As simple as stated, I have my 1991 Toyota pickup with a 3VZE 3.0 V6 currently and am looking ahead. I rebuilt the entire top end 5k ago, water pump, heads, valves, timing, gaskets, etc etc along with the clutch assembly and pressure plate. If something in the bottom end goes or the top fails, what would be the best route? It's my daily and off road toy. Should I go for a 3.4 or go for a 350 FI? If you've done it what's your experience?

 

Good and bad points to either one.

Myself I like the 3.4 swap I have 2 and 1/2 of them now I like being able to have the option of swapping parts for testing parts.

Comes down to just what you think is your best option

With the SBC I would venture you would use the Chevy Trans and case

Have custom drive shafts made to go to the Toyota differentials ??

 

If those are your only options, I'd go 3.4, hands down.

A V8 is overkill, IMO. The extra size is just not justifiable. I have a Chevy 4.3, and I like it a lot. With an electric fan, and just a little massaging of the firewall, it fits perfectly between the firewall and OE Toyota Radiator (which cools the engine just fine). And with a 700R4, and AA adapter puts the Toyota tcase in the stock position, so I am using stock driveshafts. I have an early spider-injected version, which puts out a bit more power than the TBI versions, but it's plenty of power. I rarely ask it for everything it's got. And the specific output is not very impressive (which means it can be modded for considerably more power if you want).

My reasoning was primarily based on cost, I got a whole donor S-10 blazer for $40, delivered (that's an exceptional deal, but you can find them for a few hundred bucks every day in better shape than mine). I do not have the ability to weld at home, so bolt-on motor mount adapters were a big plus (of course, I think that's now available for the 5VZFE). And I wanted an automatic transmission, which is still possible with the 3.4, but adds to the cost and complexity.


Now, I get low teens for highway fuel mileage (I'm sure will get a bit better when I get the VSS sorted out, but not much). The chevy engines are not terribly unreliable, but the 3.4 is probably a bit better, but, when I do need something it is nice to walk into any auto parts store, anywhere, and they have parts for my engine.