Sat down and did some hard math.

I found that the 3.4L will save me $850.20/year. And 3 years to break even ($2,550). To me that might actually might be worth it. I never looked at it that way. Now to hunt down an engine, the hard part.

I was just curious about how much money people spent on their swap.

This is just preliminary. Hopefully I can start updating frequently with pics! This all depends on my decision to swap in a 3.4, or rebuild it.

Only problem is the money part. I'll have to take out credit, unfortunately, my parents aren't willing to help, nor can they. I need to scope out some fine print.


Thanks guys!

 

go and test drive a 3.4L 4runner or tacoma and tell us how it compares to the 3 slow

 

and hopefully you took into account the cost of getting the engine 'certified' for use in your truck (which it is not technically allowed to be installed in), right?

 

buy a whole truck.... then sell off everything else. its taken me a while but i've just about broke even (free motor) for the 3.4. all i have left to buy is the ORS kit. now granted when you take into account i've had to pay for my shop (205/mo) its not so break even.... but its been well worth that cost to have a place to work on my rigs

 

Abe, it is perfectly legal to install a newer engine in an older vehicle - yes, even at the federal level. Some states are more stingent in overall requirements to certify them, but it can, and does, happen on a regular basis. The main issue is that you will have to meet the emissions standards of the newest part of the vehicle (in this case, the standards of the year of the engine)

If this were not legal to do, don't you think that the feds would have hauled Chip Foose, Jesse James, and a whole host of hot rodders off to the pen a long time ago? By the reasoning that you continue to post, there is no way that you could legally put a modern Corvette drive train under a '57 Chevy, and we've all seen or read about that happening. The regulations are in place to make these kinds of conversions legal for street use. Whether an individual follows them all out may be debateable, but the possibility to do them is there.

In my case, I have had my truck checked, and it is well within the federal guidlines for an '02 Tacoma. Besides the more efficient use of gasoline, and the better drivability, don't you think that the less noxious emmisions coming out of the tailpipe are better for us all than rebuilding my seized 3.0 would have been?

 

Ouch Brek.... dam that sounded harsh....lol...

 

I found one that has 116k on it for $850. It is out of a '98 4Runner.

No records, person is parting it out. Trying to track it down. See maybe if the person who got it into an accident kept records/recipts. I'm fine with buying such a high mileage engine as long as there is service records.

 

Hmmm...... Still debating the swap. I mean it is better, but the upfront cost, and how much time it will take concerns me.

 

I've posted my opinion on this numerous times, but it all boils down to this: how much do you love your truck?

It is unlikely that you will ever recoup whatever money you put into your truck if and when you ever decide to sell it. I did it because I love my 4Runner and I wanted the challenge. I wanted to learn about my vehicle and was willing to part with the cash to do it. But I know it's unlikely that I will get the money back out of it. Fine. I also have no loan or lease payment to make, soooooo...

Anyhow, the cost. My engine cost $2000, fan to flywheel, intake to oilpan, with uncut harness, computer, A/C compressor, P/S pump, and alternator. I also dropped another $1000 on the exhaust (probably overpaid, but it's all new, including high-flow cat, muffler, and crossover). Figure another $500 in parts and tools I didn't have (like a Heli-Coil kit). Sold the old engine for $300, but could have probably gotten more if I wasn't impatient and wanted it out of my brother's carport.

I managed to get an engine hoist for free. I bought an engine stand for $40 and gave it to a guy in return for his help rewiring the engine harnesses.

The whole thing took about 12 days, including 3 days with the exhaust shop fixing one of my screw-ups with my original crossover design and plumbing the exhaust pipe. I now own a welder and probably could have done a bunch of that stuff for a lot less.

I could probably do it in less than a week now, knowing what I now know.

This thing is a blast to drive. I still can't believe the difference between the two. It turns 33's with relative ease, even in the mountains.

Would I do it again? If I got a really cool 1st gen with a locked up 3.0...for sure.

It's your call. If you have questions, there are a bunch of us on here who'd be happy to help.

 

I do love my 4Runner, I plan on keeping forever, eventually a trail rig.

I can get an engine for $850, used of course. I'm going to go look at it tomorrow. Gonna pull the valve covers to check for sludge.

It doesn't include the ac compressor, starter and alternator, ECU or wiring harness.

 

http://www.andrewzook.com/content/view/22/37

One of the sites I used for info on my swap. Probably one of the best.

 

It wasn't meant to sound harsh, and my appologies to anyone if it did. I just wanted to point out that these conversions can be legally done, if the individual chooses to do it. I know that many don't, but that comes down to individual choice, and the risk of whatever penalties might be incurred, if someone were to find out, and persue the issue.

 

^2 Thanks for the link.

I haven't heard of people having much of an issue with the gov't for swaps. (One so far.)

 

I would wait until you find an engine with at least the ECU and wiring harness, it will make your life sooooo much eaiser. If you don't have the matching ECU for the motor you will have to go to a dealership and have a new one programed (which aint cheap!).

I for one would love to wake up one morning see a supercharged 3.4 in my truck! But until my 3.0 dies that is just a fantasy.

If you wait you will find an engine that has every thing you need.
just my $.02

 

OK so, my dad has been getting involved lately and is a little leary. Mainly cuz he called an engine shop about it and the guy said he did it once and "there was too much poo to convert, and it is less reliable." He got a used 3.0 with 82k for $1,400. Yea, right.

1. PS pump, AC compressor, alternator
2. Exhaust crossover pipe (needed for the flanges only)
4. Igniter assembly
5. Evaporative canister (optional)
6. Evap VSV YES
7. Intake system- tubing, air box, air filter
8. Air flow meter
9. Flywheel with mounting hardware
10. Starter

Do you guys think I need all of that?

 

Update, so I will have 2 full weeks free. Could a 3.4 swap be done in that long?

 

Yes. Getting the 3.0 out might take you a day, day and a half depending on how much you hack and slash. You'll need a couple long extensions and joints to reach the top of the bellhousing. A Sawzall will come in handy removing rusty exhaust.

An impact gun and soaking bolts with PB Blaster and the like will help hasten things along. Like I said, I could do it in less time now. I could have the engine out in hours. I pulled the engine, tranny and transfer case all in one big piece. I wouldn't do that again.

Anyhow, the wiring will be the most time consuming.

Most of the removal and reinstallation depends on your skills and tools.

 

Only tools I don't have would be SST, and a torque wrench, but I can borrow that.

I figured the wiring would be the most time consuming. Is is worth the near $700 for the harness?

Thanks for your response man, I really appreciate it.

How much did you pay, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I never used any SSTs with my truck.

My brother's neighbour is a mechanic. Once I showed him the wiring diagrams and the cross-reference sheets I had, he knew exactly what the goal was. He wired it up in about 2 hours. Cost me a $40 engine stand that I bought for the swap and would likely never use again.

I did everything as super cheap as I could. I figure I have about $2000 in for the motor and about $1200-1500 for the rest, including a whole new exhaust. I sold the old motor for $300 but could probably have gotten more.

 

In total for the swap without upgrades to the 3.4L, i will have spent $1,100us, and that is including getting it put in and everything else i need.