I finally have the chance to post a few pics of my 4runner. Please excuse my dirty rig cause I haven't been able to clean it in a couple of months. I swapped in the 3.4 and a manual tranny and I still need to get that cross over on this week. I already started it up ( couldn't resist) without the exhaust on and it idled very good




2 inch Body Lift

Pond Liner gap guard

Manual Tranny shifters

Pedals

Master cylinder

 

Awesome. I know cost has been debated before but a cost figure would be great for those looking to do the same. Also, post up with peformance increase once you get everything done. It would be great to know whether you think the swap was worth the time, effort and dollars.

 

I estimate about a $2500 cost with the exhaust and manual tranny swap. I did my own wiring and reused some of my lines from my 3.0. I also reused my 3.0 alternator. I didn't get any headers though. A lot of my parts were sourced from car-part.com or ebay. So far the most difficult thing to do was the wiring only cause the stupid yard was going to get the engine from first didn't tell me that the engine and harness came out of a 96 Tacoma and not a 4runner. The engine was busted so I just ordered the harness and a few other parts. I had already bought a ecu for a 96 4runner and found out that some things wire different to the ecu. Other than that it was like swapping in a 3.0 pretty much, bolts right up. I had to use a PS belt for the alternator so it wouldn't hit my steering column. Hopfully I'll have it on the road by next weekend so I can work out any bugs.

 

How much of a body lift did you need to fit that under the hood? I keep hearing 2" but some say 1"

 

I just went with 2" to be sure but I may have gotten away 1", I didn't want to risk it though. 2" just in case I ever supercharge!!!

 

1" is all you need.

 

Looks really nice and clean. Do you have any more pics of the front end? It looks like the grill and headlight surrounds were painted black. I've never seen that done before.

 

I'll see if I can get a front end pic loaded. I did paint me front grill black with about 4 coats of spray paint. It came out real good and I hope it last but i'm not sure. I just sanded it down with high grit paper before I did it and let it dry good between coats.

 

You did an awesome job. You make it sound much easier than it probably is.

 

It looks like you have two oil dip sticks, do they both read at the same level?

 

How easy it is depends on the person who's doing it. This is the second engine I've put in a car in my life, the first was another 3.0. The hardest part is taking the time to figure out the wiring.
The dipstick in front is where the original 3.4 location is. I had plugged it at first but then decided to put the original dipstick tube on and stick a partial dipstick in. So the one in the front only goes down partially with no oil readings, just a lug.

 

Uh "plug" that is

 

Do you have an OBDII connection in the cab?

 

I didn't put that in yet. Maybe later but I don't need it now.

 

Looking good Hektikwon. Congrats on getting rid of the 3.0 you wont even look back.

 

It's going to the exhaust shop tommorrow!!! The guy has done some work for me and my family before so maybe I'll get a deal. They should have it done by Friday and if I get that last o2 sensor, I''ll be testing it on Saturday. Ok, Friday night.

 

Here is another front end pic.

 

Wow, that looks really good. I wonder why more people haven't done this, I'm trying to picture what my grey truck would look like with this done. My push bar/brush guard looks very similar.

Got any other angles?

 

That swap looks kick ass, I wish I had the ca$h right now to do that. the front end looks sweet/mean blacked out. I did the same thing even the bumper!

 

Nice! Manual is the way to go. Now if only i had the moolah right now..