V8 conversion

Singtoe

Singtoe

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I thinking about doing a V8 conversion. Local salvage auction has a 2001 Sequoia up for auction next week. It has the 2UZ-FE 4.7 liter V8 in it.

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My buddy has a 2002 4runner SR5 and it is only rear wheel drive.


I would switch over the engine, tranny, and transfercase. I will have to use a 4runner front diff and half shafts.

My questions are-

How much should we bid on this Sequoia with 75k miles on it?

Should I even bother? I think changing from 2wd to 4wd only will increase the re-sale value of this 4runner plus, it will have a V8 to boot.

What would be a fair cost for the conversion for me to charge? I am a giving person but not that giving.

It will be an interesting build, if we win it.
 
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This is the conversion I have been waiting for someone to do, not one with the older Lexus V8. As much as I like the 3.4l, the 4.7 I like more. It is in my Tundra. Only drawback, interface engine.

Just what is working salvageable in the Sequoia besides the engine? Tranny? Axles? $2500 to $3000 to start. Cash only sale I take it?

For friends, what to they have to offer in return for labor. Nothing, half of what the dealer charges. If a friend lends a hand, the labor cost is cut anywhere from a 1/2 to a 1/3. Other possessions they own are always up for barter.
 
Problem is that motor is out of a 2001 and you want to put it in a 2002. There is a huge issues with smog laws when you do that. You need to use the same year or newer motor. At least in california, THere are also alot of issues concerning if the front diff will even be strong enough for it to be realistic to offroad it. A 3.4 can easily demolish it.

I think it kills any chance of a re-sale. and i doubt it will be worth any more since you will have to sit on it for awhile. I know if i was looking I would consider it junk and pass regardless of how nice the swap was done.

And if the 2wd 4runner your talking about has a 3.4 or even a 2.7 i think they are much better motors as far as longevity wise. Esp. a 3.4. they are great long lasting motors.

Just my 2C I think it is a huge PITA not worth doing. The 2wd to 4wd conversion would be worth doing though. You can get t-cases cheap and used the inchworm adapter for the trans or find a used trans
 
I think changing from 2wd to 4wd only will increase the re-sale value of this 4runner
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I was led to believe that going from 2WD to 4WD is an INSANE amount of work and parts, that is why many dream of but few ever accomplish it.
 
brianemc2_42 said:
I was led to believe that going from 2WD to 4WD is an INSANE amount of work and parts, that is why many dream of but few ever accomplish it.
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Not really. It doesn't require a ton of fabrication or anything like a SAS does. It's just typically not worth the trouble to do when you could just trade for a 4x4.
 
brianemc2_42 said:
I was led to believe that going from 2WD to 4WD is an INSANE amount of work and parts, that is why many dream of but few ever accomplish it.
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Its really not a big deal. Esp if you have a donor vehicle. You can probably score a trans/tcase combo for $300 or so and you need a f+r driveshaft. The front you can make with receiver tuning . Then a front diff and cv's and steering knuckles. I bet its doable in a weekend with all the parts ready to go. But with these 4runners coming down in price I would probably just sell a 2wd one and buy a 4wd one
 
I am not so worried about the 2wd to 4wd conversion. It is a nice side effect from the V8 conversion. Sure it will be a lot of work. I am up to the challenge. I might even do it in stages. Do the V8 conversion first then do the 4wd conversion later.


Yeah, the 4wd 2wd for the V6 conversion seams rather expensive. The conversion would need a 4wd tranny, transfer case, both drive shafts, front diff, half axles and hubs.

Structurally, the 2wd transmission member has to be cut out and a 4wd trans member welded in 6 or so inches back.

Then the custom wiring for the ADD, getting a front diff to match the rear diff, getting the existing ecu to match the new tranny.

It would be easier to have a wrecked 4x4 to do a conversion. I told DOUS, if he had bought a wrecked 4runner, that i would do the conversion.

The V8 conversion would require the same amount of work but the ECU will be easier to deal with because it will be tied with the engine and tranny already.


I looked up motors and trannys on ebay and they are going for high money (motor is $1,000 ,the tranny is $1,400 , and the transfer case is $500. I don't want to get into a bidding war or anything. What is the max i should spend on this donor vehicle?
 
There is an auction I frequently visit with my friend's uncle in VA and the auction house sits a min bid price, usually at $3000 for a vehicle like the Sequoia, even wrecked. Locally in and around Richmond up to DC that motor fetches $2000 easy.

I would say $2000 - $2500. You should be able to recoup that by selling everything else. If the project fails to gather steam, sell the engine later on for some good $$$.

The resale value of the finished vehicle is spurious in relation to this project unless you can get into the right niche market.
 
One big hurdle to get over would be the cooling system. The 3rd gen seems kinda tight with the 5vz. I think I saw someone over on yotatech post pics of the 2uz in an 01 tacoma. Pics didnt have the radiator in but the front of the engine looked pretty close to the core support. Would definitely have to run electric fans. Adding 4wd would be a whole different ball game. People have swapped a 2uz into an fj80 and hand to modify oil pans becaus of the front diff. Not sure how it would be on a 3rd gen.

It all depends on how good your wiring electrical knowledge and your fab skills are.
 
I say do it, even if you never get any return on investment youll always have one seriously one of a kind bad ass 4runner
 
Singtoe said:
I won the auction. $1800 The process starts as soon as it gets home.
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Sweet.


So will you be keeping it 2wd or doing a 4wd conversion? If you do a 4wd conversion, you might as well put a SA under it. No sence into putting time and effort in to a limited application. But that is just me.
 
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Bamf_CT2004 said:
Sweet.


So will you be just doing a 2wd or 4wd conversion. If you do a 4wd conversion, you might as well put a SA under it. No sence into putting time and effort in to a limited application. But that is just me.
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I have no instructions or guides to follow. i will be doing this from scratch.

Solid axle is not in the cards for this 4runner. I will try to get this to look as OEM as possible.
 
Singtoe said:
I have no instructions or guides to follow. i will be doing this from scratch.

Solid axle is not in the cards for this 4runner. I will try to get this to look as OEM as possible.
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So are you keeping it 2wd then?


These might help a little if you havent found them already.

Lexus 4.7 Swap LOTS OF PICS! - TTORA Forum

The wiring is questionable. I would think it should be relatively easy.


Over on Ih8mud there are a few guys that swapped the 2uz in an 80 so I think it should be somewhat straight forward. This swap is VERY clean and very well documented. Project - EffjJay Eighty - 2UZ powered

I almost kept an 80 for this specific purpose. I think it might be a little easier and more difficult at the same time. The 2uz should be able to bolt to the 340 in the 4runner making the drivetrain less of a hassle, hopefully, but the 80 has a much much bigger engine bay to work with unlike the tightness of the 4runner.

I was talking with a buddy about this idea before I even saw your post. Im excited about this and I hope you are able to document it all the way through.
 
I would have come down to Raleigh from VA and given $2,000 for that Sequoia. It looks like you have quite the project on your hands now. Enjoy!
 
ive always thougth about this swap as well since we have a tundra 4.7 on the side and i love the response of it haha

keep us posted!
 
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