em3e3

I'd like to get feedback from all the (originally?!?) 3VZE owners regarding the 5VZFE swap, from both those who did, and those who didn't. Are you glad you did the swap? Do you wish you had done the swap? Or maybe you're like me, and are happy enough with the 3.slow to keep it going. Roll the comments...

slosurfer

So far the 3.0 has lasted for me, I guess I will eventually have to cross this road. Probably will depend on the $$$ situation and how much better my mechanic skills are at the time.
(hijack) em3e3, where at on the central coast are you? (hijack off)

mudbutt

I like having enough power to go through the mountains at the speed limit or faster. Try going west bound on I-70 from Vail and hold more then 50 in a 3vz. Then try it with my 4runners and slow down so you don't get a speeding ticket. I did the work myself so it was cost effective.

mt_goat

Cost effective if you're lucky enough to find a whole donor truck for $1200, you lucky mudbutt dog. If you see another deal like that please let me know ASAP

In the end after all the work and expense it is worth it IMHO. It's kind of like the moms say about their new baby...once the baby is in your arms you forget all about the pain and wouldn't trade it for the world.

If you can do it yourself and can afford the expense and down time, do it and don't look back, you will love the 24 valve 5VZ

em3e3

I'm near Paso Robles, the new wine country. Seems like they're adding wineries faster than houses!

breknraj

I've put over 1,000 miles on my 5V conversion, since I got it running, and I can't say enough good things about how much better this engine is than my 3V ever was!

I've garnered a few looks from other Toyota truck and 4Runner drivers on my trips to and from Denver. I don't think that they are used to seeing my style truck keeping up with, or passing their late model ones!

I looked at the project that, no matter what I did, I was going to have to remove the 3V. Since I really don't have a place to do a clean rebuild, myself, that meant a replacement engine of some kind. After looking at what rebuilt 3Vs were going for, it became pretty much a no-brainer to opt for putting in the 5V, instead.

Yes, it did cost more (I bought a rolled '02 Taco for parts only), but it is a vast improvement in performance, plus I now get to have A/C in my turck, which I never did, before, and I'll be putting the e-locker from the Taco into my truck this spring or summer. So I feel that I have gotten my money's worth from the pruchase of the Taco, and I hope to recover some of my costs by selling the remaining good stuff from the Taco, and, hopefully, a rebuilt (by me) 3V.

Everyone's circumstance is different, but, if you are sitting on the fence about which way to go, I REALLY recommend going with the 5V! I seriously doubt that you will be unhappy with it!

em3e3

It's interesting that already, the happy 5VZFE owners outnumber the rest. I guess it's a no-brainer if you need to do more than the HG, but for those who did the swap, what sort of rebuilding did you do on the 3.4?

tc

Note that they're 3VZE and 5VZFE. The "F" is the critical point - the difference in 2 and 4 valves per cylinder...

Oh - and if/when my 3VZE goes, I'm not messing with it. A 5VZFE is going in (unless something better comes along - say the 4.0L from an FJC...)

em3e3

Doh! Didn't even realize I made the type, thanks for catching it. I'm real AR about typos.

Back to the discussion at hand, I'm also curious what people have spent for the swap - maybe another poll?

em3e3

Guess I should've started this poll in the evening. I'd still like to hear from the swap/don't swap groups...

Elton

for the week i owned my 3.slow i wont ever go back to that slow beast

breknraj

My 5V only had 67K miles on it, so I checked it out, removed it, cleaned it, did the conversion things that I had to to make it fit my '90 truck, and dropped it in.

MonsterMaxx

I think I have the shinyiest 3.turd around, I'll bet I spent the most anyway.
It's a fast 3.turd, but it's still a turd.

Kicking myself the whole way.
<-hangs head in shame

Wishing I'd gone 3.4

rezrunner92

I made a deal today for a SWEET!!!! 1993 4Runner with a blown motor. It is in exceptional shape and the thing only has 157,000 miles on it. Hold on to your hats......$800.00 I went ahead and told the man to start looking for a truck for me to buy, he owns the junkyard. You can be sure that this one is getting the 3.4.

Elton

pics ?

rezrunner92

Coming soon. I haven't been on here for awhile. I have to get some of my other rides and put them up too. Maybe this week. i haven't even picked up the new runner yet but i have looked it over and it is as close to cherry as a 15 year old vehicle can be. must have been a mall runner then a college car.

And no rust down here by the way. Big Smile.

em3e3

That's an excellent deal! If I wasn't in such a hurry with my 4Runner, the swap would have been more of a consideration. It just seems problematic and time-consuming, compared to just replacing the HG and doing 'upgrades'. It's also interesting how the numbers in the poll are starting to favor those who just did the HG.

As a side note, I was talking to a friend last night who just sold his '95 Tacoma, which came with the 3.4L. It was interesting that he also complained about a lack of power, and it had a manual transmission. I'm not familiar with the history of the 5VZFE engines, were there any changes between model years that could impact a swap?

Tragic Drive

The 5vze is really a great motor . 10k miles and a year later on my swap and I am very happy with this motor.
The truck is used as a daily driver and I would feel confident driving it anywhere .

Tigerstripe40

Another 'WIsh I'd have swapped in the 5VZ instead of rebuilding the 3VZ'
After adding up the receipts, from doing me 3VZ-E rebuild, I figured I could have done the 5VZ-E swap with a set of GOOD headers and catback exhaust system for the same money, time and effort.

I did build this 3VZ-E to last a good long time.

cr500rider

I have a 95 3.0 4runner with a slushbox that i want to do a 3.4 conversion with. i have heard the 95 tranny is not compatible with the 3.4 computer. but i also heard a 3.4 T-100 auto tranny will work. does anyone know about those rumors? I really want to do this conversion and i have the money for the engine and ORS wiring harness but i think that thier auto tranny conversion would break me as far as money goes