wondering if there is a best year of the 5vz? anything better in the late models vs the early models? searched and never found any good info besides dbw sucks.

 

Motors before '02 to avoid drive by wire throttle. Although some smart feller in here whizzed right through it. Somebody mentioned a common problem with the 95.5-96 motors but I can't remember what it was now, nor if it's a legit "common" problem.

 

are the 02-04 motors better in any way besides the downfall of the dbw? like better heads, block, intake? Thinking about peacing together a motor and seems simple enough to throw a cable throttle body on a dbw system and of course different ecu.

 

Piecing together a 3.4 swap is the bonehead way to do it. Costs more time, money and annoyance. Get a complete donor vehicle.

97-99 are the ideal years IMO.

:wabbit2:

 

Nobody breaks it down like :wabbit2:

 

not doing it for a swap but thanks for the heads up. Just trrying to find out what is the better year if some years are better then others and it seems like no one knows. so lets put it into a hypathetical situation, something thats already been 3.4 swapped or came factory with a 3.4, and rebuilding the motor and want stroger internals maybe a better head flow stuff like that, are there any differences in the later models or not?

 

Um, you just got 2 suggestions for years... You should try https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/ forum section.

 

yes and 2 isnt good enough in my books sofar from you stay away from 95.5-96 and wabbit says go with 97-99, you stated you herd problems with the 95.5-96 so thats understandable but why isnt wabbit saying 97-01? something bad in the 00-01? and the obvious dbw in 02-04.

 

Fluff is for pillows

:wabbit2:

 

Some of the 95.5-96's still had head gasket issues (similar to the 3.0s but without the extra influence of the exhaust cross-over). There was a HG recall for some of the early 3.4's but my donor 96 4Runner 3.4 wasn't covered, and I'm not really sure what years and models were covered.

And are you asking from a purely mechanical standpoint (like you just need a long block that you can swap all your current electronics and sensors over to) or the best overall combination of mechanical and electrical components?

 

i will take credit as the SMART FELLER! Get a dbw it's not much different power to one more wire to make the throttle body motor work! Plus its probably going to have the least amount of miles for it's age!

 

Agreed. Wiring isn't too bad. Replacement parts are cheaper. And most of the blocks come predrilled for the mid engine dipstick that the swappers need.

 

good point... I got a little ancy when drilling the block and ended up breaking a bit off... long day ...plus the older ones come with the exhaust that isn't double wrapped so it's easier to buil the crossover ( pre -02?)