has anyone ever dropped a v8 in their 1st gen taco?

I dropped a V8 in my 3rd gen 4runner once.

Had to hose the engine down, that stuff got everywhere.

 

Small block GM engine would probably fit but you would need the short waterpump from pre 1970 applications and of course the appropriate transmission. While Toyota differentials are pretty stout the extra torque might wear them down after a while along with the driveshafts. Bigger radiator would certainly be needed and for wiring the best bet would be to strip it all out and go with something aftermarket designed for a fancy hotrod. Then there are issues with motor and transmission mounts and of course the oil pan and crossmember issue possibly. For the money you would have to spend, better off buying single purpose tow vehicle and use the Tacoma as a daily driver.

 

well I can live with the weak towing power, its the DD mpg that I want to be better.

as with most of these threads its just a "wish I could" kinda thing

I would still have my chevy today but like with all chevys the dash cracked into a dozen pieces and fell apart leaving me with no dashboard at all and exposed wiring and ductwork hanging out everywhere.

the newer the truck the lower the mpg to get from it. unbelievable a 350 chevy v8 in a full sized truck gets better gas mileage then a taco? simply mind boggling why they make them that way

 

I get over that. In town. AC on. And high 20s on the road.

Seriously.

But most folks here would not be able to handle driving a base 2wd 5 lug, unlifted, OE sized tires. Their dignity would suffer.

For me, it does exactly what I want, hauls what I need to haul, (bikes/kayaks/and 'stuff') while providing low cost transportation.

 

Just turbo it.

 

I had exactly that with my 99 on 14" tires and with upgraded 4 hole injectors and upgraded air filter I got 21/25 out of it. it just couldn't pull the flatboat over 55 mph without noticeably straining on hills and upgrades and there was no passing anything anywhere anytime at any speed lol. it took a full mile of clear road to go around a tractor on the road lol. that's why I bought the 04 and its "ok" for towing but the built in low mpg by design is hard to understand? and a heavy full sized chevy truck is more of a brick shaped causing wind resistance then a lighter smaller taco is.

 

I think you might want to reevaluate your perception of the TRD supercharger. I've not read about it being a high-RPM screamer solution and let's face it, its addition to the truck doesn't involve valve train modification. I've also read Toyota expects MPG to be about the same unless you stomp on it, and that's surely the case with any truck V8 that otherwise has the benefit of much higher gearing in its original application.

 

well im told turbos will rev higher and wear on the engine faster because of it, as for SC I understand they are much less wear on engines and get you about 40 more hp out of it bringing the 3.4 from 190hp to around 230hp but the price to put one in is just ridiculous and after all, my intention to get more hp is so it doesn't strain the engine resulting in better mpg

I guess a SC would be the best solution for more power if it doesn't burn more gas but I would have to get it used at a great price to be doable on my budget like everything complete to do it all for $1000 or less

 

Being a PreRunner w/V6 you could probably re-gear one, maybe two(at most) ratios down. Going too low you basically lose any low end power and defeat the purpose. Keep in mind you have to re-calculate distances and mph with the new gears.

Also the best mpg is your right foot. When I had the insurance meter in I would start off slower and I actually gained an avg of 2 mpg overall. I'm not saying you have to hyper-mile but that's why it is what it is. But towing will always net less mpg, even on diesels.

 

yep, I drive like a grampa so no heavy foot here but I only get 16/18

every state is different with environmental and the amount and type of gas additive differences in each state so in another state or different altitude I might get 17/19 so that's why you see such variances in peoples own mpg being posted

it would be nice to see that 230hp out of it and I wont be driving it hard so im assuming it would get better mpg then I get now because im in no hurry to get anywhere but I simply cant afford to just go buy a new SC not to mention the assorted extras that go with it.

 

Local member speedfreak (Jason) has a 1st gen single cab (wanna say 2001) with a LS vette motor, think he said it dyno'd at 650hp.... runs good