hey all, this site is awesome. i started fixing up an old 1980 yota and use this site like a bible. just wanted to share my experience with who ever is interested. i bought this truck for 500 bucks. it was upgraded to 22r (dual row timing chain) and L45 tranny. i need to replace the L45 because 1st is stripped. i found an L43 for $200 but i know this is considered to be the weakest tranny out there for this truck but im on a budget. im planing rebuilding the entire drive train and will end up with 4.10 diffs in this truck. any thoughts?

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2570438

Cool; another Canuck; welcome!

My 2 cts on the L43 tranny is that it'll be okay for while the other one is being rebuilt to stick up in there, so it's up to you as to whether you want to spend the $200. I wouldn't consider it to be permanent. If you get it, double check the rubber spacers for the shifter, or you'll be shifting with a pair of vise grips. I have an IPB w/ the part number for the shifter stuff if you need one. With that being a side shift, make sure all the parts are there.

Is this a spare, or a daily driver?

You might be able to send the L45 down to www.marlincrawler.com for a rebuildable core in the meantime; check them out. I think he'll send you something out of California.

ya i was looking on that site. it seemed like it would be pretty pricey to send it away and all that. i considered ordering one of there kits and rebuilding the one i have, but i didnt see and actual gears. first gear just grinds but all the rest work fine. where can i get a first gear?

oh ya, this is a spare for now. my tercel is getting me back and forth to work

It might not be the actual gear, it might be the collar/dog tooth unit that engages the gears. I'm no expert by the way... have a look at this site, it has great diagrams of basic manual trannys.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission3.htm

YAY another RN47! Welcome to the WIRE!
Cheap is good but if you can fix what you have, it's even better! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/notooth.gif" alt="" />

you could find a w56 out there for a little more...dont settle

Welcome Canuck!
FWIW, I mentioned to a knowledgable Toyota mech I wanted to change to a 5-speed on my '80 RN47. He said don't do it! That 40-series tranny lasts 300k miles where those 5-speeds get only 120k or so. As a result, I just never persued it.

that is an interesting diagram, but im still not sure. i put a new shifter seat and collar on the shifter, which didnt do anything. when i put it in first the shifter almost hits the radio and when i let the clutch out it will just grind no matter how hard i hold the shifter forward. i guess i wont know until i get it out of there.

thanks for the welcome guys. my truck says RN37 in the door jam not RN47. whats the difference?

ya i was planing on staying with the L series tranny because they will bolt in with no mods to drive shafts or cross member, since i only have and tools and a drill.