3.0 vs. 3.4

[Gremcat]

Just trying to put the pieces together on what I want to do this fall winter on my Runner. I have the 3VZ now. I am contemplating a 3.4 swap or a 3.0 rebuild with supercharger. I am thinking with a good set of heads from LCE and the TRD supercharger I can get what I want power wise. Is it worth the extra cost to gain 50 hp with the 3.4? I am guessing if I go SC with the 3.4 I would need new heads and not just a donor engine. I am also wondering if I find a totaled late model 3.4 if I would be in it cheaper than a 3,0 rebuild. The biggest thing is finding someone to do the swap. This is my DD and I want to find somewhere I can take it in NC that can do it in a week or a place I can go like Colorado that could do it quicker. Does ORS do quick swaps like this or is it more labor intensive, There is also the scare that after the swap if I need to drive it home something may come up. I can maybe go two weeks. The other option is driving it as is until I decide it is a weekend vehicle and not a DD. That would free up more time for the swap. I am hoping to drive this for the next 40 years though lol. I had a 1993 and wound up with a Mercedes and regretted it and now 5 years or so later am back to a early model Toyota with a Tundra in between. Man I missed that revving noise when you first take off in an early Toyota. I don't know if it is the engines or the exhaust or what but there is something unique about the sound of one of these trucks.
Thanks everyone and I apologize for all the different questions I am always asking. I used to just beat on my old truck and now I want to go to the other extreme and actually take care of it.

 

[KidVermicious]

This is just my opinion, and it's worth every penny you're paying for it, but I'd rather have a stock 5VZE than a supercharged 3VZE. I had to make the same decision with my 22RE, and while it might have been easier to mod the 22RE to make 3RZ power, at the end of the day it would have cost a bunch and made the 22RE less reliable and given me less room to expand if it still wasn't enough power. I decided to go with the 3RZ swap. It gets me to my HP goal but with a more efficient motor, OBD2 capability, and stock reliability.

The 3RZ wasn't easy to find a donor for. You can find a donor 5VZE all day and for less money, so if I were in your shoes I wouldn't even consider modding the 3VZE.

 

[3rzrunner]

This is just my opinion, and it's worth every penny you're paying for it, but I'd rather have a stock 5VZE than a supercharged 3VZE. I had to make the same decision with my 22RE, and while it might have been easier to mod the 22RE to make 3RZ power, at the end of the day it would have cost a bunch and made the 22RE less reliable and given me less room to expand if it still wasn't enough power. I decided to go with the 3RZ swap. It gets me to my HP goal but with a more efficient motor, OBD2 capability, and stock reliability.

The 3RZ wasn't easy to find a donor for. You can find a donor 5VZE all day and for less money, so if I were in your shoes I wouldn't even consider modding the 3VZE.

well said. 100% agree

 

[broken wrench]

You don't need head work to run an sc, to me an sc will take away from the benefits of 3.4 for your daily driver. Keep in mind that you will be spending more cash to keep the sc reliable. To be able to give you a more accurate time line on swap more info is needed about your truck. Transmission is it auto or manual,are you going to want the shop to wire in all guages and tach mod?

Hands down to me the 3.4 is the way to go, I urge everyone that comes to me with this question to consider it. 3rz swaps I use for trucks,still plenty of power for a runner to.

 

[Gremcat]

The truck is an 89 SR5 5speed. I am going to build a custom dash for it with a set of Autometer gauges so I am unsure if I will need them to wire it or if I can wire it afterwards. I need to look into the Autometer set and see if it can tie into an existing set or if it needs to be rewired anyway but my gut tells me to let someone wire the dash and complete the swap and then do the gauge and dash. I also need to see if I can build a dash out of 80/20 like I want to or if that will pose electrical issues ( being conductive metal and all ) For the sake of this conversation let's assume I am going to need them to wire everything. For reliability reasons I want to get one shop that has done a bunch do a complete job.

 

[Gremcat]

I also assumed using a TRD SC that maintenance and repairs would be similar to a stock motor but maybe not. If it is going to be a reliability issue I will probably skip the SC. I probably don't need that much power anyway.

 

[Kenworth]

I have available 3.4 (needs rebuilt)
Ecu,
Engine harness evap box for sale,

 

[crash813]

Heavy modifications to an engine always is a headache. Even well developed kits. None are anywhere near plug and play and forget. To me, if you want easy and reliable, get a rebuilt 3.0. If you want a reasonable increase in power go with the 3.4. If you want more than 200hp, go to a more widely used platform that has much more exposure (4.3, domestic v8). If you plan on paying someone else to do all the work, buy a newer vehicle.

 

[Gremcat]

There is a local guy on CL with a cheap 3.4 but I want a donor vehicle so I have everything I need. but thanks for the offer. As to doing it myself or buying newer this is the body style I want and I want it to be updated to run with a little more power, better gas mileage, and reliability. I don't plan on buying a new vehicle with a payment. If I can get the engine and suspension updated under 8k and a paint job I will be good for a long while. I enjoy older vehicles much more than newer I also do a lot of work on my own stuff I just don't want to mess up an engine swap that involves electrical. I don't want to have to chase those demons forever. I will do the suspension stuff and bumpers/interior myself. I appreciate all the advice. I don't hate the 3.0 like others do. My only problem is I commute to work in it and going 100 miles one way without the passing ability or acceleration is tough. I had a Tundra with 210K and the 3.4 in it and it was fine for commuting in. I am assuming if I can get close to that power in my current lighter setup I will be fine. I just want to keep my limits and time availability in mind and if I can pay someone with experience to do the engine that is more of my free time I can spend wheeling and camping with my children.

 

[Gremcat]

Also want to keep the powerplant Toyota. I have seen a few around here running chevy motors but that is just sacrilege.

 

[Gremcat]

Maybe I am different than most on here. I have owned Toyotas most of my life and look at a Toyota truck covered in rust and see a split window corvette sitting in someone's garage. I don't circle the parking lot to see a muscle car but if I see a late 70's Toyota pick up in the lot I will circle a few times to check it out even if it is rotten through. I know most love them for their wheeling capability. I just like them in general and hope to always own one.

 

[thatoneguy]

1uz swap if you're a big baller. Fantastic engine, plenty of torque and power.

 

[541joseph]

Heavy modifications to an engine always is a headache. Even well developed kits. None are anywhere near plug and play and forget. To me, if you want easy and reliable, get a rebuilt 3.0. If you want a reasonable increase in power go with the 3.4. If you want more than 200hp, go to a more widely used platform that has much more exposure (4.3, domestic v8). If you plan on paying someone else to do all the work, buy a newer vehicle.

Actually 4.3l is a 350 with 2 cylinders loped off so it's a v6 still

 

[crash813]

Actually 4.3l is a 350 with 2 cylinders loped off so it's a v6 still

Yeah, I meant that as a listing as 4.3 "or" various domestic v8's instead of listing out all of the options like 5.0, 305, 327, 350, 351, 400, LS, LT, TBI, small block, big block, etc, etc.


As far as wanting to keep it Toyota and costs down and not get into it too much yourself, you're back to 3.0 or 3.4. I personally think a supercharger on an old engine is not a wise investment.

It comes down to want do you really want:
just want reliable - rebuilt 3.0
reliable and more power - 3.4
more...more power - you know my previous answer. :hippie:

 

[Gremcat]

I did think of a 302 efi conversion but really want to keep it Toyota. If I did a 3.0 SC I would definitely get a shortblock or rebuild what I had. I guess the answer is obvious. If I am going to do a crate 3.0 swapping in a low mileage 3.4 is going to be comparably priced. If it costs more to get what I want that is ok. Like I said I am hoping to own this thing for a very long time.

 

[91'4bee]

I have the 3VZ now. The other option is driving it as is until I decide it is a weekend vehicle and not a DD.

You said it...drive as is. Having more power is great but you could do some small modifications to the existing 3.0 to make it a little quicker.

However any motor swap is expensive(at least to me) so I would wait until you have more time to play with your options. Since you want the platform Toyota and lots of power, go with the Toyota 4.6L 1UR-fe or the direct injection version 1ur-fse. V8 power!

 

[Gremcat]

I am also looking at the IUZ LS400 V8. There is a guy here local doing the swap and his mechanic is in Durham. May end up waiting until I am not dependent on it. I may be traveling internationally soon so it could be done while I am away.