Hi all, first nobody flame me for wanting to put back in another 3.0! I have a 92 4runner with an automatic and there is a 90 4 runner with a 3.0 and a manual in it locally for parts. My 92 is pretty much dead and i need to get it back on the road.
So what i need to know is what are the difference that would matter between these years? I know the distributor and intake is different, so i'm wondering if the 90 engine would work in the 92 if i swap all the stuff over?
Does anyone have a list or know of one that they could point me to?
Thanks
Brent

 

the engine will swqp no problem. The intake is the same but grab every sensor and a little bit of wire after the connectors. Bothe side of the connectors that is and some extra wire. I put a 95 in mine and it went very well. The distributor will have a different connector so like i say grab all the connectors you can and the commputerr as they were upgraded everyyear with diffent maps etc. just take as much as possible.

 

So Basically what you're saying is most if not all the connectors are different and the computer also. This is kinda what i'm trying to aviod and why i was asking the question if i swapped all my stuff over from the 92 to the 90 engine if everything would work (plug right in) and work like it did with the 92 engine?
I can get the entire vehicle for fairly cheap, but would like to keep the engine change-over simple.
Thanks
Brent

 

Hey,
The timing belt tensioner is hydraulic on '92 and above 3.0s. Probably not that big a deal, but that's just something else I know is different.

Just thought I'd mention that.
keep us updated on that!

Have fun.
Daniel

 

Serious, DH6 has a point there that you need to be aware of....however the tensioner did not chage until mid 92 some of the first 92 have the spring type and all of the 90 have the spring type....you just need to tell the parts dept that you have the spring type and then they can get the right parts when you do a timing belt change.....

 

Every little bit of info is helpful.
Thanks
Brent

 

It will work. Once you have the two engines side-by-side, you will see what all you have to switch over. It's not that bad. You will need to use the 92s distributor though.

 

Yeah I'm not trying to discourage you just saying grab as much as possible. It will all work together just fine if you mix and match most parts.

 

We swapped a 94 3.0 into an 89 truck. The motors looked the same, but there were tons of little things that we needed to do. But between the two engines, we didn't have to buy a single new part other than oil filter and spark plugs, etc. So yours should be no problem at all. If you get hung up, just post again and we'll bail you out, but I don't foresee you having any troubles. Later..........

 

I don't know where you are, but some states make it illegal to swap in an older motor. It must be the same year or newer.

 

i think the computers are different, and have different connectors between those years. make sure to get the complete engine harness, all the way to the computer, and the computer itself. it should be behind the passenger side kick panel.

 

The computer connections are the same as long as all the parameters are met. 4x4, auto/5spd etc. My 90 computer works fine with the 95 harness.

 

I've tried putting a 90 engine in a 94 4 runner and I've had a problem with it. The distributor is not the same. The older distributor has a longer shaft, which fits in a sleeve in the head. The new shaft is shorter. Normally I'd just swap the distributor and let it ride but I'm afraid it will start flopping around and break something. Anybody know of a way to work around this, or if I'm crazy?

 

I put an 88 3vze in my 94 and used the distributor from the 94. I too noticed the 88 distributor has a much longer bottom shaft than the 88, but the gears lineup. The 94 distribuitor works fine in the 88 block. I have been driving it for a year now and had no problems.