I've got a 93 pickup with a ruined 3VZE 3.0 engine. I've also got a rusty 88 4runner with a 3.0 with a blown head gasket. I'd like to use the engine in the 88 as a donor to build for the 93, but I hear that the 88 engine had some slight differences. It has a couple less mounting bosses in the block casting and I hear that the distributor shaft pilot bore in the cylinder head is smaller. anybody able to confirm?

This article from Engine Builder magazine raises the issues I mentioned above.

http://www.enginebuildermag.com/Item...ta_30l_v6.aspx

 

Yeah, they're slightly different(in more ways than mentioned I might add).

But so what? What difference does it make if you have everything you need(minus a pair of new head gaskets) to swap the 88 engine into the 93 PU? As in, why do they need to be fully compatible? And/or what else is wrong with the 88 that would need to be swapped from the 93(which is supposedly "ruined") to make it work?

 

Well, I was thinking that in order to get this thing to run in my 93 the 93 distributor would have to work with the 88 heads, that is if I use the 88 heads. My understanding is that the 93 distributor won't work with those heads because the pilot bushing bore is smaller on the 88 heads. So some small stuff like that. Questions like, will I be able to put the 93 timing belt set up on the 88 block. I understand that the 88 head is missing a bolt hole and threads that are needed. Of course, I could just run the 88 Spring tension timing set up set up. And those extra mounting bosses on the block. Dose the '93 need them? I've never worked with the 3VZE before, so I figure it's better to ask questions 1st. I hate to sink money into the 88 and then find out that I'd wasted my time and money.

The 93 block is ruined because it was hydro-locked by the prior owner, which snapped a rod, blew out the main bearing girdle and made a whole in the side of the block. I haven't been inside the 93 engine yet, so I'll be a happy camper if I find out that the heads are still usable.

Thanks for your input.

 

O.k., so we're basically talking swapping just the 88 long block(more or less) into the 93. In that case you'll really only need to address the distributor issue(or not if reusing the 93 heads). The engine mounts won't be an issue. The 88 will bolt to the 93 PU frame using the 88 engine mounts.

Other than that, there's not much else to it. And if there is, it's pretty easy to solve by swapping parts(and/or minor modifications). Many folks(including quite a few here) have done it before successfully.

 

I might have found a ' 94 3vze engine with the bad HG for $100. Going to go look at it later in the week. My '93 extra Cab is sweet, so I want to do the best job I can. I think I can probably find another use for the 88 engine.