I just bought this 4Runner today with a knocking engine. I am going to scrap the 3VZE and stock trans for something a bit nicer. While I am gathering the parts needed for that I am going to be doing other things here and there to make the truck nicer in general. I'll post pics up as take them but I am not in a hurry and plan on using two to three months to complete the engine/trans swap.

I am going to keep a running tab on the parts here:

Engine - 300
Second engine (because I changed my mind on the first) 6.0 LS engine - 500
4L60E Trans - 500
Camaro Accessory Brackets and Accessories - free after some trading
Water Pump - 60
LS1 Manifold - 50
LS1 Injectors - 40
T Case Adapter - 475
Solid Axle - 25
SAS and Rear Lift Kits - 1853
Eastwood Frame paints - 205

 

Nice Find. What engine are you going with the 3.4 or the 1uzfe?

Good luck with your build

 

I'm going to do a Chevy LSX swap, more specifically an aluminum 5.3 truck engine out of an 06 Silverado. I had contemplated the other swaps but the Chevy LSX engines have good power, get good gas mileage, and it will cost about the same as a 3.4 swap would.

 

Although I am most likely going to do the engine swap first I just picked up a solid axle from an 82 Truck for $25 from a junkyard. At least I will have time to get it nice and clean before I'm worried about getting it on the truck.

 

awsome find. Set that aside in waiting. Ha Ha

 

Some pics of the soon to be 4Runner engine


I wasnt going to rebuild it but upon disassembly I found the #7 piston to be severely cracked so this thing is now destined for the machine shop. Hopefully I can get by with a hone, new pistons and be done with it....we'll see

Driveway full of Yota's

 

That is the plan. I am going to try to do this engine swap with the IFS on there first, but I am going to SAS this eventually.

 

Nice taco. I can always appriciate a drive way full of toy's. Keep up the good work.

 

Subscribed!

 

Yeah subscribed, Good luck man.

 

I am probably done for a little while. I have to have the block machined and when I had the guy do my 22RE it took him about a month to do all the machine work. I have decided I am going to SAS the Runner at the same time to avoid the headache of trying to clear everything. I am going to buy a kit from Wabfab probably in a month or so and finish everything up then. In the mean time here's a pic of the solid axle and driveshaft I pulled out of the junkyard for $25. I know it looks bad but it was raining and the yard was real muddy when I pulled it.

 

I have some frame rot to contend with. Interestingly this is the only rust on the entire frame. Not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. I'm going to try to pull the fenders and core support off and pull the engine and trans tomorrow.

 

nice 4runner, that thing is gonna be a beast when your done with it!

 

looks like that was a beach truck for a while. That type of rust is common for the guys that put the fishing pole racks on the front and get it down in the ocean to much. I had a T100 4x4 that I loved until I figured out it was a beach truck and the frame literally started turning to powder from the inside. Doesn't look like it will be to bad to fix though. Later

 

Wouldn't surprise me. I looked at the rest of the frame and it is immaculate. I do plan on putting POR 15 on the frame and treating the inside too.

 

My progress so far today...the engine will be coming out once I decide to start working again. It wasn't too bad removing the core support; just had to drill a few holes where the spot welds where at then I put my hoist on it and lifted it up with that to break the bead of the factory sealer used on the seams. I took a better pic of the front of the frame as well.

 

I finished pulling the engine and trans today. I would not recommend, under any circumstances, pulling the engine and trans together on a 3vz auto 4Runner. It took too long, was a PITA, and if I hadn't taken the core support off today I would have had to taken the trans out first. I have pulled a few engines out of a few different cars and that was the worst.

I'm done until next weekend at the earliest.




I don't usually let my work area get so out of control but my son was helping me today...with my tools

 

Yeah that does not look like it is going to be to hard to fix the rust. Once I get some more money in the bank I am going to give East Woods frame treatment a shot. It is designed to for use on the inside of the frame rails. Looks good. Later

 

Thanks. The Eastwood Stuff is what I was thinking of using on the inside of mine. I don't think the rust will be hard to fix either. I was thinking of cutting the frame a few inches up from that crossbar and welding a good piece from a junk 4Runner in it's place. There are a couple of 90-95 4Runners at the pick n pull here in Jville. If you use that Eastwood stuff before I do let me know what you think.

 

I will. Rivht now i got a new project in in the driveway. A 19ft travel trailer. Trying to use the good weather to get it all sealed up. It is 10 years old and leaking from about everywhere. But if i can get her in decent shape it should work out well for the family. A lot more work than i thought though. Later.