Differential case same 4.6 and 5.7?

Does anyone know if the rear end case is the same for a 4.6 and a 5.7?

As part of my 2WD to 4WD conversion I'll have to move over the rear differential from my donor 5.7 to my 2015 SR 4.6 truck and need to know if I can just move over the internals.

 

The 4.6 came with the 9.5” rear diff in 2011 with a 3.91 rear gear can you swap the entire rear axle over?

 

I could if transferring internals is not possible. I was trying to avoid having to swap the whole axle.

 

If you have an extra axle, just use that, way easier than re—gearing. Rear diffs are not something you just swap internals on. It takes a lot of time, trial and error to do.

Most folks who have to regear pull the axle off and throw it on a stand anyway. It is definitely not something you want to do under the truck.

 

As indicated, the rear end setup on the 4.6 is completely different than the 5.7.

 

Move the entire axle and driveshaft right (length pro different)

4.30 gears will def help 4.6

 

Is the donor truck the same cab configuration?

edit: I’ll also say this. You need to plan this project out much further than this post is indicating you have. What’s the plan on computers to control everything? I’m not positive how the ECU for the truck plays with the 4wd computer. If the ECU is 4wd specific, where will you get one? The one from the donor likely won’t work with your 4.6.

 

I think folks have warned him before of this monumental task/effort. Not for the faint of heart and definitely not a cost saver.

 

Yes, despite the numerous warnings, my research shows the ECU will recognize the 4WD controller module once I plug it in. Thanks to Toyota's use of the CANBus, everything is plug and play. The ECU PN is the same for all variants; 2WD and 4WD.

My donor is the same cap (DC) and although it's a 2008, the ADD and transfer case are also the same and will mount to the 2015 frame in all the right spots.

The only thing that is different is the transmission cross member between the 08 A60B and the 15 A760E transmissions, but the frame has the holes for it.

The whole reason for asking questions is so I know what to expect when I start taking things down from the donor and if someone has first hand knowledge of what I'm asking then I know it will work.

Thanks all for your constructive criticism and your knowledge sharing. I'll make a detailed post of everything I did once I'm done.

My fallback plan is to wire the transfer case and ADD into a microcontroller programmed to handle the switching between 2/4Hi/4LOW, considering the speed of the truck for 2/4Hi and stopped, in neutral for 4hi/4Lo. All the signals needed to make these decisions are in the wiring to the two units.

And if the electronics won't work either, someone here already worked out how to switch to 4hi/lo and back mechanically. I already switched the console from the 2008 donor to my 15 column shift so I have the perfect location for those gear levers. Worst case, I use the FJ transfer case, yeah that was done in a Sequoia too.

I'm doing this because I can and want to, not necessarily to save money, although I do believe I will save money in the long run versus trading in my 2WD for a 4WD.

I got the truck for $12K three years ago and a few months ago I got a donor for $4K. I just could not find a 2015 4WD for $16K when I decided to do this, do you think it can be found?

And on top of all this, I can sell the perfectly fine 5.7 engine when I'm done as I am not using it... how much do you think I'll get for the 5.7

Cheers!

 

Wait, the 5.7 4wd is a runner? Why swap into the 4.6?? Let's go wild and bring the engine and trans and drivetrain all over!!!

 

The donor has a bad frame otherwise I would have sold the 15. I know my 4.6 and all it's quirks, I don't know what the 5.7 has been through. I did a compression test and it looks good but prefer the devil I know.