I keep reading about toyota engines with ford trans or chevy engine with toyota trans or ford trans with toyota transfercase... What all adapters are available for these things? What are the options as far as trans and transfer case go?
Are the drive shaft mods some serious things to deal with, or will my little bit of welding experience get the job done?

 

You can do 4.3 to a toy manual tranny, 4.3/700R4 to Toy tcase, Buick V6 to Toy manual, Buick V6/Auto to Toy T-case, 5.0 to Toy manual, 5.0/auto to toy Tcase. Because you can adapt the 4.3 to the Toyota then you can put a small block chevy into it as well. Your options are almost unlimited.

If you can lengthen and shorten a driveshaft, while keepin it balanced, then a little welding experience will do. Otherwise a driveshaft shop is the way to go.

Downey has some manuals you can buy for these swaps. I can really only help you with the 4.3 TBI, CPI, or TPI. I have the downey manual for these, if you go that route ( I am willing to share ). I also have the pinout CPU for these if you need em.

 

I am going to fab my own cross member I will have to lenghten the rear drive shaft and shorten the front one- My bro has good welding skills- might be an issue to keep it balanced but inchworm sells a dana adapter for the trans and case so that they bolt to the toy driveshafts w/out mods- We will see how it plays out.

 

Ok, What about longevity and strength with the trans. I have had my fare share of ford trannys go out on me multiple times. From experience, would you take toyota trans over chevys?

Since I dont have the computer for the 4.3, will any 4.3 chevy computer work or do I have to find the specific model that the engine came from?

How do the chevy radiators fit in the toy? Engines have to be moved back quite a bit?

Last, I know with 3.4L you have to use the 3.0L oil pans. What about the 4.3L? How much of a body lift do I need?

 

I am not a FORD fan at all.

You will need a computer for the year of the motor as well as the harness, or you can buy a complete swap harness. What year motor ? TBI,CPI, or TPI ?

I personally love the newer 700R4, they had problems, but fixed them in the newer years. If your gonna use the chevy radiator then You need to fab mounts for the front of your Toy (this is what I did). They sell motor swap radiator but are pricey. I have a two inch body lift, but people do it without. I like the 2" body lift, because it allowed me to raise the engine/tranny/tcase. I have no clearance problems front,back or side to side. 2" also gave me more room between the crossover steering, hydraulic ram and the oil pan. You can use the stock 4.3 oil pan.

Exhaust is an issue, but mine cleared the frame rails. You can buy swap headers which give you a little room.

 

Not sure what TBI, CPI, or the other means....

I wont know the year or model it came from because these are all trash parts that are more then salvageable. The guy I know gets to bring home blocks and alot more and a little machine work will make then good as new. Im sure there will be ways of classifieing the engine once I receive it. Might pick one up tonight.

Also, the only specs that I can come up with through google is that the 4.3 has about 150hp and 225ft/lb of torque. Any input?

 

4.3
TBI=Throttle Body Injection 150 horses
CPI=Central Point Injection 195 horses
TPI=Tuned Port Injection 200+ horses

Any will work?

 

iv'e heard the 4.3 out of a w/t 1500 full size is the best motor for hp. i don't know if thats true or not ...

 

Even the 150hp from the TBI would be worth it IMO. Lots more torque then the 3.4 engines.

 

Anyone givin the ford v6's a thought? The 4.0L gives about 170hp. There 2.9L is about 115hp but has lots of torque. I have an 89 bronco II 2.9l and its got plenty of power.

 

My 91 S 10 had a 4.3L w/5 sp manual, had 195 HP (factory rating), got 28 MPG hiway. The Astro vans had a few more HP (5 to 15 depending on year). The 4L60E came stock on 4.3L after 93 or 94. Lots of 1500 chevy and GMC trucks came with 4.3L in them. TBI is throttle body injection and stopped in 92 (i believe) on the S series. Your intake determines which style F.I. and computer you'll need.
I have an 88 4Runner and would not hesitate to put a 4.3L in it. I would stick with chevy trans for ease of hook up. A few choices are 4L60E, 700R4, any 5 speed, even the 4500 for a bulletproof manual. I would even try chevy t case with a twin sticked toyota behind it.

 

I have a 1991 S-10 truck with T.B. and its rated at 150. My 86 4-Runner with the 1992 CPI about 195.

 

Let us know what you decide, how it goes, and don't forget to give us pics....

We love the pics.

 

I have pics of the entire Downey manual. They are readable if your interested PM me.

 

i am in the process of a 4.3 swap in a 86 truck. truck was a 22r/5spd. the man. trans /transfercase are plenty strong enough to hold a well built small block. i started with a fresh 85 monte carlo 4.3 (old school motor) i would rec. this because you can run a small block water pump, 10.5 in. flywheel and press. plate from a 78 350 camaro 4spd (all of these parts you can buy cheaper than what advance adapters sell them for at your local auto parts store. i ordered a bell housing kit fro northeast offroad (kit was made by advance adapters though) it cam with a bell housing, centerforce 10.5" cluch disk fj slavecylinder and every thing else to mate motor to trans (nice kit). i had a set of s-10 v8 motor mnts. laying around and with minamal work they put the motor in perfect location so my sross member went in stock location without modification. to keep the to end as simple as poss. i am running a marine 4 barrel intake with a edlebrock carb. 86 astro hei (non vac. advance ) dist. with a msd 6al box to provide spark, small block v belt alt. and pulleys. small block power steering pump, witch i found using the high press. fitting out of a chevy 2.8 pump in the small block pump your factory line threads match. you can use your factory wiring harness for the starter. and make your own for the alt. hope this helps, any questions let me know!

 

and.............. this is alot.... cheaper and easier than a toyota v6 swap, more reliable, plenty of power and most of all torque! i will be making about 200 hp. and close to same torque.

 

you can even run a 350 turbo, 400, 4l60e, or 700r4 trans behind your chevy motor ( i would rec. 4.3, which i forgot to mention i am running a set of newer vortec heads with make more power) over a small block cause you dont have to cool as much motor, which is fun to do in a little truck, and you will have plenty of grunt! and advance adapters offers an adapter to mate you stock transfer case to the chevy trans (about $300 than the bell housing kit, but only for auto chevy trans. not as fun as grabbing gears!)

 

Thanks for all of the responses! Very informative.
Turns out that the guy I know has a running 4.3l engine and said he would give it to me. I also ran across an 89 GMC jimmy 4x4 for $175.00. Really sounds like an awesome deal now for a doner truck considering I can take the engine, the wiring, the radiator, trans, t/case, and mabey more.
Now the hard part is finding a 4runner at a cheap price. I drove almost 100miles yesterday way out in the country and I have found two. I will be asking the people very soon. One of them is missing two wheels and its laying on the ground, Im sure I can get that one lol.

 

this is a great thread ! i'm gonna go for it ! (just gotta find a 4.3 ) 4runnerchevy i pm'd ya also

 

Let me now what else. There are some differences, as far as wiring, for the CPI. You will need a complete donor, or it gets tougher.