Is it feasible to take a 5VZFE engine and transmission out of a 2000 4Runner Limited 4WD and put it into a 1998 4Runner Limited 4WD that has a blown 5VZFE?

Any changes Toyota made 98 to '00 that would complicate it?

Engine will swap but tranny and tranfer case is different. Awd verses 4wd and what not.

x2. Just use your existing ECM, wiring and sensors. Basically just swap, the (long) block.

Good to know thanks - thought it might be simpler to swap transmission and engine together but OK. My son's 2000 has a rusted frame and I'm thinking of buying this 98 with a blown engine.

Seriously consider a JDM engine. You can get a 2004 JDM 5VZ from a Toyota Granvia.

I'm putting a 2004 into a 1997 right now.

That sounds awesome, where could you find a jdm motor? EBay maybe?

I'm doing my head gasket right now and currently at the point of where the intake manifold and vacuum lines are. I peeked at my buddy's 00' 5VZFE and noticed that some vacuum lines/hoses may be different than my 97. Not 100% on this but fairly certain i saw some differences, especially in the back (hard to see) area of the intake manifold.

I'll try to find some pics online to show what i mean.

eBay is the last resort. Look around for a local importer. You really want to be able to take a look at the engine and ensure that it isn't full of sludge and doesn't look like it's been sitting around for 5 years.

All JDM sites will claim that they have "low miles" but the truth is that they're all really just the middle man and have no idea of engine history. They have no way of knowing if the engines they got have 25k miles or 250k miles. They literally get a shipping container full of engines. If you're lucky, it will be power washed before being sold.

A JDM engine IS a junk yard engine. It's just that it's from a junk yard in a country where people are forced to take good care of their cars due to a tough inspection and don't drive all that much because tolls are insane.

The Granvia engine will also need the oil cooler, oil pan and exhaust manifold from the 4Runner.

I'll see if I can post a detailed thread about my experience putting a JDM Granvia engine in as soon as I'm done.

Edit: Also the only way you can find out the year is by looking at the water pump. You'll be able to see a date stamp on it. You'll need to take off the top of the timing belt cover, the belt should look new as well. Also 2000+ have fins on one of the valve covers. (driver side IIRC)

Any year 5VZ will work as long as you strip it down to the longblock and swap over the sensors/coolers/brackets/oil pan(if 2wd) from yours. I put in a 2wd motor from a van or something in my runner, just had to take the extra time to swap all the stuff over.

Another way to tell the year of the motor is check the date stamped on the plug wires. Granted they could be aftermarket or someone could have swapped them, Ill assume most people wont touch them if the motor is getting pulled at 50-60k

I must have a 2000 in my 96 then cuase I have fins on my cover

Odd. My 97 doesn't....

I have a 2000 4Runner with a rusted frame - I was considering putting its engine into a 1998 Limited that currently has a blown engine but the owner never emailed me back - I think it sold.

The throttle boties are different. And so is the wire harness.
The newer throttle bodie ie 2000 up have more electronics on them. And the 96 97 98 99 wire harness doesn't plug into the 2000 TB

Correct. You reuse the original throttlebody, really entire upper inatke, and all wiring.

For vacuum help, check page 9 of this thread out. i went through a puzzle trying to figure out the vacuum lines when putting together my motor. I tried to document as much as i could in terms of plugs and hoses.

Head Gasket symptoms starting to show...

Btw, mine is a 1997 SR5