Think I can talk you into a v8 swap?

I have not been a member long enough to know if this topic has come up, but I have done some digging and have seen a twin turbo kit in the works for the Tacoma.

While some of us (myself included) would clearly love a TT, I have been overly interested in a v8 swap for my truck.

While it’s unlikely due to the deep pockets I’d need and do not have, I have been weighing the idea of swapping the 5.0 from the Lexus RC F, IS F etc. into a Tacoma.

So before I delve any further into this, is this something others would be interested in doing if it were possible?

 

With enough time, skill, and money I bet you could

 

You could always buy a Tundra

 

Anything is possible with enough money. Tundra is cheaper.

 

Sounds like a terrible idea. Starting with a good condition pre-Tacoma Toyota pick-up, SAS'd would make a lot more sense. By swapping engines and transmission in a 3rd Gen you eliminate a lot of the features that make new trucks what they are and spend a lot more money doing it. If you're into the look of the 3rd Gen front clip/cab, maybe you could put it on an old frame. Or maybe just get a Tundra or big 3 domestic if you think you need more power.

 

Sounds fun.. Full wire harness and cluster, somehow mate the v8 to manual trans..

Or full gut on the taco to bare bones and run stand alone system for engine management, and full on wiring swap for other devices. Abs gone, air bags gone, all safety features lost.

Full on v8 off road rig

 

Why

 

Powa, need mo powa.

 

Been done plenty on earlier gens....could obviously be done on a third gen but would likely turn it into a dedicated "off road use only" rig.....we built many crawler buggy bobbed rigs at my shops over the years and did some v-8 conversions as many off road/fab shops have.....but 99% of them were never street legal use. Would be very difficult to remain street legal and emission and safety compliant.

links for an idea of this type conversion:

http://fourwheelforum.com/showthread.php?s=cd65984a7318577e523dfa7467462d12&t=248

https://northwestoffroad.com/parts/engineadapters.php

 

LS swaps and now LT4 swaps are very affordable right now . You can easily do a LS7 swap for under $10k which extremely affordable for a LT4 swap a little more expensive but still doable

I have a friend of mine who did a hellcat swap into a Jeep JK and it wasn't that expensive and the wiring was basically plug and play . He's also done many LS3 and LS7 swaps into numerous late model vehicles


Not sure why people here on TW are afraid to do engine swaps its basic hot rodding 101!!!

 

V8 Engine swaps are very affordable now with the availability of plentiful LS and other newer V8's found in Junkyards . For example you can get low mile LS7 engines with wiring harness and ECU for under $5k

Still cheaper than a Tundra and who wouldn't want a V8 in a lightweight platform!!!


As i mentioned previously in another post , lots of people do engine swaps or performance builds into newer vehicles . What about Corvette C7 owners not happy with the factory rated 650hp . I'm seeing and have heard of these C7's now putting down 1400rwhp or more

 

It's called Hot Rodding !!
Probably the same question you said was asked back in the 30's and 40's when young kids were pulling flathead 4cyls out of cars and replacing it with built flathead v8's

 

I totally agree. However, if you want:
Vehicle Stability Control
ABS
Airbags
Heat/AC
Any longevity on drivetrain components
Warranty

It is gonna cost you $$$$$$

Quite simply, the truck was designed for an engine a certain weight and HP. There is no slop like there used to be back in the day. Now, if you change one thing, you gotta change 43 other things to keep the same functionality.

GM to GM is one thing, Tacoma to GM is something else.

 

Besides, this is a 35k truck so what do people expect! If he wanted more power, should have bought a 66k truck instead.....right??

 

It’s a Tacoma, that’s just the way it is.

There is a thread about swoping a V-8
into a Tacoma from a wrecked Tundra.
Anything is possible, but can get pricey.
If you decide to go for it, best of luck.

 

Someone is selling a beyond mint SC tundra with 22k miles for $35k on tundras.com. Sell the taco and buy that.
Its a better truck anyway.

 

LOL - or a Ferrari!!!

 

Nope.

If I wanted a V8 I would've bought another full-size truck, and if I bought another full-size truck it would be another one of these...

 

Exactly lol. If they want to do a V8 swap and maintain all functionality it is gonna cost much more than $66K!