Vudujoose

So I was willed a truck by a friend who died, he always knew I loved the truck and sadly he passed serving his country in Afghanistan.



A few things about me...

I drove a 240sx with engines ranging from SR20's, RB's, KA/T's and even one with an FJ20ET in it for the past 15 years. I have never really built a 4x4 truck but I have always been very interested.

I would like to drive this truck as a daily driver in memory of my friend, and because I'm tired of my current rough riding 240sx...

The mods are in the signature, and were all done by my buddy.

Now to some things I know:

It has an a340h auto trans, with 4.88 gears.

The question:

Should this thing be able to push such large tires?

Let me explain:

While driving it home from my buddies parents house I was riding down the interstate (relatively flat here in north east NC.) and I had to travel over an overpass that has a long grade hill that elevates very smoothly (I don't pull my 240sx out of 5th gear and can still gain speed on this overpass without getting into any boost). The truck was floored with O/D off and was still slowing down.

Its an SR5 V6 3VZE with about 200K miles on it.

The engine sounds great and responds well when under 45 MPH (around town driving) but struggles severely on the highway (especially since it cant push the O/D gear).

Is there a way to keep the tires (re-gearing) or are these tires just too large to push for this 3.0?

I had thought of putting 33's on it but I believe the 3" body lift combined with the 4" suspension would look retarded with 33's. I really want to keep it as close to (his) original as possible without over stressing the engine/trans while driving it.

I imagine he never really noticed it because he only drove it to the base and back (3 miles) in town...

Can I make this work?

808 4 runner

You could re gear to 5.29's but you would need new third members because if I remember correctly stock 4.88 gears have a special thin gear which can't be re geared. 3.0's are pretty underpowered. You could go with headers and a full exhaust.
My 4runner has a hard time pulling 33's with the 4.56 gears but I rarely go over 50mph.

Dude Man

I only have 10.5x33" tires and my 3.0 struggles on the highway.. I couldn't imagine driving with yours.

3.4 swap and 5.29's would help.

Another (more logical) option is remove the body lift and step down the tire size, but I can understand why you'd like to keep it as is.

Vudujoose

This was something a friend had suggested and seems like the best thing to do while keeping it looking the same way.

I figured I would get this response and after reading this I think you are correct. Now my issue is locating one. I have googled / searched my JDM engine suppliers for a 5VZE and have come up short. Any ideas? Seems a 2001 Tacoma would be a hard find in a junkyard.

EDIT: I have access to 2JZ-GE engines all day long, just not sure how much work would be involved in getting the inline in the truck, but its a torque monster with plenty of power and readily available....

nick89toy

I'm not really a fan of the regular carbed sbc 350 swaps. A fuel injected vortec 4.3 would be a much easier fit, or if you want to go v8, you might as well do a chevy fuel injected 5.3.

paynemw

where was he in afghanistan? i'm currently kickin' it over here in good ole afg

Dude Man

Your best bet is finding an entire donor vehicle, like a wrecked T100, Tacoma or 4Runner.

I've found its not only cheaper than most engine packages but it will also simplify the swap immensely.

Vudujoose

I don't know, he was EoD so they didn't tell us much.

westjohns yota

5 speed swap, exhaust, cold air intake

waskillywabbit

iTrader: (-1)

3.slow isn't a powerhouse to start with but those massively heavy tires would slow anything way down.

Skinnier tires/rims and/or regear and 3.4 swap.

5 spd swap on your 3.0 will just blow it up sooner.

:wabbit2:

Vudujoose

I ran into a link about the 4.3 vortec a few hours after posting this, I have a buddy with a 98 engine (he swapped a 350 into his s-10 blazer), I have talked to him and it will be going into the 4runner, it had 100k+ miles on it so I'm going to rebuild it before dropping it in, I have ordered the kit from northwestoffroad.com and I have sourced a manual transmission swap in a j-yard and will be picking it up this coming weekend. I also ordered mounts from northwestoffroad.com.

Seems like it will be a fun little project and it will allow me to keep it looking like it does now.

I will start a build thread as soon as I start.

bobbybouche

[QUOTE=Vudujoose;51910919]So I was willed a truck by a friend who died, he always knew I loved the truck and sadly he passed serving his country in Afghanistan.

We thank him and his for family for his service, and my condolences to you and his family on a lost friend and son.

nick89toy

Well that was fast. You will like the 4.3. But, if possible, you should call northwestoffroad and cancel your order IMMEDIATLY!!!!! They suck and have ripped a lot of people off. For example:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...thwest+offroad

and

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showt...thwest+offroad

Just order your parts straight from Advance Adapters

Vudujoose

I know the 4.3 it has the potential to be a monster and once I found out it not only could be but was a relatively popular swap option for Toyota trucks/ 4runners it was a no brainer.

I'm actually already having issues, I called today to ask a question about something and the business hours are stated as 8am - 5pm PST tues-thurs its 6:16 at the time of this posting and I keep getting a recorder that hangs up on me after telling me I have contacted them after hours. (Im east coast so its still 3:16 for them)

I appreciate you linking me those threads, it does seem that the general consensus is stay away from NWOR so I may cancel and order from Advance Adapters. I saw both but was referred to NWOR by a guy on my sons soccer team....

As for the 4.3 you have no issues pushing your tires? The 3.0 is def not cutting it for these 36's.

Vudujoose

[quote=bobbybouche;51911213]Thank you.

nick89toy

Ya I would just keep trying to call them until they answer and cancel your order just to be on the safe side. I ran the 4.3 with 4.88 gears, and th 38's with no problem. I would pull most hills in 5th gear and would spin the 38's on dry pavement.

BMcEL

How is that?

Vudujoose

Yeah sounds like the 4.3 is my ticket to leaving it the way it is! Thanks for the info as well.

I know, not the most logical reasoning but the sentimental value of the look of the truck is worth more to me than any amount of money.