3.4 liter swap with 3.0 V6?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mspa
  • Start date Start date
M

mspa

Guest
Has anyone had any experience with swapping a newer Toyota 3.4 V6 in place of the first gen 4runner?

I have a 3.0 liter V6 with head gasket issues, high mileage (287k) and it's been rebuilt once.

Offroadsolutions.com offers kits for this swap. Looks like it is a quality kit, but I'd like to find out from someone who's done it.
 
Register to hide this ad
I too have looked into the 3.4 swap for the 3.0

I have several websites bookmarked for futre reference. Here are several of the links that I have to date:

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=534324&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1


http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=742207&page=&view=&sb=5&o=&fpart=all&vc=1

Here's one where they put the 3.4 in a 2nd generation 4 runner.

http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showf...2779&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=365&fpart=1

And the last one that I have:

http://www.andrewzook.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=48

Of course you already know about Offroad solutions. There is alot of info in all of the threads, you just have to dig through them. Good luck in whatever you decide and post back with what you did, maybe even a write up with the 3.4 swap.
 
thanks Bill, I will definitely post back with the next step and anything I think could prove useful for anyone else!
 
for anyone that didn't see my other post "short lived fun" . . . I got a second opinion and was told that my engine is NOT about to die. The head gaskets are fine. The compression is 180 and all cylinders are pretty even. The real issue is leaking valve cover gaskets. They leaked into my clutch housing and messed the clutch up. I got it all fixed, picked up today, and it's like a whole new truck.

Getting a second opinion saved me thousands of dollars, OR possibly selling my truck . . . so I'm real glad I did.
 
Clutch Symptoms?

I wasn't able to find your "Short Lived Fun" post, but what you said about valve cover gaskets causing issues with your clutch raised my eyebrow. I have a 94 with the 3.0L V6 and I recently ran into some clutch "problems" that don't really equate to slippage, but more of a high pitched grinding sound. I equate it with oil on the clutch wheel, but everyone is telling me to just reokace the clutch... What were your symptoms from the leaking valve gaskets?
 
I didn't have any strange noises, it was more of a matter of having to press almost all the way to the floorboard to engage the clutch to shift. This was something that rapidly grew worse, once it started . . . as in day by day. Shifting itself became harder and shifting did not have the same feel as normal. For mine, prior to the leak, shifts were predictable and smooth. As the problem got worse, sometimes I would get some gear slippage in low gear. After the clutch was replaced and the valve gasket too, shifting felt like a much newer truck. I will say, that I did have to have the lines bled a few times.

I suppose you could check to see if there is any fluid leaking on the back. I didn't notice it. My mechanic did when they went in to look all over the engine, and after they realized the head gasket was fine.
 
Can someone explain something for me? Why would anyone put so much money ($3-4500) into swapping an engine into a truck that still has a low blue book value...maybe even lower due to the extreme modification? Not to mention that most of the mods I've read about STILL have problems months on end after the swap...some with no known repairs.

Why not just sell the current truck and buy one made for holding a stock 3.4? I guess you have to be pretty "in love" with your truck to justify spending that kind of money & time to get a truck that's still sub par with one made for the 3.4.

Reading all of these posts have made my mind up about the truck I bought. If it is the turd everyone claims it to be, I'm going to fix it up and dump it. Why keep a truck known for a bad engine and poor design?

I'm welcome to anyone with a good counter point about the positives of this truck cause frankly I don't see any.
 
reason 1 : Ive seen these engines go for $600-$1000 so probably $1000-$1400 or so with trans.

reason 2 : its a 2dr. shorter wheelbase I prefer it this way

reason 3 : its a convertible

reason 4 : pre 90's toy's are much prettier IMO

reason 5 : (just a guess) but Id say the 1st gen is probably lighter

reason 6 : more truck, less soccer mom

reason 7 : less common, I only see maybe 1 a week the others i see all day long

well anyways these are some of my reasons. basically i think the first gens are designed more for fun newer ones are designed more for convenience. the first gen is a real utility type truck free of all the modern comforts I honestly prefer it this way as it reminds me more of a truck not a van...
 
3.4 power

hi all i put a 96 3.4 into my 1988 3.0 std cab pickup 5 spd glad i did so much more power better fuel economy! sure its kind of a pain an spendy but its worth it in my opinion this motor is unstoppable!! all my friends talk about how fast this truck is ive had quite a few cars at the stoplight tryin to be faster on the go but i leave em in the dust:):flipoff: oh and not to mention how much easier this motor is to work on! the 3.0s are too cramped! if anyone has questions on this swap feel free to ask. A guy i know did the wiring harness but as for puttin in the motor an switchin things around that was all me
 
Can someone explain something for me? Why would anyone put so much money ($3-4500) into swapping an engine into a truck that still has a low blue book value...maybe even lower due to the extreme modification? Not to mention that most of the mods I've read about STILL have problems months on end after the swap...some with no known repairs.

Why not just sell the current truck and buy one made for holding a stock 3.4? I guess you have to be pretty "in love" with your truck to justify spending that kind of money & time to get a truck that's still sub par with one made for the 3.4.

Reading all of these posts have made my mind up about the truck I bought. If it is the **** everyone claims it to be, I'm going to fix it up and dump it. Why keep a truck known for a bad engine and poor design?

I'm welcome to anyone with a good counter point about the positives of this truck cause frankly I don't see any.


apparently your not a "car guy" .. cuz .. no one can "explain it" you just have to "feel" it ..


.
 

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
278,316
Messages
3,554,105
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Trending content

Back
Top