Bought another 3rd gen...what to do??

J

jmsdad

New member
Greetings! A little background first...I currently drive a millenium silver 2001 4runner bought new back in Dec 2000 (My first 'new' vehicle). It has 240K miles and I just finished putting in a mild lift (front Tundra TRD coils/Bilstein 5100 5-way adjustables on 2nd setting from bottom, rear OME 890s/LC Tokicos) 2 months ago.

stock pic taken 2years ago...



Window sticker




Some worthwhile mods on the 01...

elocker retrofit, AndyMod, onboard shower







I'm not a stranger to modding vehicles and engine swaps...I also have an 86 4Runner...


Another 3RZ swap - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum









Yesterday, I picked up a one-owner 96 2WD 4Runner with the 3.4L V6 and A340E auto tranny. Head gasket blown, so I got it for a smoking price.




Plan is to get it running and get the smog check done and the new title transfer over. After that, if I stay with the 3.4, I will swap in a manual 5speed transmission and convert to 4WD. I have always wanted a 5speed 3rd gen so very likely this is the route I'll take. Another option is the 4.7L 2UZ swap.......Decisons....




Vehicles my brother picked up free or for a song that I can rob parts off....




 
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I've owned 2 5spd's and they are super fun! I can't speak for the v8 but I'd imagine that you be fun as well. If only they made a manual v8... best of both worlds!:driving: looks like you have two decent donors.
 
if you don't do the 2uz swap...well, :shrug:

That swap is literally begging you to do it. I mean you got everything you need in those last four pics...
 
A 2UZ in a 3rd gen would be awesome. If you have the mechanical skill to do it and don't need this 4Runner to be up and running super soon you could easily go that route. The 2UZ in my mom's 4th gen is a blast to drive. Makes a great noise and it'll go for a big 4WD SUV.
 
Just close your eyes and imagine your going for a drive.....and not having to shift yourself. That should help you imagine :lmao::behindsofa:


Looks like you have your hands full of projects for a while. I wish I had the garage and land for all those vehicles.
 
'New' engine and R150F 5speed tranny in. I cut off the tranny mount and re-welded it forward. Compared to my 01, driving this 5speed swapped 96 is night/day difference--very peppy. I can only imagine if it had a supercharger in it. Got her registered and smogged yesterday...Passed with flying colors...








Funny thing the smog tech said, " You know your vehicle is only a 2WD right? It's got all the equipment, but no front drive train parts. I just want you to know so that you're not getting ripped off." I smiled and said 4WD is coming soon.





I didn't take many pics during the swap due to dirty/greasy hands, but here are some...


Donor stripped...got the whole engine/tranny/t-case out in one shot, cut off the clutch master/firewall area to use as a template





Floor shifter cut out...







Old/New engines side by side





Newer seats and center console/cupholder from a 2000 4Runner..





No check engine light...and best of all no PRNDL on the dash





De-badged the rear....thought about taking off the 4Runner emblem too, but don't want to mess with filling up the holes after







Some notes....I was at pic-n-pull and looked at a 95 2wd toyota pickup with a 22RE. Two of the ECM connectors fit the 96 4Runner manual ECM so I cut that off and had to order the other two remaining connectors. I bought a 96 5speed ECM for $50 shipped and re-pinned the auto harness. With over 54 wires to re-pin, I made one mistake.... which was the camshaft sensor. I put it one space off ( in E7 #10 instead of E7 #11). I had a P0340 DTC right away and a solid check engine light. A little double-checking and I was able to find the mistake and get it squared away.



Readiness monitors were easily set. I made the drive from my mom's house two hours away to the bay area and all the monitors were set except the EVAP. The next day, I made a leisurely 20min drive and was able to get the EVAP to set.


Knock sensor harness is damn brittle after all those miles...The first one literally disintegrated upon contact. The second one off the original engine broke on the retaining clips. I had my brother (who works at a Toyota dealership) bring one home for $25.


Next is getting the front drive train parts in---diff, spindles, manual hubs and CVs and driveshaft. Then on to the rear elocker re-trofit and regear and skinny 33s with LC 7wraps rears and Tundra fronts.
 
Looking great! If you're looking at doing some serious modding, plastidipping the exterior might look nice instead of white, maybe change it to olive drab?
 
Finally took the time yesterday to wire up the 4WD light in the dash. The wiring is there, but no bulb. Rather than extending the wire from the T-case sensor another 3 feet or so and cutting/splicing at the combo meter, I spliced both wires at the passenger footwell location @ the ABS ECU harness. I removed the auto tranny "O/D off" bulb and stuck it in the 4WD socket location. 4WD light lights up when T-case lever is shifted to 4WD.









When I took apart the glove box to decide on the ideal location to splice in the 4WD light wires I took a pic of the manual ECU, the two gray connectors from the 95 Toyota pickup and the two white connectors I had to order from Toyota.







Here's a preview for this weekend....front 4WD component install. 4:10 diff from the Tundra, free wheeling hubs/spindles/CVs from a 98 Tacoma. Just cleaning up the spindles at the moment.







About 1500 miles driven so far, and I consistently get around 17mpg in town and 19-20mpg on the highway going 75-78mph.
 
Got the front end buttoned up on the weekend of June 13-14th. Re-booted inner CV boots and UBJs. Also swapped out the rear 3.73 diff for 4.10 to match the front. 4WD works great!












Also picked up these 5star rims off craigslist for $80 yesterday.

 
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