I am new to the forum and have a 97 basic 4 cylinder 5 speed 4 Runner w/120 K and is a wonderful vehicle. My wife and I are both Harley Riders and pull the bikes with an aluminum Featherlight trailer but notice above 70 mph and on hills the power is anemic....(who would have guessed)....the truck is paid for and I really have NO desire for a new one and want to boost the power...I am thinking of putting a 6 cylinder in...any suggestions re cost and difficulty. The current 4 cylinder is in excellent shape and we mostly drive on flat highway on the east coast of North Carolina.


Thanks all................

 

I just finished my engine swap. I used the 7M-GE and are satisfied. I will put on a turbo or use a 7M-GTE because the engine is begin ' for more....
It's way better (even without turbo) than my stock 3.0 V6.

 

TRD Supercharger!

 

Is that in response to my original question or the one who has changed to the supra engine.......

 

TRD now offers a SC for the 2.7. I think that's what Vato was saying.

 

Sorry...I see now that the supercharger doesn't fit the 4 cylinder....

 

TRD does make a SC (well actually Alpine does) for the 2.7. So if you are looking for more power, this is another option.

There are a couple Toyota parts guys on here that could get you a good deal too.

 

Casey said he had the 2.7 supercharger in his 4runner and it wasnt worth it at all. he said it didnt do much, and killed him on gas since you have to use premium.

 

I looked at the supercharger prices and they seem to be as much if not more than an engine. To swap, with the 5 speed, is it difficult. Tought of just getting a long block and swapping. does the engine just bolt on to the tranny and slip in? I thought about the Supra that was mentioned...anything is better than what I've got even though what I've got ain't terrible...just a little power light on the highway especially with the trailer tailgate up......

I know these querstions are elementry to some of you but I do medicine for a living.......imagine asking me a headache question....might sound complicated to you but to me not.....

 

dont forget everybody, this guy has a third gen. nobody has done any swaps with a third gen yet, atleast i havent heard of anything.

you could always look into swapping a 3.4 into your truck.

 

I think you should try intake/header/exhaust before you go swapping engines. That may just be the amount of power you are looking for. People throw around engine swaps here like they are easy and cheap. What some are failing to mention is how much time and effort go along with the initial cost. One guy on this forum dropped a 350 in his Toy. He said when he was all finished, he dropped $6K. Other people recommend the Supra swap, which is awesome, but think about the whole picture. The downtime, the small parts, the labor, the fluids, the hoses, the belts, the maintenance items that should be taken care of on the Supra engine while its out...etc, etc. No matter what swap you choose, you are at least looking at $5K. If I was a shop, I wouldnt do it for anything less. Something to think about.

 

that's interesting..is there a huge difference in generation to generation of these things?.....thanks for the head's up to everone about the generation thing..L33.....

If I were to cut the tailgate of the trailer into a bifold then there really isn't a problem with the pulling, at least to my satisfaction (duhhhhhhhhhhhh..maybe there's the answer (LOL))

This 4 cylinder has been absolutley WONDERFUL...better not spook myself here.......even though I haven't done it yet, next month it gets the timing belt changed ( I have been lazy about this, I admit). I am actually afraid to do anything to this it has been so reliable..I'm afraid of "stirring" something up.........Hell...I ain't goin more than 70 pulling my bikes anyway....they are a bitch to stop in an emergency stop (trailer has no brakes)

Thanks all......great forum here

 

OK...so tell me a little about the intake, header, exhaust....what would I need?...better yet, what would YOU do? Tell me what it is you would go out and purchase..........

 

I would go with a custom intake. Some guys on here are coming up with some pretty cool stuff on the 2.7L. I would be patient, see what works, and what doesn't. Its pretty much a given that cooler air with as little obstruction as possible increases power. Stay away from K&N, go with Amsoil filters.

Headers: Do some research on a header that increases midrange. There are at least 3 headers for the 2.7.

Exhaust: Free up all that OEM restriction under there. Dont go too big on the pipe diameter, or you will lose your low end TQ. Go 1/4" bigger with a flowmaster or similar muffler (cat back). I personally like going to exhaust shops and having custom exhaust made, its cheaper and provides the same results.

And lastly, keep researching. You will find a ton of knowledge on this board. We are here to help!

 

there is definately a huge change from generation to generation. each generation was entirely redesigned.

first gen (84-89) was basicly a truck with a stock bed camper.
second gen (90-95) became an SUV. it's a fully enclosed cab. they came with 4 bangers and V6s...
third gen (96-02) was totally redesigned from the second gen. it took on a little more of a grocery getter design, but can still be a mean machine offroading.
and the fourth gen (03-current) became much BIGGER. it isnt the sam ol SUV anymore, and it's looks are liked my some, and hated my many. It still, though, is an offroading beast. This is the first year they are putting a V8 in the 4runner

 

Call up the guys at Downey www.downeyoff-road.com

and northwest off road
www.northwestoffroad.com

they are the biggest toytoa engine swap guys and could give you a good idea of all of your options. The only problem for you is that they are both on the west coast.

 

supercharge it!!

 

I spent $2500 putting a '97 55k 3.4L v6 in mine, but I had a 3.4L to start out with, so there might be a litte more involved.

 

^so much of the "little stuff" was different on the 4runner engine i put in my taco (both 3.4's) i could have never done it without borrowing a lot of "little stuff" from my old engine. i couldnt imagine trying to change from a 4 to a 6, you would have to be a good fabricator and have deep pockets to buy all the other parts that you need aside from just the complet engine, ecu, accessories, tranny, exhaust, charcoal canister, maf....thats just a start. the only way id even try it is if i had a complete 3.4 4runner donor truck! a supercharger will give you the same power as a stock 3.4 and will end up being way cheaper, if you got enough money to do the swap buy a new truck.