How-to guide for converting your 2007-2013 Tundra to Full Time AWD capability

Hi all,
I am fairly new to this Forum, but have been active on Tundratalk since 2012. Unfortunately, that site barely sees any traffic anymore, so I've decided to join this community as well. I want to share with you my write-up on converting the 2nd Gen Tundra to full time AWD capability.

Those of you with supercharged trucks and those with stock trucks in cold/snowy climates know how hard it is to get any traction in 2WD on take-off. I have an S/C truck in Canada, so I find that most of the time, if I want to race somebody, I have to quickly shift it into 4WD, otherwise most guys easily get a jump on you. That is all fine and well, until a corner comes up and you start running a risk of damaging your driveline on dry pavement. Also, once you kick someone’s butt, you are likely going much faster than 60 mph, so now you are stuck in 4WD, and if you are on a highway, it is not very convenient to slow down to shift back to 2WD. Even during daily driving, when there is a lot of snow/ice in the neighborhood, I always use 4x4 to get out, and then once you hit the plowed road, you have to switch back again, so another inconvenience.

For these reasons I have been wanting to add AWD option to my truck for some time now. I have seen a guy named Brian Jowett on another forum who installed a Landcruiser T-case into his truck and he was my inspiration. Finally I had a few bucks in my pocket, and after doing my research, I ordered the transfer case I wanted. I decided not to go with the JF2A transfer case found in the Landcruiser and the LX570 because it is a full time transfer case with no option of 2WD, so instead I went with the Torsen LSD equipped multi-mode JF3A t-case found in the 2008+ Sequoia. That transfer case has all the options you can ask for: 2HI, 4HI free, 4LO free, 4HI lock and 4LO lock. So now, when I am driving somewhere in the summer on the highway, I can have it in 2WD and save on gas, if I am driving in winter or wanting to race somebody, I can put it in 4HI free, and when I go off-roading I can lock the center diff and have it in 4HI lock or 4LO lock.

Here is the video of the system operation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvcIeE5DLGw&t

 

Intense first post! Welcome.

 

This one is going to require more coffee...

 

So not exactly Full Time AWD but a nice change and need to read more

 

Love the creativity in problem solving here!

 

This gives you Full Time AWD capability.

I’ll make a video of how the system works and post it up today.

 

Damn, got that paddle shift too!

Nice work!

 

Nice write-up. Good thing I already have a Sequoia

 

Sweet. They lack of a Torsen Limited Slip in the TC was one of my dislikes after coming over to the Tundra from my 4th Gen 4Runner. Leave it in 4Hi and let the wife drive thru winter without worries of binding the system.

How much do you figure the parts total is if DIY'd?

 

Very glad to see you here @ViktorG . You bring a lot to the party.

Welcome from south of the border .

 

Nice!
Now you could make a write up on "How to install a box/bed onto a Sequoia to turn it into a real truck"

Just playing with you lol

 

Thanks!
I'm going to make a post on the functional paddle shifter steering wheel install as well later on.

 

If you get a used t-case and ECU, don't modify the front drive shaft and install a diff lock indicator LED instead of swapping the instrument cluster, it can be done for right around $1000 USD.

 

Nice to see you over here ViktorG. I moved a few months ago for the same reason. Thanks for sharing!

 

Awesome write up! With the supercharger it's almost impossible to do even a mildly quick acceleration without breaking the rear tires loose, and I haven't even been in snow with boost yet. This would be a nice mod down the line.

 

@Wynnded

 

Wow....great write up

 

I have a SC Crewmax and was thinking about this the other day, that it requires 4wd to really get off the line. Now you've given me another mod idea....terrific, just what my wallet needs.

Fantastic write up btw.

 

Wow. Nice idea and write up. Welcome to the best Tundra forum.

 

I highly recommend this mod!

On my truck, I modified the Sequoia cluster's EPS LED by unsoldering the LED (make sure you get the right one!) from the circuit board. The method for removing the indicator needles from the gauge faces is to pry them with a fork . The tines of the fork go underneath the needle and on either side of the, what, electric motor or solenoid? The "dish" of the fork allows you to pry the needle off kind of similar to the manner in which you use a carpenter's hammer to hook and pull out a nail.

 

Awesome writeup. So the trans housing is different with the 14+? Is it just the bolt pattern on the tail housing that was changed on the trans?

 

Weren't you one the very first guy to do this AWD conversion after my original write-up on Tundratalk in 2016?
I'm glad you were able to pry the needles off without an issue, I will likely go that route as well if I have to do it again, easier than mucking around with the EPS ECU

 

The trans housing is the same, the problem is with the electronics for the shift motors on the 2014+ being completely different.
Everything is interconnected on the CAN bus, and you cannot (easily anyways) make the Borg Warner 4WD ECU (14+) communicate with the Aisin transfer case shift actuator.

 

Thanks, that good info to have. I wonder if we could do a standalone harness, I know you would lose stuff like dash lights, vsc/trac in 4wd, etc, but it may be worth it to some.
I know the tacoma guys swap j shift tcases out of Fjs into their 2nd gen trucks, do you know if there is a manual shift tcase that mates to the tundra trans from a cruiser or prado or ?

 

Pretty close to one of the first, as I recall.

 

Nice to see you here. Now tell them about your island!

lol

 

I do believe it is technically possible to make this work on a 2014+ truck, but unless someone is willing to take the time and spend the money to try it, we will never know.
I already have two 2nd Gen Tundras, so I'm not in a market for another one, but if I were to ever buy a 2014+ model, I would certainly attempt this conversion...

 

I might start a thread about Victor Island one day, but I didn't necessarily want to introduce myself to the community that way lol...