4.3 Swap into 92 Toyota Pickup

[Redneckwheeler]

I've done engine swaps before, but never with Toyotas. Been reading up at ORS about dropping 4.3s into early 90s pickups. Kind of sounds like a pain in the but compared to Chevy LS swaps. Anyone got experience with this? Kind of confused about a couple things.

Looks like a motor form a T100 will save a lot of headache (no issues with output shaft sensor). I'd like to keep the 92s transmission and transfercase if possible.

I'm very aware of the wire harness rebuild, the exhaust crossover, and all the move & mod parts around the engine.

 

[QuadsBC]

I'd rather swap a Toyota 3.4 and keep the reliability.

 

[tanglefoot]

The Vortec 4.3 also has a good reputation for reliability.

Here's a thread on Pirate of folks who have completed the swap and what they used:

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/toyota-truck-4runner/384213-4-3l-swap-faq-v2-0-a.html

It's certainly been a popular-enough swap, especially before Toyota's more modern engines became available.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

I've done two 4.3 TBI swaps and I am not impressed. For the effort involved, a Toyota 3RZ or 1UZ or 5VZ would be better choices. Yes, I think a 3RZ would be a better swap than a 4.3 TBI.

Now a 4.3 Vortec is a different story. Still the same weight (heavy) as the TBI 4.3, but tons more horsepower and a much smarter EFI.

I would stick with Toyota engines. There's enough support out there to make it an easy swap and easy to own.

 

[RainSR5]

I'm pretty sure the OP meant 3.4 and not 4.3, since he mentioned ORS and T100s

You should check Yotatech forums, they have an entire section just for 3.4 swaps.

 

[bkg]

I've done two 4.3 TBI swaps and I am not impressed. For the effort involved, a Toyota 3RZ or 1UZ or 5VZ would be better choices. Yes, I think a 3RZ would be a better swap than a 4.3 TBI.

Now a 4.3 Vortec is a different story. Still the same weight (heavy) as the TBI 4.3, but tons more horsepower and a much smarter EFI.

I would stick with Toyota engines. There's enough support out there to make it an easy swap and easy to own.

Sage advice.

I've done a 4.3TBI, 3.8 Buick (screamer), heavily modified 3.0 (loved to rev)... if the vehicle you're starting with is a 4-cyl, go 3RZ. If it's a 3.0, go 5VZ

 

[Clutch]

I've done engine swaps before, but never with Toyotas. Been reading up at ORS about dropping 4.3s into early 90s pickups. Kind of sounds like a pain in the but compared to Chevy LS swaps. Anyone got experience with this? Kind of confused about a couple things.

Looks like a motor form a T100 will save a lot of headache (no issues with output shaft sensor). I'd like to keep the 92s transmission and transfercase if possible.

I'm very aware of the wire harness rebuild, the exhaust crossover, and all the move & mod parts around the engine.

I see a lot of 3.4 swaps already done in the Washington/Oregon Craigslist from time to time, see you are in Idaho so not too far. Occasionally they'll pop up in here in Idaho as well.

Or just go buy a 1st gen Tacoma, "swap" already done. Prices aren't too bad on 1st gens now.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

Yeah, good point. If you're not married to the '92, sell it and buy a '96 or so Tacoma. You can get a nice one for $5000 these days. Then, if you want to use the gear driven case, buy an adapter and put in the RF1A transfer case.

A solid axle swap on a Tacoma costs about the same as on a '92 (if that's in your plans). Two additional costs would be the oil pan and the steering box.

 

[Redneckwheeler]

I've done two 4.3 TBI swaps and I am not impressed. For the effort involved, a Toyota 3RZ or 1UZ or 5VZ would be better choices. Yes, I think a 3RZ would be a better swap than a 4.3 TBI.

Now a 4.3 Vortec is a different story. Still the same weight (heavy) as the TBI 4.3, but tons more horsepower and a much smarter EFI.

I would stick with Toyota engines. There's enough support out there to make it an easy swap and easy to own.

The Vortec swap did cross my mind, but then I'm in for more welding and engineering to make it fit. Don't know anything about the other engines you mentioned. I'll look into them. Thanks.

 

[Redneckwheeler]

Yeah, good point. If you're not married to the '92, sell it and buy a '96 or so Tacoma. You can get a nice one for $5000 these days. Then, if you want to use the gear driven case, buy an adapter and put in the RF1A transfer case.

A solid axle swap on a Tacoma costs about the same as on a '92 (if that's in your plans). Two additional costs would be the oil pan and the steering box.

No kidding, right? I'm not attached to the 92 at all. It's in decent shape minus a dead 3.0 engine that I really don't want to replace. There are a lot of Tacoma and T100 sales near by - strangely, in Baker City Oregon, Vail, Ontario. Usually 94-2000 with at least 220K miles on the engine for $3.5 to $5 thousand. I like the prices but not the milage. Don't care how good they are running - that's high milage.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

220 is not the end of the world for a late model (after 1995) Toyota. I like the 3RZ (2.7L 4 cyl) over the 5VZ (3.4L V6) for a few key reasons. They make about the same horsepower, they are smaller and lighter, they have a timing chain vs timing belt and there are a good amount of aftermarket parts for them. The timing chain has a service life of about 300K miles, but if I were to buy a 3RZ equipped truck with 220K, I would drive it directly to the dealer and have them adjust the valves to avoid burning a valve or cracking the head and overheating it. The valves are of the shim-and-bucket variety so if you don't have the tools or an assortment of shims, it's better to let someone else do it.

Another aspect of a high mileage truck is the front steering, suspension and diff. The steering racks are not very strong and tend to wear, the suspension components are pretty tough, but might need some attention at that point. The diff is good, unless it leaks, which is common.

I don't know if this is up your alley, but if you did a solid axle swap, all of these parts would be replaced anyway.

A lot of people will roll their eyes at a solid axle swap, but if done right, there's no downside. I build them all the time and on-road handling is a huge concern for my customers and for me. It can be done.