texcat101

Just got back from Colorado with my 85 4runner, The 22re has got to go! It was ok on the trails but too weak for the long grades on the highway.
I have been researching the swaps and it seams the 4.3 with the 700r4 tranny is the way to go for me. There is alot of good info out there but I still have some questions regarding this swap.

I am currently running 5.29's but I still have my old 4.30's in storage, will I need to be somewhere in the 4.56 to 4.88 gear range for best results with my 33's ?

Will the chain drive transfer case from my 85 auto trans work with the available aftermarket adapters on the back of the 700r4 or would it be best to get an 700r4 from a 4x4 and use the chevy transfer case?

Has anyone used the Megasquirt system on the 4.3? I am leaning that way.

What would be the best year and model to look for as a donor vehicle to make the easiest swap and best H.P. torque etc..?

If you have an opinion or advise on this swap please weigh in!

ryantowry_81

well for one i have a 91 chevy full size with the 5-speed and it has the transfer case drop on the driverside where as the toy is pass side. the 700r4 is a good tranny with a little work and there are alot of aftermarket parts for it. i have one in a 68 el camino and i would strongly suggest a shift correction kit and some corvette pressure servos to make it last twice as long and run cooler. the only problem with the 700 versus the toy 5-speed is it is longer and you will have to move the transfer case mount back where as with the toy 5 speed the mtor can sit right where the 22r is now and fit perfect without a body lift. much easier install. my 91 chevy is a full size 4x4 with a single cab long bed and has plenty of power so i have not put any power addons on it but even in a full size truck it pulls hill well and should be sweet in the yota with the stock efi.

As for years the easier way is the 91 and older tbi engines without the counter balance shaft and less wires versus the newer vortec motor.

I would personally keep the 5.29's because if you use the 700 with the overdrive it should still do good at freeway speeds but give you extra low end power, and leave you ready to step up to bigger tires when the time comes. but if you do take them out let me know i will buy them from you.....

Look at the other swap write ups on here there are quite a few and will tell you what to look for.

texcat101

Thanks for the advise on the 700r4 upgrades, I have seen others reference the same kit and servos.To clarify i currently have a 4speed auto A340.

I saw a S-10 Blazer 4x4 this evening and looked under it to find the transfer on the driver side so I guess the only option is to adapt the toy case, the only adapters I have seen listed are for later years than my 85 chain drive case.

I would love to keep the 5.29's but the motor is taching 2900 rpm at 68-70 mph in final drive lockup now and from what i read the final drive ratios are very close on these two trannys. 2900 rpm seems a little high for the 4.3 and I don't want to run larger than 33's

ryantowry_81

come on every on every one wants bigger tires. haha sorry i missed the A340 in your first post. yeah i would try and use the 700 instead of the a340. I have 400+HP on my 700 and it does fine. i would call advanced adapters or downey to see if thety will fit the chain drive, but personally with 200+hp and low gears i would be looking into a gear driven case just for thye strength.

yeah i guess 5.29's might be a little low. i would say with a 700R4 and 33's i would go 4.56. My buddy had a s-10 with the 4.3/700/4.56's and 33's and it does real well. and your low is lower than the stock s-10 case so offroad you will have even more.

texcat101

Thanks ryan, I found the adapters from Downey and they can do any of the toy transfer cases, even my 4cyl chain drive.

I have been doing alot more research and for the benefit of anyone thinking about this swap here is some of what I have found.
The best 4.3's are from '93-'02 , 93-95 are CMFI and 96-02 are CSFI engines both making around 190 hp and I have found some donors worth the $$ in the 93-95 range.
Those years have the 4L60E version of the 700 tranny with alot of electronics 93-95 4L60E's have the 4 bolt tailpiece instead of the '96 and later 6 bolt which requires another adapter.
The '90-'91 4L60 is non electronic and the 87-89 700r4 has all the part updates that GM had to offer for the 700 so it should be a good one too. Also of note the 88-91 1/2 ton 4x4 blazers and suburbans are reported to have a NP 241 transfer case that drops on the passenger side like the Toys require. And one guy said the '90 model he used had a VSS on it as well.

Since the 4.3 I want '93 or later will have an electronic tranny behind it My question is when swapping in the 4L60E do you just rob the controller and harness from the donor vehicle and wire it in or is thier more to it?

texcat101

Bump this question
Since the 4.3 I want '93 or later will have an electronic tranny behind it My question is when swapping in the 4L60E do you just rob the controller and harness from the donor vehicle and wire it in or is thier more to it?

Regarding the 5.29 gearing I found this RPM calculator which has proven to be a handy tool for calculating .70 to 1 final drive rpm's. If i put my old factory 4.30's back in I should run about 2200 rpm at 70 miles per hour -much better than the 2700 rpm's w/5.29's
http://www.700r4.com/speedoCalc/rpmcalc.shtml

texcat101

I found a '00 model 4.3 52K miles with all brackets, accessories and wires for Cheap! I picked it up today.
and see what I bought to run on it.


this is a new injector setup that produces 225hp on the mercruiser 4.3L vortec, it comes with most of the sensors already in place. with the Megasquirt controller this is easily adapted, and it looks cool too!

So what do you call a rig thats Toyota, Chevy and Mercruiser?

43runner

I did a little research on gearing for 1994 4.3l with 4l60e. the original axle ratio was 3.42 with 27.1 inch tires. according to my calculations, to run 35 inch tires, you need an axle ratio of 4.27. my 4runner with v6 and auto tranny came with 4.30 gears. I also verified this with several s10 websites. guys with 33 inch tires, and 4.3l with 4l60e geared their axles to 4.11 gears.

derrik86

im running the 2003 4.3 with the 4l60e and a 208c with 488 on 35s.. ive gone from 3.90s to 5.29s its personal preference and what you are doing.. i am allways in the sand dunes and on the street so i like more bottom end.. but yet it keeps me from speeding on the free way also.. my trans shifts into overdrive at 90mph... with 488s... its all what u wanna do my friend

tiger

i will be interested to here how your build goes im looking to do the 4.3 swap also but i have 2 86 4x4 for sale one with 5 speed and fuel injected 22re both ifs though i hope they will sell soon but not a huge market in ohio anymore trails here r dissapering every year so we will see im still debating on keeping the 5 speed in my 87 or going with the 700r to if i keep the 5 speed then my girl cant run it hmmmmm thinking the 5 speed is the way to go for me he he anyway it jus depends on cost difference i herd the bell housing is $400 bucks i plan on jus going carb instead of fuel inj cause i suck at wiring and seems simplier that way

texcat101

Here is the build thread
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f163...-chevy-156022/

Killedmyota

Any chance you still have the 22re engine for sale even though it's been ten years since you made your post?