V8 Conversion (Canadian Made)

[City_Rider]

My supercharged 5VZ-FE is running great, nothing wrong with it at all. Except the price of premium gas and trying to sort out where to buy said premium gas while on road trips to random / butt-****** nowhere locations. So, in comes the V8 swap.

Singtoe has done a great job of showing how 'simple' the swap can be and so when both of these vehicles (a 2001 4Runner identical to mine besides interior colour and a 2003 Tundra V8) fell in to my lap, I couldn't pass them up. A long term project was born.

I will be stripping the 4Runner first (I have the most interest in the parts for it in order to fund this venture) and then working on the Tundra.

This swap should be within my capabilities but I will be relying on help from anyone who is willing to lend an educated opinion. The only thing I hope to outsource is the welding of motor mounts, transmission mount and exhaust headers. Everything else I hope to tackle on my own, given enough time.

03 Tundra V8

01 4Runner

 

[RememberTheFallen]

I look forward to following this! v8 in my Tacoma would be very cool!

Just to clarify, the motor out of the nice looking tundra is getting yanked and placed in the wrecked looking 4Runner on blocks?

 

[FJR Colorado]

I was gonna say, why not just have a V8 Tundra?

If you are going to all the trouble of a swap, I'd get an engine out of a 2006. VVT, more HP, etc. You could also get the 5-speed tranny...

Should be interesting.

 

[rickashay]

He's swapping into his built 3rd gen (not the wrecked one pictured). I believe the wrecked one is the donor wiring harness and ECU so there will be less downtime on his running 4Runner having the wiring sorted before the swap begins.

Stoked for this, as discussed. Can't wait to come over and nab the Tundy parts. hahah

How many kms on the wrecked 5vze? My brother may be interested in motor/trans?

 

[mathers420]

How many kms on the wrecked 5vze? My brother may be interested in motor/trans?

I'd be more interested in the supercharged one he's pulling out of his built 4Runner.

 

[City_Rider]

I look forward to following this! v8 in my Tacoma would be very cool!

Just to clarify, the motor out of the nice looking tundra is getting yanked and placed in the wrecked looking 4Runner on blocks?

I have my fully functioning completely built 2001 4Runner which this engine will find a home in. Not sure which frame will be used but the 4Runner pictured (on blocks) will be the donor vehicle and parted out.

I was gonna say, why not just have a V8 Tundra?

If you are going to all the trouble of a swap, I'd get an engine out of a 2006. VVT, more HP, etc. You could also get the 5-speed tranny...

Should be interesting.

This Tundra has seen better days. The suspension is shot, the brakes are shot, the axle seal needs to be changed... Not to mention the interior is pretty bad. That being said, the engine and transmission all worked fine, fluids were fine - I am optimistic it will be a great starting point. I can always pull apart the 4.7L and rebuild it / freshen it up when it's completely out and on an engine stand in my garage.

The best part about this swap is the fact it has the auto trans - and one that is already beefed up to withstand the low end grunt from the V8. It's the same transmission (A340F) but tweaked apparently. I doubt I'll be tearing in to this valve body to shim it - seems to shift nice and firm, not like the 4Runner where it's been smoothed out. Also, I would definitely be interested in a VVTi engine if it fell in my lap like this one, but beggars can't be choosers. The price was right, and so it begins!

He's swapping into his built 3rd gen (not the wrecked one pictured). I believe the wrecked one is the donor wiring harness and ECU so there will be less downtime on his running 4Runner having the wiring sorted before the swap begins.

Stoked for this, as discussed. Can't wait to come over and nab the Tundy parts. hahah

How many kms on the wrecked 5vze? My brother may be interested in motor/trans?

Bingo. The fact that this 'wrecked' 4Runner is a 2001 (same year as the Black Beast) worked out beautifully and this wouldn't be coming to fruition without it. As mentioned, now I can do this entire wiring swap on the side and not affect the driveability of the one I just got done!

I checked out this wrecked 4Runner and it didn't have any radiator fluid in the reservoir... odd. I checked the transmission dip stick and guess what? Yep. Pink milkshake. Dollars to donuts that engine AND trans are cooked. Makes me thankful that I've added an auxiliary cooler to my rigs!

I'd be more interested in the supercharged one he's pulling out of his built 4Runner.

Yep. This is the one I would be after if I was rickashay's brother. Try to grab EVERYTHING from the currently running 4Runner when it comes time and you would have all the goodies. Headers, smaller pulley, 7th injector, wideband O2, plus, it's already been tuned.

No clue on the timeline. This will happen as my back feels it should - certainly no rush to get this done in a week. Thank goodness for New Holland tractors as it will be doing all the heavy lifting for me!

Thanks for showing interest guys - I'm pretty excited to be taking this on.

 

[FJR Colorado]

This Tundra has seen better days. The suspension is shot, the brakes are shot, the axle seal needs to be changed... Not to mention the interior is pretty bad. That being said, the engine and transmission all worked fine, fluids were fine - I am optimistic it will be a great starting point. I can always pull apart the 4.7L and rebuild it / freshen it up when it's completely out and on an engine stand in my garage.

The best part about this swap is the fact it has the auto trans - and one that is already beefed up to withstand the low end grunt from the V8. It's the same transmission (A340F) but tweaked apparently. I doubt I'll be tearing in to this valve body to shim it - seems to shift nice and firm, not like the 4Runner where it's been smoothed out. Also, I would definitely be interested in a VVTi engine if it fell in my lap like this one, but beggars can't be choosers. The price was right, and so it begins!

Gotcha. Very interesting.

Do keep your eye out for an 06 eng/tran. I know they come up on CL around here.

My 2006 Tundra seems to be a lot more powerful than my 2001 Sequoia. Not that the 4.7L in The Big Tree sucks wind or anything... in fact, put that in a 4Runner and it's likely pretty darn sweet!

 

[City_Rider]

Gotcha. Very interesting.

Do keep your eye out for an 06 eng/tran. I know they come up on CL around here.

My 2006 Tundra seems to be a lot more powerful than my 2001 Sequoia. Not that the 4.7L in The Big Tree sucks wind or anything... in fact, put that in a 4Runner and it's likely pretty darn sweet!

The numbers certainly reflect an increase in power, that's for sure. Having input from an individual who owns both is great insight - thanks. I'll be searching on kijiji occasionally but I don't want to spend any more money out of pocket if I can avoid it. The budget is pretty tight already and I hope that by disassembling these two quickly, I can fund this project and pad my wallet a bit. Thankfully I'm only in to them both for $1200 currently. Brand new Duratracs sold in 1 day for $800 which was fantastic. I was hoping for a quick sale, but wow - 1 day was awesome!

 

[RememberTheFallen]

Sorry, I obviously can't read. Missed it in the first post where you said you had two 4runners. Too excited to see how this turns out I guess.