3rz distributor swap into 3rz coil pack

Hi TW!
I just purchased a 1997 3rz distributor engine very low miles. And I want to swap it into my 525,000km 1997.5 tacoma with 2 coil packs. After removing the dist I see I will need to fab a block off plate to seal and mount my coil packs to. I will be running my coil pack harness and ecu so everything should plug right in after I mount the coil packs. But my concern is the crank position sensor and or cam position sensor not being the same on these two different ignition motors to send the signal to my ecu. Anyone have some input into this swap? I really wanted this to be straightforward and not have to swap my harness and ecu to a dist motor.
Thanks!

 

I don't know about these engines, but some distributor engines use the distributor shaft and gear to also turn the engine oil pump so if there is a slot in the bottom of the distributor shaft then it turns the oil pump so you may not need to use the distributor for the spark plug fire you may still need to leave it in place to drive the oil pump.

 

Not sure about that. Pulled the dizzy out "2bolts" and it has one gear on it that goes into camshaft? And that gear turns a magnetic pickup to send spark.

 

1997.5 2 coil pack head

 

http://www.lceperformance.com/2RZ-3RZ-Distributor-Block-Off-p/1024090.htm

Sensors should be compatible
Oil pump is run off the crankshaft
You'll just have to figure out how to mount the coils

 

Okay good. I figured I fab a block off plate weld studs or tap holes for the coils. And done. But a friend who owns a turbo shop got me nervous when he asked about the crank sensor and cam pos sensor in the distributor motor. I guess I swap it in and try but don't want to be sol without a dist harness and ecu

 

I'm in a similar situation. I was wondering how things went? Any tips/advice? Thanks

 

My motors rattling stopped itself a day before I planned to swap!! I think it was the hydralic chain tensioners.
So I have the motor in the garage still.. I pulled the dizzy out and it just runs of the cam with a gear. I compared my coil pack harness to the connections on the dizzy motor and all the sensors are the same. Dose not seem to be missing a crank or cam pos. sensor. So I don't see an issue with the swap.
My father is a hd mech and commercial transport mech, and he says there shouldn't be an issue. He just tells me to boost it before I swap it in
Only modifications are a block off plate. Make it out of aluminum or painted steel, use a high quality rtv, and weld on some studs to mount your coil packs!
I hope it works out for you. Sometime when my longtravel is done I will swap it in.

 

Thanks for the info. And +1 on the boost! The one thing I have found is on my coil pack motor, there is a sensor between the 2nd and 3rd injectors, directly under the throttle body, that isn't on the dizzy head. I'm pretty sure this is for the cam pos. sensor. There is a blank spot for it...just not drilled and tapped. FML...lol

 

yes thats the cam sensor, when I got my '97(coil packs) that sensor wasn't plugged in. It threw a code but the truck ran perfectly fine so might get away without it. Worse case scenario if your coil pack head is in good shape you could probably swap it onto the other block, maybe have it gone through just to be safe.

 

Problem with throwing a code is those damn emissions Nazis! LOL. Old motor has over 300k on it soooo... Might just have to do some redneck-reverse engineering...

 

I did some more research and found this persons story!
Sounds like if we do the swap this will be our issue
I wonder why his motor runs fine and had issues on hills... Dose the timing change throughout the powerband?
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/190897-missing-camshaft-position-sensor.html

 

Possibly...not sure. I thought only Ford changed things like this mid year! lol Guess this means either switch the heads, mill the 97 head or just pull and build my current motor and sell the 97...or swap the harness and all. Decisions, decisions...

 

If you build it with a turbo could we not run a stand alone ecu? I'm not familiar with the turbo/ecu engine management world.. But then your could program it all..
Hopefully someone smarter than me can join this thread

 

i think swapping the coil pack head onto the other block would be the easiest route.

 

Or get a dizzy ecu and harness. I have the harness so I'll look for a cheap boneyard ecu.. That would be easiest imo, a lot of work involved with swapping heads

 

Interesting information on using the distributor pickup coil as a cam POS. Not a member of custom tacos so I can't ask the OP if he solved it that way. Seems promising
http://www.customtacos.com/forum/13...position-sensor-1996-3rz-didn-t-come-one.html

 

probably have to change the head there are three different heads.....switch the whole motor and just buy the appropiate harness and ecu