Bell housing or full transmission?

[97_FZJ80]

Back in November my u joint took a dump on my 1996 V6 manual 4x4 Tacoma, and the vibrations of the driveshaft on the highway caused the bell housing to crack. I got it towed to a shop and was still able to shift through all the gears and put it into 4lo and back, albeit with the gearbox in neutral, since the clutch pedal was just limp and to the floor due to the lack of pressure. The truck was still running when I shut it off, so I'm pretty sure the engine is fine. It also took out the gas tank and muffler, but those should be pretty easy fixes.

I know it's been a while, but I was in the process of moving across the county at the time, so the whole situation put me in a bit of a hole. Regardless, I'm trying to get it going again, and I have the option of an r150 bell housing for $100, or a used gearbox from a v6 tundra for $400. Is it worth taking the risk of dropping the whole trans just to change the bell housing, or should I just a full extra transmission to be safe?

 

[Lockasiam]

if the $400 isnt much more out of your budget, i'd just get the transmission

 

[K-Man]

Get the spare transmission. You don't know what else the vibration tore up internally.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

I'd swap the transmission and the transfer case if it's aluminum. The vibrations that shattered the bellhousing made their way there via the transfer case. I don't know about Toyota chain drive cases but the Borg Warner and New Process cases in the American trucks tend to explode once they get exposed to even small amounts of vibrations.

 

[97_FZJ80]

if the $400 isnt much more out of your budget, i'd just get the transmission

It’s definitely a bigger chunk out of my budget, but it’d suck to do all the work to replace the bell housing only to find out the gearbox is inoperable.

 

[Lockasiam]

It’s definitely a bigger chunk out of my budget, but it’d suck to do all the work to replace the bell housing only to find out the gearbox is inoperable.

definitely the whole transmission then, so you don't have to pay twice.

 

[97_FZJ80]

Get the spare transmission. You don't know what else the vibration tore up internally.

Even if I was able to shift through the gears and 4lo with the truck in neutral? I didn’t hear any grinding, it I agree it is a big risk.

 

[97_FZJ80]

Also does anyone know if an R150 from a V6 4x4 2001 Tundra will be a direct bolt on for a 1996 V6 4x4 Tacoma?

 

[Lockasiam]

Also does anyone know if an R150 from a V6 4x4 2001 Tundra will be a direct bolt on for a 1996 V6 4x4 Tacoma?

Are you more concerned about the bell housing pattern or the length

 

[97_FZJ80]

Are you more concerned about the bell housing pattern or the length

I suppose the length would be a bigger concern since the Tundra is overall a bigger vehicle.

 

[dfarr67]

Line up a spare, but the mechanic should check runout of the input shaft and change the input bearing and seal.

 

[Lockasiam]

I suppose the length would be a bigger concern since the Tundra is overall a bigger vehicle.

Can you see the new trans in person? Measuring the old and the new would probably be the easiest way to know if it will fit

 

[97_FZJ80]

Can you see the new trans in person? Measuring the old and the new would probably be the easiest way to know if it will fit

It’s 6 hours away so unfortunately not.

 

[Lockasiam]

Would the owner do it perchance?

 

[97_FZJ80]

Would the owner do it perchance?

Possibly, my truck is also not currently with me so I’m not sure of the original length. If anything it’s the input and output shafts I’d be more concerned about.

 

[chorty]

Jesus good god. How much coffee did you spill before it cracked the bell housing? WOW!

By Buddy callled about this speedometer not working. He drove it so long with a bad ujoint the driveshaft destroyed the tailpeice on the gearbox and a VSS went apeshit .........

I feel like I'm the odd duck noticing a wheel weight off @ 70mph....

 

[Exhaustgases]

And this is why aluminum is used on things it should not be used on. Never saw an old truck with iron components cracked from a vibration issue.

 

[chorty]

And this is why aluminum is used on things it should not be used on. Never saw an old truck with iron components cracked from a vibration issue.

Probably not vibration.

But I bet it was violent!!

 

[Exhaustgases]

Yeah a high drop, big dozer, huge excavator thumb can cause all sorts of destruction.

Been there done that with old junk left on job sites in the past.

 

[chorty]

Yeah a high drop, big dozer, huge excavator thumb can cause all sorts of destruction.

Been there done that with old junk left on job sites in the past.

this was in the junk engine pile from back the day of my dad wrenching buisness. I can almost promise this came out of an old 60-70's car like this. we've never owned an excavator with a thumb.