Swapping a 2.7L to either a V6 or V8

I have tried searching a few different ways but not finding much, maybe someone can point me the right way. I have been going through the debate about soon replacing my 10 year old Tacoma but don't like the price of new trucks. I have also been tossing the idea around of keeping it and dumping some money in to it to get it to do what I want. The main reason about replacing it or doing something else with it is due to lack of horsepower for towing. I find driving it alone on steep hills that I need to down shift most of the time and even brand new I found it was lacking in low end torque and pulling power. My first thought was to find a V6 that I could either still use my 5 speed or a V6 with a manual as I am not a fan of automatics. Then someone just the other day mentioned about using a 4.7L V8 from an earlier Tundra which apparently is easier to mate up to the existing tranny. I know there would be a lot of other things needing to be swapped or replaced in order to accommodate a swap to either a 6 or an 8 and as such, I would take it somewhere to have it done.

My question is how many have done such a swap, which way did you go (V6 or V8) and were you satisfied with the end result? Was there a lot of hassles finding the stuff to make it happen? I am not opposed to investing a significant amount of money to do such a job as I think I would end up saving a lot more than buying a new or used truck and then having a big payment.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated as well as any links to info on the subject.

 

First I'd see if it was even emissions legal where you are. That is a huge barrier to the engine swap scenario. Then the acquisition of parts for the swap!
Any reason why you just don't sell your present Tavoma and just buy a V6?

 

If you're considering a swap to save money and you're asking where to get started.. I'd advise you to think about selling your truck and purchasing a nice solid V6 2nd gen. Unless you're looking for a long project that'll be quite an education. If the V6 doesn't have enough ass for your terrain and towing needs then you'll probably need to jump ship to another model.

Depreciation is fairly low and slow on these trucks so you can get in and out without taking a financial bath if you take your time and buy the right rig.

What are you typically towing?

 

It's possible. There was a regular cab around here in socal that was for sale and was a really sick build with LT suspension and had the v6 swap. Anything is possible with enough money but unless you plan on fabbing everything yourself or paying $$$$ then it may be easier to just trade it in/sell for a low mileage v6 access cab

 

fiscally reasonable? no. Fun project and satisfying at the end? probably, but will it perform the way you expect and be worth the cost in the end? no.

If the things you stated are crucial aspects to truck ownership, time to sell the taco and get a good F150 or a Tundra. I would stay the hell away from Nissan, Chevy, GMC, and pretty much all other truck manufacturers right now as each is having thier own issues. The f150 is stable, reliable as can be for an american vehicle, and has a slew of impressive drivetrain options. Warranty is solid, aluminum body will never rust, lots of pros. Tundras are an option if you like toyota but you will suffer horribly in fuel economy and rust over time, unless you watch the car washing and such. I would encourage you to consider the turbo v6 f150 for about 36k well loaded, its a hell of a truck and if towing etc is your priority, its got you.

 

https://youtu.be/YUp3ObYw7EE

 

Love my 2013 reg. cab 4X4, but hate the weeeeak 2.7 eng. I love the 4.0 V6, but hate the extended cab trucks you are forced to buy to get one. For me my 2013 reg. cab, if it had either a 3.5 or a 4.0 v6, would be great, but I'll not have an ex cab. I've thought of buying a salvaged Taco V6 & attempting the swap, as most all needed parts should be there. Aw shucks, there I go, dreaming again. But it sure is a nice dream.

 

Main reason is the price they want for used trucks alone is ridiculous never mind new. I only want a truck, not a mortgage payment. The other reason is that I know how the rest of the truck has been maintained, and has never been in an accident.

 

I definitely would not be saving any money selling mine and buying another even if a decent used one could be found, they are overpriced and not likely to be a manual. I don't like automatics.

 

Thanks for the response but I not interested in a Ford. Don't take this the wrong way but I am looking for feed back from people who have done this and I am sure they are out there, rather than asking if people simply think it is worth doing it or not.

 

Honestly if you are going to do any sort of swap. Skip the 4.7L ... and TBH if you are going to do any sort of swap... skip a toyota motor all together.... just LS swap it. You can get a full crate carb legal LS for cheaper than a toyota v8 motor thats in decent running order, and WAAAAYYYYYY cheaper if you live outside of CA and smog stuff is less stringent... the LS will make more power, torque, have better aftermarket support and be WAY simpler and a smaller package. Mate it to a 4L80E and you got yourself an EASY 450hp 450TQ NA'd truck that will chirp the tires between gears.

 

Didn’t he say he wanted a manual? Is there a manual trans that mates to an LS that also supports 4wd?

 

I’m always blown away by how many people try to talk someone out of a project truck. I wish just useful technical info would be posted and then we could each choose to do with it what we want.

 

NV4500's im pretty sure came behind various LQ/LS motors from the factory..... given the popularity of the LS I can just about guarantee there is a manual that someone has a bellhousing to mate to it, actually i know for a fact there is tons of guys in the drift world rock an LS/LQ with a manual on rather budget builds.

If OP wanted to stick toyota, i dont know of a SINGLE v8 toyota motor that ever came with a manual trans in the USA of recent (last 20 years) generation....


Just wouldnt make sense to adapt an figure out a whole complicated harness / engine, when something with more power could be had for easier and cheaper by simply going non toyota.


If OP really wants to stick toyota... ditch the I4 via selling the truck as a whole (as you wont get ANY of your money back and honestly probably LESS after a swap of any kind) and buy a v6 second gen and call it good.

 

he might be ok with a non-Toyota motor but I think he still wants a stick. Not sure if it needs to support 4wd, but I was mostly asking that for my own benefit.

 

stick and 4wd should be easily obtainable with an LS based motor no doubt.

 

I haven’t done it when looking at options I decided to turbo my 2.7 which was also a daunting process. A ls swap is super common so the after market support for standalone fueling ect will be easier but way more fabrication work than if you were to try to use the v6. Id vote supercharg you’re current motor over the v6 or ls swap over the Toyota v8

 

That is also a great option!

 

I think that you would be disappointed in the performance of the 1GR-FEV6. That's the engine that was in my 2014 Taco MT-6, and I always felt like I had to push it to get it to go. My 2010 Prerunner with MT-5 and 4 cyl feels more frisky.

 

I know the LSX wasn't on your list but the build does cover a lot of things to think about.