2003 toyota tacoma double cab 2uz-fe v8 swap

Awesome. Welcome to the club!!!

What radiator are you using?

How.much room do you have between your fans and pulleys. Have you noticed any heating issues yet?

If you are not currently, you should monitor the engine and transmission temps.

 

Aluminum radiator for TOYOTA Hilux Surf KZN185 3.0L Diesel 1996-2002 Manual
This is before the fans were installed. I could have gone back another 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch. I was not able to use the 3 core 280z radiator. It was to thick. I sold it to the neighbor. I am glad though. I am much happier with the dimensions of the Kzn-185. There was no drilling and it fit like a glove. While studying the builds, one build, I think it was Singtoe, had his fan fail. It began to heat up, but he just got the truck down the road and it cooled it self without a fan. I do keep an eye on the temp gauge. before I had the fans installed I would run the engine for short periods of time, I was not able to help myself. It would take 30 min or more before it would pass running temp and that was sitting still. The gauge just goes to operating temp and stays there. Here is a pic I do wonder if I shouldn't buy an extra fan and put it behind the seat.

 

Here is a current photo of the interior. Notice the 4x4 combination switch. It is from a 2006 Toyota 4runner. It is located where the extra power ports were. The ECT switch that is to the right of it works the exterior cargo light in the 3rd brake light. I would like to find a more suitable switch. It doesn't look to pretty close up. I would have like to have had more practice with the plastic epoxy.

 

Here it is parked next to an unmolested double cab. notice the black paint. It had a plastic bed liner and they sprayed the add on by hand.

 

Me too. I am only proof that one is able to accomplish what they put their mind to.

 

When I tied in the E-locker into the Tundra wire harness, there was no light in the dash. I studied the wiring diagram and found "Auto LSD". LSD stands for limited slip differential, so I wired it up. It works just fine, even blinks until locked.

 

Did the Tundra gauge cluster just fit, or did you have to make a bracket to hold it there? I swapped over everything from the 95 Taco I rolled to my new 96, literally every piece of wiring and drivetrain and I have to say from year to year a lot changed so to have stuff from a Tundra just work so nicely is awesome.

 

It is pretty much the same size. I still need to attach it. It just stays in place. Singtoe has a good photo of how he used radio strapping to make new tabs. I am taking my sweet ass time now finishing up, now that the worst of it has been done.

 

Word of caution, the stock gauge in my Tacoma cluster doesn't move "above normal" till around 230-240*.


I am running a 96-02 4runner radiator made by Champion. I had the inlet and outlet moved. It is the largest radiator I could find, including compared to yours. Wheeling, my temps start running high pretty quick.

I bought a scangauge II and monitor both trans and engine coolant temp.

 

The gauge is stock to the 4.7 motor not the tacoma 3.4. I would benefit from having an actual temp though. In the photo above, the temp gauge shows the dial. It does not move past this point, with the exception of before having the fan installed.

 

The Tundra was an access cab. There were no door locks or provisions for the power windows in the back. My first idea was to piggy back power supplies from the front doors. When I did, I would push the door unlock button one time and both drivers side doors would unlock. I did not like this, so I had to get the power from the passenger side. It now works as designed. One thing that has lost its appeal is the tundra beep. Once to lock two to unlock and four to unlock all doors. I do however have a system in place for defrost mirrors. That is a plus.

 

Here is a photo of me picking up my new pickup box. I was rear-ended and had to get rid of the messed up extended box. I got the new box for 500.00. It was a display model for Snugtop. It had never been on a truck. I even got the little stand. This trip did not go easy. Every thing in the back of the truck blew out. Not the normal stuff ether. Pop cans, snug top bag, even ratchet straps would blow out. The wind moved through it like a tornado. I have never seen anything like it before. It wasn't fun. I stopped like 3 times in 45 min drive. I ended up taking every thing out. Well it is a cool photo anyway.

 

I like the long bed, thought it was pretty cool that you can have a long bed double cab.

 

I was not able to have a bumper because it would really look funny. Look at the length verses where the rear wheels are.

 

not even that bed was happy being that bed.

 

Here is the cab to tail light wire harness. The top one is the Tundra and the lower one is the Tacoma. What I had to do here is cut out the E-Locker wires and intergrate them into the tundra harness. I was able to do this inside and I had to use my foot to keep it tight. The look on my face reflects how wiring can make a person go crazy, LOL

 

This thing is sweeeet!! Welcome!

 

Here are the tundra struts and coils with Tacoma top plates that I used in my truck for the v8. The center is the standard Tacoma strut. I thought that since the v8 weighed more, I would benefit from using the original Tundra struts.

 

Would you like to visit Texas? I'm, hopefully, getting ready to stuff an 01 Tundra drivetrain into a 99 PreRunner.

 

Awesome build. You did a great job on the engine, looks like it was meant to be there.