4.6 1URFE motor and transmission swap

[084RUNNAH]

So for the past year, I was contemplating on doing a diesel swap. After battling the thought of it, I decided against it for many reasons. A few reasons to note were upfront cost, how long to pay for itself, sourcing parts when needed, etc.

By the way, I have a 4.0 1GRFE which still works wonderfully. With the bumper, wheels and extra stuff along with towing a small trailer, I find the 1URFE might do the job and be unique. The 5.7 is just overkill.

So, I was looking at the 4.6 1URFE for some time and decided I will go this route. The 6 speed transmission is essentially the same as ours except it has an additional gear. The 4.6 and the 4.7 should be very similar in dimension. I took a few measurement of the 4.6 in a truck and it seems to be a good candidate. Planning on dropping the 4.6 1UR-FE along with the 6 speed transmission in my truck in the near future.

Any thoughts or anyone attempted such swap in the past that I should know about?

By the way, I am serious :loco:

Thanks in advance

 

[AuSeeker]

Why not just go with 4.7 ?

Going with the 4.6 you may have to change out ECMs and other stuff to get it to work.

 

[084RUNNAH]

I would have to change the ECM regardless as I am coming from a V6

The 4.7 is a outdated motor, however, bulletproof. The 4.6 is timing chain driven, more powerful and modern

 

[ZiaMan]

Why not an URD supercharger?
https://www.urdusa.com/urd-mk3-supercharger-kit-for-2005-2009-4runner-stage-i/

 

[084RUNNAH]

Yes, I seriously thought of going that route for decided against it for a few reasons:

- Cost: $5795 USD. For me, $7400 CAD plus shipping, duties and labor to install ($10k+)
- End result: For the cost, is it worth the gains?
- With my current fuel consumption, it would worsen it vs a V8 and remain
- Reliability with the supercharger as I plan on taking my truck into my grave lol

 

[Inv4drZm]

Yes, I seriously thought of going that route for decided against it for a few reasons:

- Cost: $5795 USD. For me, $7400 CAD plus shipping, duties and labor to install ($10k+)
- End result: For the cost, is it worth the gains?
- With my current fuel consumption, it would worsen it vs a V8 and remain
- Reliability with the supercharger as I plan on taking my truck into my grave lol

But the supercharger install would be way less of a headache, and likely similar in cost if you add up all your time spent swapping the motor unless you think you can do it easily, I have no idea what is involved.

 

[Drunner97]

Gears are even cheaper. It's amazing how much life I got back out of the V6 when I regeared.

 

[084RUNNAH]

Hmmm

So supercharging and re-gearing is what you guys are suggesting?

How is highway mileage for the V6 re-geared?

 

[Drunner97]

Hmmm

So supercharging and re-gearing is what you guys are suggesting?

How is highway mileage for the V6 re-geared?

Depends on the ratio and tire size. I expect my mpg to even out once I put these 35s on and bring my rpms down, but right now I'm in the mid 14s with plate front/rear bumper+swing out, winch, skids, sliders, roof rack, and heavy as piss FJ steelies wrapped in KM2s, dual batteries. On 4.88s

 

[084RUNNAH]

Depends on the ratio and tire size. I expect my mpg to even out once I put these 35s on and bring my rpms down, but right now I'm in the mid 14s with plate front/rear bumper+swing out, winch, skids, sliders, roof rack, and heavy as piss FJ steelies wrapped in KM2s, dual batteries. On 4.88s

My current tire size is 285/75/17 (34") with stock gearing and I am averaging 16 mpg with front plate bumper, roof rack, SR8 wheels with LT tires and dual batteries. Next year, winch, swing out, skids, sliders and a drawer system in the rear. At 14 mpg, thats matching the 4.6 V8 1URFE city mpg.

Im just worried that with all the weight and maybe an small RV in the future, the V6 might be a slug. Re-gearing I know will help a bunch and for power, a supercharger will haul but it is hard to see happening.

Really love my truck tho

 

[T4R2014]

Because engine swaps are the best solution for reliability and fuel cost savings.

 

[Drunner97]

My current tire size is 285/75/17 (34") with stock gearing and I am averaging 16 mpg with front plate bumper, roof rack, SR8 wheels with LT tires and dual batteries. Next year, winch, swing out, skids, sliders and a drawer system in the rear. At 14 mpg, thats matching the 4.6 V8 1URFE city mpg.

Im just worried that with all the weight and maybe an small RV in the future, the V6 might be a slug. Re-gearing I know will help a bunch and for power, a supercharger will haul but it is hard to see happening.

Really love my truck tho

Sounds like I have a lot more weight than you do and I haven't actually hand calculated a tank since I've regeared, I'm just going off the computer. The FJ steelie + km2 is roughly 80 or 90 lbs per corner. My rear bumper and swing out are 200 lbs before throwing the 80 lb spare on. Winch is like an extra 65 lbs. I know the sr8s are like 25 lbs vs the fj steelie 40ish lbs.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[Keros]

It's a great idea, no doubt about that. I was reading various threads around about engine management on the 2UZ-FE and the topic of swaps came up in the searches.

I've never personally executed an engine swap: I purchased a chassis, engine, and transmission to do one... but never found the time (and dedicated the money) to finishing it. Parted out the kit for far more than I paid to get into it though (phewf!).

Having said that, executing an engine swap is a labour of love. I'd have to adore the process and enjoy all the finicky problems and details that need figuring. It's complex, long, arduous, and many have attempted and failed executing swaps and thus been left with a half disassembled hulk that no one wants anything to do with.

"Just because we can, does that mean we should?"

If you have the tools, time, means, experience, and know-how, you can accomplish that which only others can imagine. I personally think a 1UR-FE would be FANTASTIC in the 4th gen chassis. Probably the motor it should have had all along.

The challenge is that the 4.7 is a great motor too; but as has been discussed it is out dated and a bit weak for its displacement. However, since it's readily available to buy one, and supercharge that to make a truely BEASTLY truck, there's alot of merit for the path of least resistance.

Now, when it comes down to budget for a swap, I have a magic formula for custom projects; where I take whatever number I firmly believe the job will cost and multiply that by 2.5... and that is much closer to the cost I see when all is said and done (for projects I was brave enough to tally all the bills up, most of the time I don't want to know...). I'm always surprised at how accurate it is. There's always so many little things that come up that are hard to plan for, and the more pressure I put into the project to get it done the more these little problems cost. It's that Good-Cheap-Quick: Pick two, conundrum because the faster you want custom, weird stuff, the more expensive that stuff becomes.

Anyway, assuming you've debated these merits already.

If it were me: If I knew I had the time, space, and skills to do all the work required and I've bought a second vehicle (that I like driving), yeah, I might rip into it just for craps and laughs on the assumption that I could haul everything to the scrap yard on any given day and wash my hands of the whole mess if I so decide. If I "have to get this done or bust", then I wouldn't spin a single bolt on it and drive it how it is.

TL DNR: Cost/Benefit ratio may be low. Do the swap because you want to do it and enjoy the process just as much as the outcome.

 

[collierunner]

I vote 1UR. Mostly because i like to see it done. opcorn:

You could always do a turbo 1uz, 2uz or 3uz. Not cost effective. But turbo :roll:

See MightyCarMods: https://youtu.be/YwIUolF28_E

Also seems like a lot of shops are doing prototype r2.8 cummins rigs right now. See if someone local would use your rig as a prototype.

 

[084RUNNAH]

Since Drunner97 got me thinking about weight, I decided to go take my truck on the scale to have an idea how much my beast weights. I was quite surprised. With only me and a half tank of gas, my truck weighed a whopping 5700lbs or roughly 2600kg. I thru in my sliders, and winch in the trunk since I'll install them in the spring.

That is almost the weight of a base model Sequoia with a 5.7. That is not even including a rear bumper with swing out, an actual full spare tire, drawer system and an audio system lol.

So back to the drawing board. Will the 1GRFE be up to task with a supercharger and re-gear? I've read somewhere stating that a 5.7 can physically fit in the engine bay or maybe that was on a Tacoma which is essentially the same as the 4Runner. Hmm

I also have a daily driver which is a Volkswagen Passat which is temporary until I figure out what to do with the 4Runner. Fuel does add up as I drive 26km / 16miles one way and I granny it which takes the fun away. My worst mileage was 15 mpg if I push it once in a while. Truck also has low mileage - 62000kms / 39000 miles.

 

[94toy22re]

Why not just sell the 4runner, it has low miles so it should be pretty easy to get a good price for it and just upgrade to a 200 series or gx460? It’s going to cheaper and far less hassle in the end.

 

[084RUNNAH]

Why not just sell the 4runner, it has low miles so it should be pretty easy to get a good price for it and just upgrade to a 200 series or gx460? It’s going to cheaper and far less hassle in the end.

Yeah I thought of doing something like that but they are ugly. The 4Runner has more sex appeal. I also don’t want car payments. I’m gonna try to source out a donor vehicle this weekend

 

[94toy22re]

Then I would skip the 4.6 and go for the 5.7. Since the 5.7 is been around a few years longer so it should be cheaper

 

[084RUNNAH]

Then I would skip the 4.6 and go for the 5.7. Since the 5.7 is been around a few years longer so it should be cheaper

I cannot do the 5.7. I am just worried about running into problems such as exhaust manifolds and transmission fitment.

The 4.6 seems to be a much more easier swap considering it is similar in dimension as the 4.7 2UZ and the transmission is the exact same (same housing) and I would put some headers as I am going in.

 

[BackOff]

Having had some wheel time behind the 4.7 and the newer 4.6... I would vote for the 4.6, more powerful 305hp and better MPG and it feels better and its a super quiet/smooth motor.

Ride/drive a newer GX460 then jump in your T4R, to really feel the envy.
Feels like something is wrong with the T4R...try it if you don't believe me.

Still, for what I do and my funding levels...I love my T4R, would not trade it for...well that's all objective.

Looking at your sig, I don't see any URD MAF Calibrator in there, that thing really wakes up the other intake/exhaust mods you or others may have done.

Here is the plug-n-play.
https://www.urdusa.com/urd-maf-sensor-calibrator-plug-n-play-version-1/
Is a wired one for less money.
https://www.urdusa.com/urd-maf-sensor-calibrator/

Cheap FUN.
May use more gas...speak to the FOOT.
I was up to 15.7 mpg this summer, driving like an old fart.