3.4 - 4.0L swap

Is there a reason you feel you need more power?

I'm going to guess here, but it looks like in your pics that you're running 285/75R16 (or pretty close). Being a manual transmission, you might have 4.10 gears, but it might be one step less (3.91). If that is the case, honestly, your engine has plenty of power. Its just not getting to your wheels correctly.

I'm guessing that your power problem is on decent hills where you're cruising at about 20-30, press the gas and it just doesn't seem to be able to maintain speed unless you downshift and take it up to 4k rpms. Kinda no happy medium for gears in that range. This is approx the same problem I have (except only running 265/75R16 and have an automatic, so its a bit worse for me since I only have 3 gears to work with. I do plan to move up to 285/75R16 though). Also, when trying to get over a large rock, the engine seems to hit that stall out point as well (at least from what I've experienced, but at that point its really time to switch to 4L).

Anyway, I'm thinking that this is what a re-gearing will fix. Give us back power in the lower end and bridge some of that feeling of no power in a few places. (Someone, please correct me if I'm wrong before I spend the money to get regeared)

With your tires, I'd probably say you should have at least a 4.56 gear ratio in your diff. But you just have to remember that if you give to the low speed, you take away from the high speed. I'm really thinking about going to 4.88 (but thats what a lot of people at TTORA recommend for a 3.4 with auto). I'm hoping two steps up for whatever gear ratio you're at would really make a huge difference in felt power.

The only reason I can see, other than mentioned above, that someone would need more power is if they're regularly towing, or showing off/racing the truck. If its towing, I would suggest you spend the $3k on an old truck thats better meant for towing. If its for showing off/racing, well, a super charger would be your only real option. If its for general driving or off road power you're looking for, a regear should do it for you.

 

nope. it's very easily actually. just think of any gen III chevy v8 . you can fit more displacement into a smaller size. corvettes can get 28mpg highway too. i would not be surprised one bit if i replaced my 3.4 liter with a lsx and geared it properly that it would either be the same, or increase my gas mileage. when you have that much torque you can just cruise on the highway practically at idle.

 

but that's the problem. why do people care about Cubes? it's a useless way to compare engines. the only things that matter are power, weight, size, and efficiency. if a ls engine has more power, is smaller, weighs less, and get's better mileage, isn't that all that really matters? i mean seriously, what's the exact reason why it's bad to have more cubic inches? there is none.

 

Why bother with a marginally more powerful gas engine? If you're going to swap an engine, why not use a Turbo Diesel, you will have MUCH more torque, and also MUCH, MUCH better fuel efficiency.
Good luck!

 

With all this dreaming here I have a question-what about the day you have to smog it? Won't it fail on visual? Shit ya gotta register it!

 

why not swap in a 3L diesel and turbo it?

 

x2

 

Weren't people doing 4.3L gm v6 swaps....do they still make the 4.3L? That was a badass powerplant, was basically the small block v8 minus 2 cylinders IIRC. My 96 s-10 had It and that truck had balls! It was also a single cab short bed with a 5spd!

 

I had a S-10 before my tacoma. And My Tacoma would eat that thing alive, It was a 4.3l shortbed standard cab. The 4.3l was rated at 190hp 250ftlbs of torque.
3.42 rear gears

 

wasnt someone in the process of doing this swap with a uhhh i forget the engine?? 1uzfe?

 

mmm, i must say though, if i was gonna put an ohc engine in, it would definitely be the 1uz. sooooo buttery smooooth an exception to the rule.

i really wanna get a 1st gen ls400 for a cruiser someday. they are sooo absurdly cheap for how nice and luxurious they are. and they last forever.