hmm..well I got around $3500 so far. There is this place out here in New London, NC called Galloways 4WD Center. They have TONS of old axles, T-Cases and Engines. How much do rebuilds cost? (Est)

 

for what?
i have a summit rebuild kit in my 302 "damn good kit for what you pay" and it ran about $230

 

Engine rebuild. Really? That sounds pretty cheap. I thought it would be more expensive.

 

yep been using summit kits for years and haven't had a problem. thats just for the kit still might need mechine work and other parts

 

That's just the kit. As DB says, you still need machine work and misc stuff, and in your case $Labor - which is substantial.

 

Yeah, it's going to cost an arm and a leg, but I would rather swap the engine before I re-geared it and bought bigger tires and axles.

 

there's 2 LS1's on ebay right now-

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...975468422&rd=1
or
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...975156341&rd=1


or a complete LT1 with tranny for $1599 but it now-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

 

Damn, hell yeah. Thanks. Only 5 hours left. =/

 

well guys, what do you think about this engine for him? it's got the tranny-
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...sPageName=WDVW

 

Im not a chevy guy but an lt1 is just a 350 right? as for that tranny I would swap with a th350

 

Well I just had my tranny rebuilt. I would need to sell my current engine and tranny to buy the new one, think there is a chance of someone wanting it?

 

if it was me personally i would go with the 5.0 from a stang. Im personally a big ford fan. But all bias aside the 302 is phyisicly smaller than a SBC, and you also have the added advantage of the dist in the front.
The rebuild kits for the late model 302 is a bit more expensive than the early models but with the late model you get a full roller motor, plus EFI if you dont mind doing a little wiring work. If you want some measurments off of a 90 5.0 (302) i have a block in my garage getting ready for a rebuild so let me know i can get ya some info.

 

the only 350 i'd put in a toy would be a buick 350. 100lbs lighter than the sbc, distributor in the front, and it's an absolute torque monster. only problem is that it's a pretty big engine -- only difference between a 350 and 455 buick iirc is the deck height. i'm not the biggest fan of chevy engines, the aftermarket is absolutely wonderful and they're solid engines, but they're a tad bit on the heavy side.

smallest V8 engine dimensionally would probably be a 302 ford. with this engine, it is a little less torquey than a chevy smallblock, but that's fine for a toy -- less chance of broken axle shafts. in stock form its also a lot lighter...add some aluminum heads and it gets really light.

there's always the 215(3.5l) buick and its rover clones, the 4.0 and 4.6(?). all aluminum, weighs in at 5lbs more than a 22R. however the rover engines are expensive and the buicks are pretty much a dead engine except in restorations.

however for a toyota pickup(i'm talking a '79-83 or '84-88 truck) i'd pick a V6. easier to swap in, better mileage, and still gobs of power, especially with a 4.3 chevy or 3.8 buick. not to mention less broken parts. if i was doing a heavy rig like a 2nd gen 4runner, i'd consider the v8 option.

the biggest dilemma in a swap for someone like me is transmission choices. a lot of guys take the easy way out and go with an automatic, but i only really like driving a stick. i wouldn't feel too much at ease with a W56 behind an american V6 engine(or a 3.4 for that matter), an R151F could most likely handle that power though. then you have american trannies -- T18, NP435, SM465, NV3550, and NV4500. the first 3 are heavy duty granny 4 speeds that used to come in trucks when they were built to be abused...you'd have a hard time busting them with a healthy big block. however they have no overdrive so that can be an issue when it comes to engine revs and deep gears in the axles. the NV3550 and NV4500 are medium duty and heavy duty 5 speeds, respectively. the 3550 is found in s10s, jeeps and other midsize pickups and suvs. it'd handle a V6 fine but i might be a little leery with a V8. the 4500 is a big, mean 5 speed that comes behind V8 engines in 1/2 and 3/4 ton dodge and chevy trucks. that's the strongest and probably best route in the long run, but they're expensive and hard to find in junkyards(everybody seems to buy stuff from the factory with autos these days ). you can buy them new for about 2 grand though if i'm not mistaken.

 

Damn guys, hell yeah. Keep typing. hehe

 

Go with the 302 ford....

 

 

why would you want to do an engine swap on the 4Runner ? If I were you, I would sell the 4Runner and then get another vehicle with V8 power. that will save you the hassle, time, money, and possible mechanical problems after doing the engine swap.

 

like i said earler small blocks fords are the way to go. I see people comeparing a 302 to a chev 350 and saying that the chev has more torque well if thats a problem there are plenty of stroker kits or a 351w its only a little taller and wider than a 302 or 289. aftermarket parts for fords are getting cheap like chevys, but are still cheaper. with a good set of heads and a decent bottem end you can easly make a nice 300+hp and 350+ft.lbs and that should be plenty of power for trail and road driving.

 

I guess because he is like me and likes v8 power in a 4runner

 

I ave invested a rediculous amount of money in my 4Runner. It would be pointless for me to sell it because I could not get nearly the amount it is worth to me. I'm trying to keep it for as long as I can. I'm getting a hand me down daily driver soon so soon it will be stripped of audio equiptment etc and be made into a trail rig.