Desert_Mountains

I'm having troubles physically getting a 95 3vze engine into my 93 4Runner. I've never swapped out an engine before, so it's been a learning process, with lots of bloody knuckles My 93 engine blew a head gasket, so I went to a junk yard and pulled an engine out of a 95 4Runner (both manual trans). I didn't have a whole lot of trouble yanking the engines out of either vehicles, but I've spent two whole days trying to put the 95 engine into my 93 4Runner, and still fighting to get it in there. I'm hoping someone who's done this before can give me some tips.

Trying to get it back in, I either hit the clutch plate against the tranny before it can fit in, or the bottom of the oil pan hits components on the bottom like the front differential. I've tried swinging the bottom back and forth, jacking up the tranny, I really don't want to take off the oil pan. Do I need to drop the transmission? (also something I'd rather not do) I'd really appreciate any advice on how to get this thing hooked up, thanks.

AZSPEED

When doing it without help I like to put it all together outside the truck and let the engine hoist do the work putting it back in. A good transmission jack really helps keep everything at the right angle when you are trying to line it all up either that or 3 pair of hands.

Desert_Mountains

Thanks AZSPEED; ended up hooking up tranny to engine outside, and dropped the whole thing in, which seems something near miraculous considering the engine with tranny and transfer case is like 6 ft long! Used 2 floor jacks instead of tranny jack, would recommend to anyone renting/borrowing/buying tranny jack instead of floor jacks.

Also, to share some insight on dropping a 4x transmission, for anyone like me who hadn't done it before, dropping the driveshafts is a SONUVABITCH! just sayin..