i'm looking to put a 3.4 in my 89 runner which currently has the 3.0/5 speed. i've read tons of stuff online, but never thought to bookmark stuff, so here's my main question: other than getting the 3.4 from a truck with a stick, are there any years i should avoid? from what i understand the years with the 2nd gen supercharger are better? is that cuz of the ecu programming?
i may have a 96 from a manual trans available to me, but don't want to get "the wrong year"...
any advice would be appreciated...

 

As far is the Tacomas go:
96-99 are good because the oil dip stick hole is already drilled in the block. 96-97 not so good if you're going to supercharge (ECU not as able to handle the fuel management)
2001-2002 started the newer (better) exhaust manifolds and still have the cable driven thottle body (better), but you have to drill the block for the dip stick (PITA).
Sometime around 2003 they went to the drive-by-wire throttle body (crap), lots of problems with those.

Not sure about the years of 4runners, they could be different.

 

so if i am not concerned with the supercharger the 96 is fine. any word on whether or not a later model ecu could be swapped at a later time to accomodate a supercharger? i don't have the funds for a supercharger right now but would like to keep my options open.
i'm assuming an aftermarket fuel management system wouldn't be a problem.

 

From what I have been able to determine the engine wiring harness connectors are differenet on the later ECUs and the pinouts can vary.
I am doing a 3.4 swap using a '96 Taco motor. I have the '96 ECU. I bought a '97 ECU on eBay. 1997 is the first year the ECU was programmed for supercharging. In this thread -

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/superchargers-not-1996-a-109517/

Gadget of URD answers most of your (and my) questions.

 

Maybe it can be done. Ask or search "96 Runner" or "midiwall" about that https://www.yotatech.com/forums/memb...poster&t=64836. They both have SCed 96 5VZs.

As far as switching the ECU I don't know how much would be involved but I guess anything is possible. You may (or may not) have to repin plugs, rewire things, change sensors, add another cat or an O2 simulator... those kind of things.

 

Yeah that's a good link. I didn't know there was a diff between SCing a 96 Taco and a 96 runner, so I stand corrected. Also Toyota seemed to change alot of things mid-year so take my year statements as a generalization (with a grain of salt).

 

I looked at the URD site and it looks like they include the 96 Taco on the list for their fuel kit:
http://www.urdusa.com/product_info.p..._id=1230100017


Here's a quote from Gadget's post in that link above:

"If you want to install a supercharger and have it run really well you may want to consider installing one of the URD fuel upgrade kits. There are lots of 95 Supercharged Tacos and 96 4Runners running around with our kits and are running great"

 

Don't you need a T100 oil pan? Is it better to just get a 3.4 out of a T100?

 

I just used the oil pan that came with the ORS conversion kit, not sure what oil pan it was. BTW ORS has lots of info and a great kit for the 3.4 swap. http://www.offroadsolutions.com/technicalarticles.htm I wouldn't have done my swap without Mike's help and kit.

 

X2 on ORS! Made my life a lot easier with the kit (and a lot of encouragement from many Yotatechers, including MtGoat!)

If I recall, you can scavenge a lot of the necessary parts (i.e. oil pan, oil pick-up, dipstick and tube) from your old 3.0, if you have no plans to rebuild it. Check the ORS site, because they have about 3 different levels of kits, depending on what you plan / want to re-use.

BTW, I'm loving life with my '02 3.4 - GREAT ENGINE!

Good luck!

 

thanks for the info and links!
i had read the info on the ORS site, but it made no mention of differences between years... but otherwise very informative.

 

duh - just remembered Jan/Feb 2007 issue of 4WDToyotaOwner had an article on swapping a 3.0 with a 3.4 (page 30) including a list f the differences between the various 5VZFE Engines (page 34)

 

I'm currently in the midst of swapping a 3.4 out of a 2000 4-Runner into my 89 pickup. I'd definitely recommend the ORS kit. It's great.

Just dropped the engine into the bay yesterday. Plumbing, wiring and exhaust and I should be off to the races

 

I think the only consideration year-wise not mentioned is that I believe in '96-'97 they were still having head gasket issues very similar to the 3.0. You might want to search on that and since the motor will be out and handy, perhaps it would be a good time to do HGs on it.
Like I said, search around on that first before tearing anything apart. I might be wrong, or I might be saving you a future headache ;>)

 

That's true, there was a problem early on, but the gasket would usually leak coolant to the outside of the block instead of the inside like the 3.0. That means it was easier to see and didn't cause engine damage like an internal (milkshake) leak does.

 

you guys rock and made my decision to do this easy! if all goes according to plan i'll be picking up my 3.4 on saturday...

 

The headgasket issues weren't an "issue" on 96 3.4's - it was a factory mis-installation - I heard they installed the headgaskets upside down and the recall was just to install a new one rightside up, and problem fixed.