LS1 swap?

[gamefreakgc]

I assume that everyone here has seen Tom's Turbo Garage LSX swap into the 2004 Tacoma (Project Firebolt) on Youtube? It's 2WD with a rear mount turbo, but he documents everything well and a lot of that could be used for the 3rd Gen 4Runner. If you haven't watched that series, you're missing out. :noidea:

For sure, that's how it's done the right way. However he was sponsored by Summit Racing, so who knows the actual cost of that swap? He never mentions dollar amounts anywhere in his build so unknown how much that would cost to duplicate.

 

[AssBurns]

What's your front diff plans then? Swapping in an 8" front diff or going solid front axle?

We are planning to do a center mounted Ford 9" IFS. The goal is a "1 Ton IFS" with an LS based engine. Sounds like we will both be using an LM7, but I'd like to start with an LQ4 preferably. Either way we will be using the 4L80E trans.

Here's a pic of a very rough idea on the CAD renderings we have so far. The axles will be 934 inner CV's and the outers will be '05+ Super Duty D60 RCV's (Pictured are the 1550 U joints but we will be using the RCV replacements for the 1410 joints). We are still very early on in the plans, but we are working on R&D stuff right now, and saving funds.

 

[Bad Luck]

[MENTION=118730]AssBurns[/MENTION] That's really ambitions and revolutionary! I hope to see it on ifsoffroad in the future!


[MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION] That's my biggest complaint about his whole build. It would be nice if he added up the parts cost for the whole build just to have a price range to reference. It could definitely be done cheaper, but at least it's a reference point.

 

[JohnMc]

Not a 4Runner, or even a Toyota, but I recently completed* a turbo LS/6 spd manual swap into my '93 Volvo 240 station wagon. It had a roughly 300 - 350 whp 2.3L 16V turbo Volvo motor in it before, which was a lot of fun, but didn't tend to stay together for all that long before various issues would require a light or major rebuild of some sort. Now the LS (an aluminum 5.3L LH8 from a Hummer H3 Alpha) probably has about the same whp off boost (nothing done to it other than an LS9 cam and valve springs), and probably 500-ish on boost. And it's just silly, silly, ludicrous fun to drive.



* - it's up and running on base WG spring boost - about 6 psi. I still need to swap in my narrowed and modified Ford 8.8 rear axle and put in a bigger fuel pump to feed more boost and E85.

 

[LFX_T4R]

Interesting, what power adders do you have?



What information does the BCM send to the TCCM that required you to utilize the BCM? I'm assuming you're running the engine/transmission/transfer case from 1 vehicle? Around how much do you think you have into your swap? Why did you choose this drivetrain over something else? GM technician here so you've peaked my curiosity.

Hey man! Check out Keisler Automation to get an idea of what goes into it. I'm working on a build thread, but it's really extensive and I work full-time / also a full-time student so I'm having difficulty throwing it all together. If you're really curious, I would actually love to give you a detailed explanation of how this works from the GM side of the house because it would almost take a tech to figure out how frustrating it was to come to this conclusion. The GMLAN portion of it all had to be done at the dealership, I was using HPTuners for the rest of it, but in short, we mixed and matched ECUs, had a no-start condition with one of our set ups, finally figured out that we needed BCM input to the ECU in order to power the TCCM (Camaro base code in the E39 does not respond to power signal alone, it needs the colorado BCM input to "unlock" TCCM functionality)... and finally a reconfigured transmission given our situation. It's a 2014 Camaro trans with a 2015 Transfer Case bolted up with a colorado output shaft lmao. Motor is still a 2015 colorado, ecu is still a 2012 E39.

In short, GM did some REALLY interesting stuff with the 2015+ (?) ECUs on the LFX after they'd decided this high feature v6 was going to be their workhorse motor across the fleet. I'm sure you're aware of how many vehicles its in. As far as power adders are concerned, it's tuned and dyno'd on E85 in addition to the improvements that are noted in the LFX Totality swap that you can read about on the Keisler Automation page. Also, the reason why this drivetrain kicks ass is also on the comparison charts on the totality page. For me, it's a really nice overlanding platform given the 1.) small size, I didn't want to cram a stupid 4.7 in here and have zero room for anything, 2.) since it comes in Caddies, the factory alternator options are BEEFY, 3.) gas mileage is lit, and the colorado final drive is 4.30-- same as my locked '97, and 4.) If I blow this thing up, grenade the trans, or mess up any piece of it, I can find 20 different vehicles to pull a part off of in a yard, anywhere in N america, and replace the entire drivetrain for less than 3k for an under 100k set up. It's amazing.

 

[Bad Luck]

Hey man! Check out Keisler Automation to get an idea of what goes into it. I'm working on a build thread, but it's really extensive and I work full-time / also a full-time student so I'm having difficulty throwing it all together. If you're really curious, I would actually love to give you a detailed explanation of how this works from the GM side of the house because it would almost take a tech to figure out how frustrating it was to come to this conclusion. The GMLAN portion of it all had to be done at the dealership, I was using HPTuners for the rest of it, but in short, we mixed and matched ECUs, had a no-start condition with one of our set ups, finally figured out that we needed BCM input to the ECU in order to power the TCCM (Camaro base code in the E39 does not respond to power signal alone, it needs the colorado BCM input to "unlock" TCCM functionality)... and finally a reconfigured transmission given our situation. It's a 2014 Camaro trans with a 2015 Transfer Case bolted up with a colorado output shaft lmao. Motor is still a 2015 colorado, ecu is still a 2012 E39.

In short, GM did some REALLY interesting stuff with the 2015+ (?) ECUs on the LFX after they'd decided this high feature v6 was going to be their workhorse motor across the fleet. I'm sure you're aware of how many vehicles its in. As far as power adders are concerned, it's tuned and dyno'd on E85 in addition to the improvements that are noted in the LFX Totality swap that you can read about on the Keisler Automation page. Also, the reason why this drivetrain kicks ass is also on the comparison charts on the totality page. For me, it's a really nice overlanding platform given the 1.) small size, I didn't want to cram a stupid 4.7 in here and have zero room for anything, 2.) since it comes in Caddies, the factory alternator options are BEEFY, 3.) gas mileage is lit, and the colorado final drive is 4.30-- same as my locked '97, and 4.) If I blow this thing up, grenade the trans, or mess up any piece of it, I can find 20 different vehicles to pull a part off of in a yard, anywhere in N america, and replace the entire drivetrain for less than 3k for an under 100k set up. It's amazing.

I figured it had to do with something along the lines of a wake up/enable/communication signal. It's interesting the modules/mechanical components you mixed and matched. After reading your first post I assumed you took the whole drivetrain from a rolled/t-boned Colorado and transplanted it. Really looking forward to your build thread! Don't keep me waiting too long lol!

Just scrolled through the page you linked. Did you buy the kit and do it yourself or did that company do the install? Are you using a manual or automatic transmission?

 

[LFX_T4R]

I figured it had to do with something along the lines of a wake up/enable/communication signal. It's interesting the modules/mechanical components you mixed and matched. After reading your first post I assumed you took the whole drivetrain from a rolled/t-boned Colorado and transplanted it. Really looking forward to your build thread! Don't keep me waiting too long lol!

Just scrolled through the page you linked. Did you buy the kit and do it yourself or did that company do the install? Are you using a manual or automatic transmission?

Andrew Keisler was local to me before he moved out West, and a very dear friend. He's totally self-taught and if you study the Rx8 material, it's really interesting to see what he's done. This was the very first 4runner that he did, and I developed requirements/use-cases, advised on some of the 4runner specific pieces, and Drew handled all of the installation and fabrication work. I saw how valuable it would be as an overland platform (our T4Rs aren't very fun even when re-geared, it's hard to find good drivelines in a timely fashion or in a pinch, and supercharging them is a complete waste of time in my humble opinion, given that the eaton m62 is a peashooter). Mine is automatic which was one of the reasons this was a bit of an ordeal to develop, but for my situation of traveling very long distances in unfamiliar places, bouncing around on rocks at local parks, and still wanting daily drivability in traffic and otherwise, it made the most sense. All of his other swaps (minus his LFX swapped adventure van!) are manual. I could drop my trans and throw a manual in with a HPtuner credit to reflash the TCM at any time, if I so desired.

 

[Bad Luck]

Andrew Keisler was local to me before he moved out West, and a very dear friend. He's totally self-taught and if you study the Rx8 material, it's really interesting to see what he's done. This was the very first 4runner that he did, and I developed requirements/use-cases, advised on some of the 4runner specific pieces, and Drew handled all of the installation and fabrication work. I saw how valuable it would be as an overland platform (our T4Rs aren't very fun even when re-geared, it's hard to find good drivelines in a timely fashion or in a pinch, and supercharging them is a complete waste of time in my humble opinion, given that the eaton m62 is a peashooter). Mine is automatic which was one of the reasons this was a bit of an ordeal to develop, but for my situation of traveling very long distances in unfamiliar places, bouncing around on rocks at local parks, and still wanting daily drivability in traffic and otherwise, it made the most sense. All of his other swaps (minus his LFX swapped adventure van!) are manual. I could drop my trans and throw a manual in with a HPtuner credit to reflash the TCM at any time, if I so desired.

That's pretty cool to see the kit adapted for our platform. Thanks for answering my questions, and I'll quit bugging you until you get a build thread going.

 

[WeakSauz]

Sorry to bring this thread back up, but this information is worth sharing:

We've all shown concern about LS oil pans not clearing the OEM Toyota Clamshell Front Diff. (LS 2wheel drive swaps are simple... 4x4 not so much)

Ran into this guy on Instagram who's done it with an out-of-the-box Canton oil pan on a 1st gen Tacoma:

 

[Speedy]

I recently started looking in to an LS swap for my 3rd gen and was surprised this wasn't a "thing" with multiple options and adapters available.

I thought the Tom's Turbo video series was great. If you wanna know what it cost to do, outside of labor, just add up all the parts he listed. If you want it "daily driver" like though, I wouldn't attempt it on a shoe string.

If I were to plan this out I'd have budget of around $10K +/- 10%.

 

[Zero2Sixty]

Hello Everyone,
We, Zero2Sixty Performance, built green 3rd gen - Security Check. We get asked about the swap all the time so I wanted to chime in here to answer any questions about the swap. I'll start by answer the most common stuff...

Is there a mount kit available?
No. At the time of building this truck we really had no idea that there would be much interest in a kit. If we get another 4runner in someday we will likely pattern the mounts.

2wd or 4wd?
The truck we did was 2wd. 4wd would take extensive fabrication to make it work. The front diff, driveshaft and oil pan would take quite a bit of fabrication to all fit in there. You would also need a pretty wild set of headers because that would have to snake around all of the stuff above. Straight down block huggers won't work because the mount is there. Forward wont work because the accessory drive is there. Rear works, but you already have to snake around the steering column.

 

[WeakSauz]

Hello Everyone,
We, Zero2Sixty Performance, built green 3rd gen - Security Check. We get asked about the swap all the time so I wanted to chime in here to answer any questions about the swap. I'll start by answer the most common stuff...

Is there a mount kit available?
No. At the time of building this truck we really had no idea that there would be much interest in a kit. If we get another 4runner in someday we will likely pattern the mounts.

2wd or 4wd?
The truck we did was 2wd. 4wd would take extensive fabrication to make it work. The front diff, driveshaft and oil pan would take quite a bit of fabrication to all fit in there. You would also need a pretty wild set of headers because that would have to snake around all of the stuff above. Straight down block huggers won't work because the mount is there. Forward wont work because the accessory drive is there. Rear works, but you already have to snake around the steering column.

Wow! It is awesome having you on the board. Thanks for joining. There are many of us interested in LS swaps on these trucks. Now with the newer Holley ECUs out (Terminator, Terminator X, etc), it should simplify that aspect quite a bit. (Run a toyota OEM body harness with a Holley brain)

The 4x4 front diff is by far the biggest obstacle, but I have seen some claims that Canton makes an off-the-shelf front-sump oil pan that will work

 

[Zero2Sixty]

The Toyota pcm is not an issue at all. You really don't need it at the end of the day. I will have to agree with you on the simplicity of the holley kits now days. We actually use more holleys than stock pcms at the shop now. As far as the pan.. gm has had a front sump pan in the gto since 2004. If I was to do another third gen I would use the front sump.

 

[LFX_T4R]

Oh my goodness I am so glad you found this thread and joined the forum. I cannot wait.

Keisler Automation 3.6L GM LFX '97 T4R Megathread

Here she is, bro.