Need advice on engine swap.

[Clemintine]

2nd Gen (91) Engine Swap!

Hey all, I have a couple questions. Bought my beast 1.5 yrs ago and have been slowly building. Currently has a V6 3.0, but want to drop the 3.6L in it. From what I've read, not only do you get better gas mileage (which is main reason), but since I have leaks in the oil pan, and other places, and the engine has 270K miles on it, she needs an upgrade.

I'm in the LA area and wondering if anyone could recommend an outfit that sells/installs rebuilts, and is reputable.

Thanks

 

[4Reak Show]

3.6? You mean a 3.4 maybe (5VE-FE)?

Be warned that being in CA, any engine change has a lot of hurdles connected to it. Not impossible, but difficult.

I have done the 3.4 swap, and have ZERO regrets; it's worth the effort, but there is a lot of effort involved.

Now if you do really mean a 3.6 swap... Well I don't know what that means and I can't help you too much otherwise.

 

[Clemintine]

3.6? You mean a 3.4 maybe (5VE-FE)?

Be warned that being in CA, any engine change has a lot of hurdles connected to it. Not impossible, but difficult.

I have done the 3.4 swap, and have ZERO regrets; it's worth the effort, but there is a lot of effort involved.

Now if you do really mean a 3.6 swap... Well I don't know what that means and I can't help you too much otherwise.

Er...ahem...sorry. Yes the 3.4 swap!!:faint:
lol I'm new to this. But please tell me, is the gas mileage, and the speed, and the torque actually worth it? Was also thinking of getting a hydrogen cell put in that makes the engine burn pretty much 100% of the fuel instead of wasting it, which in turn gets even better mileage.
Thanks

 

[4Reak Show]

Er...ahem...sorry. Yes the 3.4 swap!!:faint:

lol I'm new to this. But please tell me, is the gas mileage, and the speed, and the torque actually worth it? Was also thinking of getting a hydrogen cell put in that makes the engine burn pretty much 100% of the fuel instead of wasting it, which in turn gets even better mileage.

Thanks

Alright, take a breath, it's a long one...

So gas mileage for me didn't change too much... They're heavy inefficient vehicles. But STONECOLD reliable. That's the biggest benefit. That and Transferring to an OBD2 diagnostic platform is leaps and bounds better. The 3.4 is also worlds more user friendly for basic maintenance and repairs as well. At least that's my experience.

As for overal power, the 3.4 accepts a supercharger. And I can tell you this: having originally a 3.0 auto and now in the same truck with a SC'd 3.4 manual, it's not even a conversation. Probably like double the feel of power. But I do want to warn you: it has never really felt like a racecar. Not Like a Chevy V8. It's definately a way more peppy set up, but even with the same amount of power of a V8 let's say, the V8 would feel a lot stronger in my opinion.

Again, zero regrets. Because I love my truck.

I've never heard of a hydrogen cell... On the surface It seems like a lot of work to justify making a nice ass classic truck more appealing. I honestly wouldn't chase the MPG factor. It's a losing battle. There's a reason why there's only a handful of body on frame vehicles and everything is now unibody. There's a reason the best gas mileage is seen in front wheel drive cars. Same reason why carburetors are no longer around: Because there's a better way to achieve the goal of MPG. And the way these things are built are NOT it.

That being said, these trucks can be built to do WORLDS more: off-roading, camping, towing, rock crawling, mudding, and general adventuring. And because the MPG already blows, you don't have to worry about 15 lbs extra here and there with bigger tires or more gear or a sweet ass winch bumper. The phrase is "yours goes fast, mine goes anywhere"

My recommendation: if you like the truck and want to keep it, pick a goal. Maybe long term, and few short term. And just work your way there tweaking the ideas as they unfold. You want the max MPG? Totally cool. Chase it. But you won't get that with a massive lift, or a roof rack or big tires so commit to whatever the goal is. End result will likely be a 4Runner that looks like a Prius because, let's face it, they get some of the best mileages around (NOT knocking that goal, it's totally all about live and live around here, just preparing you for that particular option).

It's pretty hard to have the best of both worlds in the 25-30 year old SUV world.

But welcome aboard, and have fun with it!

 

[tcbaklash]

I owned an older swapped vehicle in California and here’s my story...

So the infamous 2.9L V6 on my 1990 Ford Ranger overheated and died, I decided on swapping in a more reliable engine. From what I was told, all I needed to do was swap in an engine that was available for that model year. That was only half true and I’ll get to that later... The engine I procured was a 4.0L from a Ford Explorer with the wire harness, ECU, pretty much all the electrical bits. That engine was available for the 1990 model year so I figured I was golden. The swap was successful and I moved from Washington to California. The previous owner had gutted the catalytic converter to make it louder and that’s obviously a problem in California.

I went to a reputable muffler shop to get a cat installed and they said they weren’t gonna do it. They told me to get my truck re-stickered by the state referee for the 4.0L because the cat for a 2.9L may not adequately scrub emissions and the numbers on a cat for a 4.0L would not match the truck just in case that were ever checked during smog testing or inspection. So I was convinced and brought it to the state referee. I don’t know what diagnostic tool he used since the truck was OBD1, but when he hooked he told me it said “1994 Ford Explorer”. I was given a notice that my truck could not be smogged until this problem and other impossible-to-fix issues were alleviated. So basically I got blacklisted because the engine did not match the vehicle.

In your case I’m pretty sure the only way to make it work is the illegal route and if that’s what you’re set on doing I can not recommend anything for you to do. The 3.4L was not available for any 2G 4Runner. If you bring it in to get re-stickers you will fail instantly. If you put on cats for a 3.0L you may fail emissions. If you put on cats for a 3.4L you will fail.

 

[4Reak Show]

I owned an older swapped vehicle in California and here’s my story...

So the infamous 2.9L V6 on my 1990 Ford Ranger overheated and died, I decided on swapping in a more reliable engine. From what I was told, all I needed to do was swap in an engine that was available for that model year. That was only half true and I’ll get to that later... The engine I procured was a 4.0L from a Ford Explorer with the wire harness, ECU, pretty much all the electrical bits. That engine was available for the 1990 model year so I figured I was golden. The swap was successful and I moved from Washington to California. The previous owner had gutted the catalytic converter to make it louder and that’s obviously a problem in California.

I went to a reputable muffler shop to get a cat installed and they said they weren’t gonna do it. They told me to get my truck re-stickered by the state referee for the 4.0L because the cat for a 2.9L may not adequately scrub emissions and the numbers on a cat for a 4.0L would not match the truck just in case that were ever checked during smog testing or inspection. So I was convinced and brought it to the state referee. I don’t know what diagnostic tool he used since the truck was OBD1, but when he hooked he told me it said “1994 Ford Explorer”. I was given a notice that my truck could not be smogged until this problem and other impossible-to-fix issues were alleviated. So basically I got blacklisted because the engine did not match the vehicle.

In your case I’m pretty sure the only way to make it work is the illegal route and if that’s what you’re set on doing I can not recommend anything for you to do. The 3.4L was not available for any 2G 4Runner. If you bring it in to get re-stickers you will fail instantly. If you put on cats for a 3.0L you may fail emissions. If you put on cats for a 3.4L you will fail.

Dang man that sucks. That's California for you...

The last paragraph isn't quite true.. Mine is CA referee'd and SMOG LEGAL. That's with a 3.4 from a 98 4Runner and a Tacoma computer/ECU, Walker cat for a 98 4Runner all of it in a 95 4runner frame/body.

I almost got hung up on having the exhaust routed differently than stock for the 3.4 because the 2nd and 3rd gens route the exhaust on opposite sides of the vehicle, making custom work required. I think I caught a good Referee on a good day because after a week of waiting, he called me to come back in and said if it runs clean he would pass it. The first day I showed up in my Auto Technician uniform with Master ASE patches on it and made it clear thru body language that I knew what I was doing and that could have influenced his decision. What was the most frustrating was that this thing literally puts out right about ZERO emissions and he didn't want to pass it for some dumb technicality. I argued "isn't Smogging all about cleaner air? And my truck runs spotlessly clean soooo...."

So while the swap isn't impossible, it is incredibly difficult. And this was 10 years ago for me. Rules could very well have changed. What I would do if I were to tackle this today: go to the actual referee who would be doing the authorization of the swap and talk to him. Ask him what he needs to see to pass it. Make a list and have him agree on it. It may be a nightmare. Or it may be an old timer on the back 9 of his career who understands what people are trying to do.

And then when it's all over you get one of these and it's done forever. Although the my smogging requires a STAR station. As long as it runs clean, it won't be an issue.

 

[tcbaklash]

Dang man that sucks. That's California for you...

The last paragraph isn't quite true.. Mine is CA referee'd and SMOG LEGAL. That's with a 3.4 from a 98 4Runner and a Tacoma computer/ECU, Walker cat for a 98 4Runner all of it in a 95 4runner frame/body.

So maybe the state referee shafted me? I’m just going off of my experience and how much it sucked.

 

[4Reak Show]

So maybe the state referee shafted me? I’m just going off of my experience and how much it sucked.

I think a lot of it is who is doing it. It's not all black and white and when it gets grey the ref May panick and shut it down. It just depends.

My experience was no walk in the park either. It was nerve wracking as all hell waiting for him to call with a decision. The good news is that there is always another level. You can above the ref to a liaison and then a BAR official and eventually to a judge or whatever. But there are options.

It just sounds like you got boned. As a further example of how much you got shafted, I just saw a video of Joe Rogan's custom restored 1995 Land Cruiser and they put in a smog legal Chevy V8 LS7, supercharged. Now if that isn't an option that was never allowed in that vehicle I don't know what is. And somehow that's ok. But your explorer motor in a ranger is some huge crime. Whatever.

 

[abnormalbliss]

No power to 3.4 v6 w supercharger

I went to start up my 3.4 with a supercharger and forgot I had disconnected the ECU. I plugged the computer back in and now I am not getting any juice at all from the battery. All fuses seem to be in tact and the computer is fine (wasn't hooked up when problem occurred.) Any help would be useful. Sorry to reply on this thread I started a new one but haven't had any replies.

 

[AuSeeker]

I went to start up my 3.4 with a supercharger and forgot I had disconnected the ECU. I plugged the computer back in and now I am not getting any juice at all from the battery. All fuses seem to be in tact and the computer is fine (wasn't hooked up when problem occurred.) Any help would be useful. Sorry to reply on this thread I started a new one but haven't had any replies.

If you haven't tried disconnecting the battery for a short time and reconnecting it, try that and see if it resolves your issue.