mungo06

im deciding whether i should go for a ford 302 or chevy 350 for my 87 4runner that has a 22re. i would like to keep my stock drivetrain, if at all possible. i just use the truck for everyday driving, and the 4wheel when the snows too deep or if a friend is stuck, and im not one for stomping on the throttle from a dead stop.

Adam F

Keeping the IFS and swapping in a V8 will be difficult, but can be done. You will want to find the shortest oil pan possible.

Ford will be much easier to fit and give you more room to mount a radiator due to the front mounted distributor.

Chev may be a little cheaper for parts

Use a ford or chev transmission, the stock 4cy wont last.

Gas mileage will suck unless you go with a mild version and EFI.

mungo06

ok. i was planning on using just a stock motor with no add ons, and where would i go to find a 5-speed and everything else needed for the swap?? and as for the mileage, im not too worried about it.

Adam F

Unless you have friends with parts, then a junkyard is your best bet. Do some research on the 'net for manual transmission options, wether it be Ford or Chevy. Popular trannys are SM465, NV4500, T-18.

Here's a good guide of many manual trannys

http://www.motivegear.com/tech_info/...nny_guide.html

And here is a lot of good engine and trans info

http://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge...ge_gateway.htm

AxleIke

I'll plug for the 350 simply because it is cheap, parts are plentiful, and LOTS of people have done it, so there is a lot of info to help you when you run into snags.

Plus, its just a burly motor.

mungo06

my buddy has a 350 he'll sell me, the only thing i need to really find is a transmission, t-case, and everything else needed, and how hard would it be exactly to do a 350 swap???

mungo06

and thanks for help and advice so far

Adam F

How much money do you have?

mungo06

at the moment nothing.... im awaiting to hear from ,im hoping, my new job by tomorrow or later this week. why do you ask??

Adam F

Because....its expensive. I'm assuming you cant fab, so you'll have to buy all your motor mounts and t-case mounts. Headers, exhaust work, radiators, fans, drive shafts, and the list goes on. It is NOT cheap. There are SO many little things that you might not think about that will add up. Trust me, I'm in the middle of a 350 swap myself.

And what about tools? Do you have air tools? Do you have an engine hoist? Do you have an engine stand? Transmission jack? You'll NEED all that to get the job done.

And you know the old saying, "if you have to ask, you probably wont/cant/shouldnt"

Not trying to burst your bubble, just look at it realisticly. Its not a job your going to get done over the weekend. It will take LOTS of time and LOTS of money.

ozziesironmanoffroad

i was thinkin bout a SBC swap for mine,but decided against it, since i bought my truck cuz its a toyota. once you drop a chevy in it, its a chevy in disguise. plus it would handle like a diff truck, i personally like the way mine handles. now im not saying im against it, id love to have one, but not in my truck. maybe a 4runner purchased as a project/crawler/prerunner. trust me, i used to have a chevy with a 350, and they are VERY thirsty, you do NOT want one as a daily driver. ...unless someone is paying for your gas. just ask yourself if its really worth it.

mungo06

the tools i have, i have some experience in modifying and im well aware about time, i have a 1960 chrysler that needs brake work, i have a hoist stand, all the stuff neede todo the work, and that chrysler was my daily driver my senior year of highschool and that has a 383 and that was a thirsty motor, and before that i drove a 74 chevelle with a 350 so i know how thirsty they can be, so i ended up driving a 1985 ford f250 with a straight six and a 4 speed, and after that i bought my first yota, a 92 pickup, two wheel drive, 22re 5spd manual steering, nothing fancy, than i got rearended just this january, the truck was totalled and but the motor was still good so i pulled it and the trans, so i looked for another toyota with a bad motor, i found it for 300 bucks, 87 4runner with a custom lift, it was chillin in a corn field, it had a rod knock, so i replaced the motor and ran fine, than a couple months later it started missing on cylinder 2, i replaced the injectors, didnt work, i left the upper intake off for a week, put it back together it ran fine, two days later i was back to where i was, no one has been able to help me out so i decided to do the swap for a carbuerated 350

phildelfino

Good luck, but did you ever think about a 4.3L chevy swap?
You can keep all the other toy stuff in the drive train.
Phil

mungo06

really???? im not much of a chevy fan so i dont know much about the 4.3.. if i did go with that option, what exactly would i need??? besides the motor...

TOYOTA 1

id go with a chevy motor.

mungo06

ok, ok... ill go with the chevy... now all i need is to know what excatly ill need for it to work out. and where ill be able to locate some of the items, or whatever

Adam F

You have to decide if you want the chevy trans and tcase or toyota trans and tcase or chevy trans and toyota tcase. Then you'll need the adapters if you keep some of the yota stuff. Toy 4cy wont hold up, you'll need a V6 trans.

then you'll need a bigger radiator, motor mounts, tcase crossmember, drive shaft work, probably a body lift

most parts can be bought from http://www.advanceadapters.com/

mungo06

all i need is a little advice on what is the better option so i can run a carberated motor instead of fuel injection cuz of some issues im having at the moment, and all im looking for in a motor is for it to start up everyday and be a daily driver, and the occasional 4 wheel for the snow, cuz the area i live in is trying to make the town a better place, so they're getting rid of all the fun stuff and mud holes...

jtruck79

although a not very popular engine is the ford 3.8 v6 can be carb'd. will bolt to any ford v-8 trans. still decent power decent economy. and shorter than v-8 ie room in engine compartment. cheap to find any t-bird cougar just an option

mungo06

thanks for that note... but im mainly lookin for somethin to where i can use my stock drivetrain as much as i can...