Engine go Knock Knock= Planning Time.....

Ol'Blue

Ol'Blue

New member
Ok 3rg Gen guys and gals....

So here is it. I have knowen that my 99 has had a head gasket issue for about 4 months, that is why it has not left the garage. So yesterday I looked it over prety good, pulled the dip stick and check the oil. All looked good. Battery was dead as a hammer- no big deal there the extra Die Hard Plt in it and went to cranking away. About the 4th hit it fired up.

About 10 minutes into it I can hear a sucking sound. I forgot about the PCV valve I didn't hook back up. Well when I was doing that I could hear the rattle sound. Then I had the OF moment. I shut it down. First thing I did was pull the dip stick. Looked like total crap. The coolant was all over it and also the oil cap was the same looking to.

So toady I just pulled some parts off of it and put them on my 01 (HID's Etc) and started looking around at Engine options and what route I want to go. I sat and talked with one of my Techs at work and he is all about a V8 swap. I'm not so sure because it's just not bolt up and go. That and I do not want to loose the Multi Mode in the 99 also. SO- I'm thinking about just sticking with the 3.4. The issue I"m having besides running a blower on it to make extra power is I'm not finding much for engine internal upgrades.

Dose anyone know of a bigger Cam you can get for the 3.4? I have been looking at fdifferent pistons etc etc but that is limited also and the question is as always is it worth the $$$$$$ and what are the numbers?

So all you 3rd Gen God's- What do I do at this point. I'm going to call around in the morning and price a used, a long block, and a reman, and also one from a toyota builder back in Calie.

I know there are going to be different opinions on this and I"m ok with it but this is going to be a driver that I would like to get some extra ponies out of and MAYBE keep it all engine. I'm going to talk to my machinest and see how much to port and polish the heads would be. I"m not sure it will get me much but I'm still trying to see if I'm crazy for thinking about it or I should just throw this in it and a new blower and call it good.

1999 Toyota 4Runner 5VZFE 3.4L Engine Dressed Long Block - 5VZFE 34L-DB-9504

Thanks everyone,

Blue
 
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There's not much of a hot rod market for these engines. But it would be fun to build one up. Most folks on this site are going to tell you it's not worth the money and to just buy a used one or swap in a 1uz or 2uz.
 
[MENTION=92510]Ol'Blue[/MENTION] sorry to hear about your engine. Yota Shop is right down the road from me. They're pretty swamped right now mainly doing 3.0 to 3.4 swaps but the owner, Mike just finished putting a V8 in his limited. He had to make some mods to it and he also had to custom build the radiator with an electric fan. That's definitely an option. You should give him a call. Really nice guy to talk to.

I've ordered my equalized fuel injectors from LCE Engineering and I know they sell chromoly rods and all kinds of high performance 5VZ engine components but dang...the $$$$$$. Unfortunately you won't find a sigerson or isky high lift/low duration cam for these engines. No torker manifolds either. From all of my research you're only good with a blower, turbo, V-8 or diesel upgrade.

I'll sub to this thread just to see what other options are out there.
 
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Yeah it kinda sucks because I was thinking about just throwing a good set of pistons in it and cleaning everything up and polishing it out to make the fuel flow good but I really don't think I will get to much at all. I have looked at a 2uz swap but again that Multi Mode thing in the limited is SO nice. I really do not want to give it up. Well see I guess.

Blue
 
Apparently the cams from an early 90's V6 Camry(3VZFE, not the same as the 3VZE) will swap into a 5VZFE. But that's more for top end power from what I understand. As far as I know, LC Engineering is the only company making internal upgrades for these. Even then, I don't really hear many issues with the stock internals when you start throwing boost at the 5VZ.
 
If I could get it too 250 hp and around 275 torque with all engine I would be happy. I think that is a lofty goal. More research will tell.

Blue
 
Subbed. I think I remember someone doing a built 5vz on Yotatech a long time ago. I'll see if I can find it.

Couldn't find it. But there is some good discussion here.
 
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Doesn't seem anyone really makes performance internals, and those that do are $$$.

Have you read anything conclusive about Camry cams?
 
Ol'Blue said:
Yeah it kinda sucks because I was thinking about just throwing a good set of pistons in it and cleaning everything up and polishing it out to make the fuel flow good but I really don't think I will get to much at all. I have looked at a 2uz swap but again that Multi Mode thing in the limited is SO nice. I really do not want to give it up. Well see I guess.

Blue
Click to expand...

I have a V8 and I have multimode transfer case. Use a sequoia as a donor as it has the multimode transfer case.
 
I think once you price in pistons, cams, injectors, etc. etc. you're better off just getting a supercharger.

You want 250 hp and high torque?

Base: 183 HP
Supercharger: +63 HP
Smaller pulley + Methanol injection or 7th injector: +30-40 HP

Tada! You've got yourself a 250 HP motor. If you can find a used charger in the $2000 range, puts you out about $2600-$3000 total depending on what route you want. The world of forced induction is a fun place. You can push 300 HP+ if you really want to go at it with a larger intake, porting and headers.

And yes, the stock internals work just fine with forced induction. Mine's got 201k now with a supercharger on for almost all of that. Also, I don't think there's a market for 5VZ-FE's that are built up for a drop-in 250 HP application. I don't think there's a market for performance motors for these 4runners since most want it for off-road capability, not power.
 
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Ol'Blue said:
Dose anyone know of a bigger Cam you can get for the 3.4? I have been looking at fdifferent pistons etc etc but that is limited also and the question is as always is it worth the $$$$$$ and what are the numbers?



Blue
Click to expand...

You can weld more material onto a Camshaft, and then machine it to the specs you want. Of course there are limits to what you can do with any given application. Then the heads are going to need massaging, to take advantage of your new custom Cams.

There are several companies that can make Pistons to your specs.

Then you'll want some better Rods, and likely a forged Crank, and if you're going that far, one with more Rod Journal offset too.

But all that custom work isn't cheap. And you need lots of experience and knowledge of what combination of parts and modifications, be they off the shelf or custom, will work together to achieve your goals.

Bottom line: There are easier ways to more power, than building a custom all-motor 5VZ-FE.
 
Thanks guys. I have been looking at Engines and options. I'm not really keen on a used engine because I'm not selling this truck. For ease I'm really thinking about a force induction set up like so many others have done.

Blue
 
Ol'blue, before you go down the road with swaps,$$ into engine builds, check over the rest of your truck ie frame rails. I don't know if you live in an area that could have rust issues. I looked at doing an engine swap a few years back and glad I opted out. I had rust issues that I couldn't see easily. I can't imagine how tight a v8 would be in a 3rd gen. How would you work on it? I had to jack up my engine 3" on my 100 LC to change the drivers side exhaust manifold.
 
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