I just did this same swap on my 97 4Runner, and it worked great! My cast manifold had two huge cracks in it, one almost all the way around. The new "mini-header" fit up perfect. With a 4-cylinder engine and an automatic on a 4Runner (it's the wife's car...) I don't know if I gained any power or not, but I think so, and it can use all the help it can get.

The only problem I had is the heat shield did not fit on the new manifold. I wanted to keep the heat shield because there are wires and Air conditioner lines (it's the wife's car...) that run near the manifold. The swap of the manifold took maybe an hour working slow...the modifications to the heat shield took maybe 1.5 more hours. The existing one is made from aluminum, and I had some left-over airplane aluminum laying around, so was able to pound, cut, straighten, fasten, etc enough to make it work, but would have come out ahead buying a used heat shield from Nix 99. Not sure what they go for new.

 

Wade: This is the first I have heard of that shield not fitting. Strange!

My computer tells me the head shield part number is the exact same from 96-04. Did you take any pics of the swap? Or perhaps of how the shield did not work? I would be interested in any info I can get, for future swap use.

I am thinking about marketing a swap package similar to the one I sold you, so I would need to know if a new heat shield is required.

 

Death, How much would the swap package be? I am very interested. Also, can you list all the parts that would come in the swap package. Did I mention I am very interested?

Thank you very much in advance.

 

PM sent

 

Thank you very much

 

when i did mine i don't think the heat sheild was even close to fittin on the new one. But I really didn't even try to put it on, i just looked at the sheild on the ground and the exhaust on the truck and decided they where not goin to mate. So i could be completly wrong.

 

DeathCougar,

I am interested in the swap package as well...can you shoot me a PM with a price quote and all that.

Thanks!

Kyle

 

PM sent

 

FYI, these kits are now available through Nix99!

Check the link in my sig for more information. Thanks!

 

can i find one in a junkyard off a 01 to 04 4runner and bolt to my taco...cant find one to save my life

 

I can't give away all my secrets

 

It didn't fit at all. the new header has two holes on the top for bolts to go through, whereas the old heat shield has three holes for studs to poke through, and they are all in different places. Additionally, the header has a different shape to it, and interferes with the old heat shield.

I need to talk to you about cruise control parts, so when i get a chance I'll drive by and show you what I mean.

 

Ok, yea I would appreciate seeing that.

If you want, i could also order you a heat shield if you desire.

 

Here's some pics of my swap, nothing out of the ordinary..



Yes, I took the down pipe off because I thought I saw a hole in it and I was going to weld it up..


POS


Here's what I did about the heat shield holes not lineing up:
The part on the very right of the shield in this picture needs to go.


After you drill out 3 pop rivets on each side:


The hole on the right is reused, And you can see my crapily fitted and drilled hole on the left..whoops..




Took me like 4-5 hours, just kept having little things go weird, I did soak all the bolts I planned on touching in PB blaster for a couple days prior to today..
Nothing really went wrong, Im dehydrated like hell cause I dont like to stop working and pickup a waterbottle, oh well.

 

Looking good Steve, thanks for posting up how to modify the heat shield! Looks stock!

 

I know right..Im not very picky about looks, And I think the headers would look OK sans the shield, but the shield makes everything look complete and normal.

Thanks for the kit again Josh, You da man !!!

 

Try looking HERE; search for Tacomas 01-04.

Not very many 4runners came with the mini-headers, although it seems a few did. My understanding is that the mini-header was a mid-year model change in 2000-2001. 2000 was the last year that 4runners were available with the 3RZ and the vast majority sold came with the V6. So unless you find a 3RZ 4runner from near the end of the 2000 production run, they will probably have the older style cast manifold.

EDIT:Mini headers came on all 2000 California 3rz's and 2001-2004 3rz's both Cali and Fed. So it is likely that only California 3RZ 4runners have the mini-header stock.

 

Anybody have the torque specs for the STUDS? Tired of looking for them.

 

which studs, on the manifold or the pipe?

 

for the studs themselves, going into the head