i figured it was about time to start a build thread with warmer weather around the corner. picked up a 88 4runner 5spd with a blown 3.0 last fall for $350 with the intentions of parting it out. but after checking it out closer, it was actually pretty solid for being in salty maine winters. after having no luck finding a good 3.0 all winter, a 99 limited 4runner with 59k pops up at my local junkyard a couple weeks ago. i got the 3.4 and anything i needed ,so now i'm at the point to researching wiring/exhaust/fueling issues before we roll it into my buddies shop. we swapped in a LT1 into my 2wd chevy shortbed last winter and did the wiring ourselves, this looks like a cakewalk so far.

^^ my 88 before i put it away for the winter.

the 99 limited parts rig. if you see any thing you need off it PM ME! the JY is pretty close and i can run over there and pull parts. no elocker.. even i missed out on that one.

the plan:
3.4 swap and get it on the road asap
SAS swap (next winter)
35s
elockers

so thats all i have so far. just waiting until the first of the month to roll it into the shop. until then, i'd be more than grateful with any suggestions to make this swap a bit easier, particularly with the exhaust crossover as mine is the newer style.

 

i got the 5vze up on the stand the other day and notice i have the newer style crossover/manifolds. so unless there is a way to use what i have, i'm stuck until i find a good deal on the earlier exhaust setup. PM if you have a set for sale/want to buy/trade for the newer style exhaust.

^^ its a bit dirty for 59k, but should clean up nice.

^^ exhaust...

picked up some beater 34x10.5s on chromes for $200 last weekend. 2 are ok and 2 are spares at best... but they'll work for the time being and the price wasn't too bad.

 

got the runner into the shop and pulled the junk 3.0 out tonight after work. the ac system was tight and full of r12, so i'm swapping the ac manifolds and going to try to get ac working as well. pulled the pan, tray and pickup. just need to grab a few other trinkets off it and off to the scrapheap it goes (unless anybody wants it, come pick it up and its yours).
no work tomorrow so i'm hoping to get most of the crapwork done ahead of time while i wait for the older style exhaust. pull gas tank while i wait for a new denso pump, order a 3.0 clutch kit, swap oil pans/ac manifolds, and start on wiring.

still need to find the part# for the correct flywheel bolts and get the wiring diagrams printed out. more tomorrow...

 

Keep me posting pics on this! i almost did this but decided to put a freshly remanned 3.0 in... Kinda regretting the decision now. I shoulda gone with the 3rz or the 5VZFE like you. It ended up being 2000 cheaper though to do the remanned since i dont have the tools or the knowledge to do the swap myself.

 

good luck with everything, cant wait to see what you have plan for the future

 

thanks guys,much appreciated.

got a bit done yesterday. ac manifold, dipstick, oil pan are all swapped over and got started on the wiring. i'm pretty sure i got all the info i needed off TIS for the donor engine/harness, but man, they are some of the most confusing EWDs i've ever looked at. clutch and fuel pump should be here tomorrow and exhaust should arriving on monday. still need to look over the donor again one last time for any trinkets/doodads i may have missed. more progress soon...

 

got the exhaust hacked and boogered back together. with a little swearing and shoving, its mostly together. got a ton of stuff left to do... but at least there is a 3.4 sitting in there instead of a POS 3.slow.

more soon...

 

been picking away at the runner for the past couple nights. haven't had much time to get at it until now. most everything under the hood is connected. still need to build a battery box, finish intake/snorkel, replace some fuel/brake lines, connect exhaust, and wiring. hoping to get it finished in the next few weeks if i can find the pinouts for the 3 plugs that head to the dash area off the main harness.



its only temp stuck together to test fit. still need to figure out a hat, but thats about how its going to look.

getting there...

 

IT RUNS! only for 1.5 seconds... but it starts. i'm pretty sure the 99 4runner limited donor had a engine immobilizer system and thats what we are up against now.



still a few things left to do.. but its getting closer and closer to seeing the road all the time.

 

Does the 3.4 bolt to a 3.0 Tranny? How hard was all that?

 

bolts up like it should had been there from the factory. aside from the exhaust crossover and wiring, its no harder to swap in a 3.4 than a 3.0 in a 4runner/pu.

 

Hmm...I got a 22R right now and always had the 3.4 in mind. DO you like it?

 

Nice find and ought to be a great Runner with the 3.4. Great job.

 

Ok so like I said I have an 87 4x4 with a 22r with a 5spd.

I want to do the 3.4 swap with the 3.0 tranny. But will my transfer case bolt to the back of it?

 

you'll need an adapter plate to mate the 3.0 trans to the 4 cyl transfer.
http://www.trail-gear.com/v6-adapter-plate
have you checked out the 3.4 engine swap sub-forum here on YT? there is a treasure trove of info here, check it out!

 

it runs until you shut it off now!

ended up finding a 3D590 ecu: cali emissions, v6, mt, 4x4 for a pre 5/99 for $60 shipped. i have to buy a new air fuel ratio sensor instead of the regular 02 sensor the federal ecu's call for. its a bit more $$ but i don't really care at this point... i just want to drive the damn thing!

left to do:
mount gas tank
run new rear brake lines
take bald swampers off and replace with normal tires
finish snorkel/mounts
wire up trans
booger weld exhaust together
weld up a patch on the frame

won't have a chance to work on it until next weekend. hoping to have everything together and be ready for an inspection sticker by the last week of july.. early august at the latest.

 

Yeah, that's all I want to know, good luck with your truck, great job on what I've seen.

 

getting closer...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipVVX_Zvox0

 

A 3.4 in an 88 ought to be a sweet little setup. Great job.

 

99% finished. truck is legal and i've put about 400 miles on in the last week or so. all i can say is "HOLY CRAP, WHAT A DIFFERENCE!". i still need to finish the rear o2 sensor and cure the high idle issue, but it already puts the 3.slow to shame in the power AND mpg departments.

time to put more miles on it and stockpile parts for a SAS.