My Engine Swap in progress!

[Dephcon]

You can get away from running some wheel spacers up front, some 1.25" Spidertrax or you can change over to a different rim. The TBU is a great upgrade especially if your towing a boat. Very simple upgrade too, but I suggest looking at calipers from somewhere other than Lordco, they are really expensive.

 

[eplanajr]

This is such an encouraging thread. I'm about to drop in my new-to-me engine later today.

 

[poleclimber63]

spacers

I used 1/4" spacers from Wheelers and the stock lug nuts. No problems in the 2000 miles since I did the upgrade.

With these spacers, how much "meat" do the lug nuts actually have? how do they fit? I've heard of these and have been a little reluctant as I believed a loss of 1/4" of stud was too much... Do you off road?
I know the TBU is really important, if you're towing, which is my main use of my 4R. It's out of the question for me to replace my rims this year (the cost of rims is more than the upgrade!), so I'd be interested in any feedback you can provide! Thanks!

 

[ukrunner]

I was concerned too but needed complete new brakes up front so decided to do the upgrade. 1/4" isn't too bad, there's plenty of lug and stud left. I haven't had a single issue so far. I don't offroad other than very light trails but I do commute 90 miles a day at up to 85mph. I have over 1000 miles on mine now.

 

[poleclimber63]

I was concerned too but needed complete new brakes up front so decided to do the upgrade. 1/4" isn't too bad, there's plenty of lug and stud left. I haven't had a single issue so far. I don't offroad other than very light trails but I do commute 90 miles a day at up to 85mph. I have over 1000 miles on mine now.

Thanks for the feedback! I'll seriously consider it. Up to my ears in a mercruiser service and without the boat this isn't getting done...

 

[poleclimber63]

Check in?

I was concerned too but needed complete new brakes up front so decided to do the upgrade. 1/4" isn't too bad, there's plenty of lug and stud left. I haven't had a single issue so far. I don't offroad other than very light trails but I do commute 90 miles a day at up to 85mph. I have over 1000 miles on mine now.

Any issues a month on? comments? Have you noticed any steering changes or any shakes?

I'm finished my boat so I can now concentrate on the truck again!

In 3 weeks I plan on taking the family on some boating excursions and it would be nice to do the brake upgrade before I go.....

 

[poleclimber63]

Checking in....

Well, its been a year and a half with no issues! I've put nearly 20K on it since the swap and it's still purring, not that I had any doubts.

 

[poleclimber63]

checking in...

Well, I now have 30K KM on my replacement engine, with absolutely no issues! All I've done is change the oil and filter!! Love my truck!

As far as the truck as a whole is concerned, since the engine replacement, I've done the TBU, (new to me tires and rims), LBJ's, TRE's, front and rear springs/shocks with sway bar bushings and a few weeks ago seat covers recommended to me by 4Running Daily. AND routine wash and wax!

Here are my vehicles, boat-- Maxum 17, 4.3L V6 175HP, my 4R, and my daily driver-- 2001 Celica GT

 

[poleclimber63]

Dec 20!

We've had a ton of snow! I love driving this truck in the snow! I'm now at 32K KM since replacement. Lovin' it! Merry Christmas everyone!!

 

[W4R123]

We got soooo much snow this year! Love driving the 4runner in this snow!

 

[poleclimber63]

update...

Here she is as of a 3 weeks ago:

I had a bit of a struggle with a misfire issue this last Summer, but visited the pick N pull and acquired a set of injectors. Picked up some spare rubber seals from the crawlspace, Spray Nine and MAF cleaner. Scavenged through my 4R bucket of stuff and pulled out a connector, added a 9v battery--- viola, an injector rejuvenator! I cleaned them up well, connected the battery and soaked them in cleaner, then sprayed MAF cleaner through them. I then removed the intake, and did an ohms check of all the injectors and discovered one dead injector and another out of spec. It's back to perfection again! My investment: $15 for cleaners, $20 for P N' P injectors-- bits and bobs free. (I had spare rubber seals from the engine replacement in 14') Not bad for a Saturday afternoon!

I have a feeling, more wrenching in my future, as my son just bought a 1994 Celica....

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I did the same to my injectors and put new filters in the inlet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[poleclimber63]

Fuel injector rejuvenator

As mentioned, I discovered the route of the problem. Visited the Pick N' Pull and acquired a set of fuel injectors and gave them a clean! Here is my setup:

She is purring again.... a successful Saturday afternoon.

 

[Philbo]

If it was to do again, Would you replace it with a jdm engine or was it too much of a hassle to convert everything to make it compatible?

 

[poleclimber63]

If it was to do again, Would you replace it with a jdm engine or was it too much of a hassle to convert everything to make it compatible?

I did go with JDM. I placed both side by side and swapped over components. Prime time to replace seals and gaskets.

I could do it again in half the time...

Good luck

 

[cl4Rk]

I did go with JDM. I placed both side by side and swapped over components. Prime time to replace seals and gaskets.

I could do it again in half the time...

Good luck

Great thread, thanks for documenting all this!

I think [MENTION=645491]Philbo[/MENTION] was asking: If you were to go back in time and do it all over again, would you go the same route (JDM) or choose some other option?

 

[T4R2014]

If it was to do again, Would you replace it with a jdm engine or was it too much of a hassle to convert everything to make it compatible?

It's not even difficult to convert everything honestly. No worse than putting a 2002 USDM engine into a 1998.

 

[poleclimber63]

Great thread, thanks for documenting all this!

I think [MENTION=645491]Philbo[/MENTION] was asking: If you were to go back in time and do it all over again, would you go the same route (JDM) or choose some other option?

I wouldn't change a thing. Its been 5yrs without any issues. SWAPPING engine components was no big deal. Again it was a good excuse to replace all the seals and gaskets. It was also a good time to have a look inside to reassure myself I received what I paid for, and if I remember right, it looked almost brand new. For $1500, my 4r received a new lease in life!

 

[Its GSatt]

Really appreciate the follow up on your replacement. Going through this process now and definitely bookmarked your thread to calm the nerves. Though, found a local guy that's collected banged up yotas for a while and sourced a low mileage USDM verified with an odometer, very lucky. Was picking an importer for a JDM right before that one came to light.

Cheers

 

[poleclimber63]

Really appreciate the follow up on your replacement. Going through this process now and definitely bookmarked your thread to calm the nerves. Though, found a local guy that's collected banged up yotas for a while and sourced a low mileage USDM verified with an odometer, very lucky. Was picking an importer for a JDM right before that one came to light.

Cheers

Great timing! If the engine you found is from a 4r, now you have some spare parts. I had spares too, not all parts were
Compatible, my original alt failed maybe 6 mo. After my swap, but the alt from the Hiace fit, so I just dropped it in. It had a higher current rating so, I was more than satisfied
. Its been in there for years now. Good luck!