so this is it im on the verge of weather i should rebuild or get new,, i got a 89 4runner, but i wana know if i rebuild my 3VZE with the master engine rebuild kit with help from toyauto service shop, will it give me somewhate noticeable power than before??,, or should i just throw in a new differnt engine?? any help or advice,, very much appreciated.

 

new different engine. only do tune ups to a 3vz until it dies.

 

what engine would you perfer to throw in,, thats not to much pain in the ass?

 

A 350 cubic inch small block chevy. Im sure you can find a almost bolt in kit with a turbo 350. Junkyard pull for a decent motor trans/xfer case shouldnt cost more then 1000 bucks. It would be easier to run a carb but if you can find a truck with TBI and can get the harness and ecu thatd be the better way to go.

 

3.4 5VZ all the way if you want to keep it toyota. I went through the same decision tree and eventually went with the 3.4 swap even though it was more work than redoing the 3.0.

 

I blew my 3.0, Im swapping in another one. I like this motor, its reliable, makes descent power and I know it well.

 

i would sell the vehicle and get me a newer one. 96 and up model.

 

Sell it? It's is an '89, first gen with a removable top. Don't ever sell one of those, you will always regret it. Add another to the stable, but don't sell the first gen.

I have an '89 with the 3.0. It dropped a valve seat (avatar) a few years back. I decided to rebuild it/freshen it up and put headers on it. At the time, it was probably the right decision, as money was tight and it was my daily driver. I put a lot of miles on my bike for a month or so.

But, power wise, it just makes more noise now with the headers, sounds like it has more power, but really doesn't. If I had to do it now, with a more stable financial situation and another rig to drive, I would swap in another motor.

As for which one, the 3.4 swap is the "cleanest" swap. It bolts to the manual transmissions, it uses the same engine mounts, you can use the 3.0 radiator, the blocks are almost identical.... in short, a very compatible engine to swap in. You would have to go with a 2" body lift or put a bump in the hood to clear the intake on the 3.4, as it is taller. Another bonus, down the road you can pick up a factory TRD supercharger for it, bolt it on, and grab yourself 40 more HP, peak, with a lot more area under the curve.

Another common V6 swap is the GM 4.3 Vortc V6. Depending on the version you get, it put out as much as 200 HP and 260 ft-lbs of torque in stock trim. It fits in the engine compartment fine, but needs custom engine mounts and a customized oil pan.

As far as V8 swaps go, the most common are the Ford 302 or Chevy 350. The Ford fits a little easier, with the distibutor in the front. Both have a gazilions of aftermarket parts availble for them to make all of the power you would ever need. But, both are a tight fit in the first gen engine compartment and require a lot of customization. Cooling with a V8 is an issue that needs addressing.

There are lots of exotic swaps also. One guy on here is swapping in Lexus V8's into rigs.

Good luck.

Mike

 

I would definetly stick with something of Toyota origin. If you have the cash and can also afford the downtime I would take the route of the "fairly simple" 3.4 5vze swap. If you pockets are deep enough, go with the Lexus 1UZ V8 as mentioned earlier. The v8 is all aluminum and weighs less that your 3.slow while producing 290hp and 315ft lbs of torque, it is also sought after as it is one of Toyotas/Lexus' most reliable motors. My .02.