Tacoma engine Swap possible

I have no intentions nor the money to accomplish such a feat anywhere in the near future. I'm merely curious as the idea strikes as a project far into the future if and when my Tacoma fails. but would the possibility of putting a tundra engine in a Tacoma be wiring wise. Would you have to use the tundra ECU and wire it to the vehicle or could you use the Tacoma ECU connected to the tundra wiring harness? Would the ECU be combatable or would you require a programmed ECU would that even work? I know of only one person doing such a feat on a 2nd gen and that begs the question why. Besides the hellish amounts of wiring and the 1000's of dollars it would take what's stopping anybody from doing such a thing. Doing such complex wiring is possible but with so many electronic systems is it even compatible? Without throwing 40 grand a shop is there any conceivable way to accomplish this?

The only post mentioning such was met with great criticism five years ago and I'm curious if it can be done and if not why not?

The idea in my head would be to drop the tundra drivetrain and 5.7 engine into a vehicle. My issues stands as from a wiring possible if that is even possible.

If you think all of this is stupid I'd like to hear why
I feel as thought the two biggest off topic critics would be money and the ungoldy amount of work it would take but besides that what would it take?

 

not in a 3rd Gen, but a 2nd Gen
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacundra-5-7l-3urfe-swapped-2nd-gen-project.587386/

 

Ah yes I'm familiar with his content on YouTube I didn't know he was on TW. Unfortunately he is swapping a 4.0 engine not my 3.5. I'd love to see someone document something similar on a 3rd gen.

 

For a project like this, I'm not sure how relevant a 4.0 vs 3.5 starting point even is. There's not really going to be anything left from those platforms when done.

It will take a lot of ingenuity and problem solving to have a functional truck in the end. Just to call it done you'd have to accept a lot of flaws and compromise.

This is one of those if you have to ask, it's out of your reach sort of deals.

Edit: Also forced induction would be way easier and more cost effective.

 

I'd do a diesel swap before a V8 swap. The Colorado ran V8's in some of their trucks from 2009-2012. I think they were the last mid size truck to offer a V8 since the RAM Dakota was discontinued in 2011.

 

I would love a Mercedes, Volkswagen or Kubota turbo diesel swap in my Tacoma.

 

Installing the Engine and mating it to the transmission/differential is the easy part.

The hard part is always the computers and making it work with the dash gauges.

 

There are companies that do it directly from Toyota/Lexus. Granted, they are Australian engines, but proven and efficient diesels nonetheless. They even take care of the computer issues for you.

 

People who do real 'builds' and cross breed engines in vehicles rarely reuse any engine control wiring.

It's easier (but not necessarily easy) and cheaper to go from scratch. Sometimes using the engine compatible ECU and harness.

Examples. Corvette motors in Miatas.

 

LS swap would be easier I would think. They make crate motors and full kits. Toyota does not offer anything like that.

 

There’s nothing better than a Miata with an LS3 and Tremec T56...

 

Except a s2000 with a viper motor

 

Of course there is! Turbo LS7 is clearly better and probably hazardous to your health.


Everyone is doing it these days!



Go big or go home!

 

Yes, I stand corrected....
However, ‘slightly’ is an understatement. LoL

 

When you are building something stupid out of a miata, there are very few limits to what you can achieve.

 

@MESO

 

Personally, having owned a couple first gen Miatas they were fun little cars that you could put into the wall at sebring and not feel so bad about it afterwards.

However, if you're looking for a project, it would be Miata suspension/subframes/etc under a MGBGT with an LS1/tremec 6 speed. Thats a step up from what is a very capable track beast into something wtih some hertiage and class. Its still basically a miata, but now it looks desirable. lol

Check out http://www.slowcarfast.com/ to waste some serious time.

 

does anybody know of any engine swap kits for 3rd gens?

 

Anyone talking ‘go big or go home’.. you want this..

 

There is a company that will swap a Toyota diesel engine into a 3rd gen. I'm sure they have kits but not for sale. I think it's $25K to do the swap.