts will be filled in and plated. Going to try and get the engine mocked up this weekend.