Engine Swap opinions, experiences, whatever

I’ve got a notion to spend a pile of money and do a silly swap on my Tacoma. Currently running a turbo’d 3rz, and it’s sweet but who doesn’t like more power? And it’s got 300k+ miles….

Currently I’m really leaning towards a 2jz (or 1jz) swap, because cool noises and boosty fun. But then I start considering other options, should a boost a 5vz? Put in a v8? Buy a 3rz core and r155, the build it to handle 20lbs of boost ( and save a bunch of swapping fuckery )?

I’d love to hear some opinions on different options and/or experiences. Ideas on ways to save money would be cool too, but I’m fully aware that’d I’d be yolo’ing $10k away.

 

You could go the route that Harry at www.jdfabrication. com did with his Trekker build. You could also check it out on IG at @toyota_dreams | Instagram as well as #lv3swap on Instagram | Hashtags

 

I’ve joined this forum to get opinions and help on an upcoming 2.0 TDI swap for a 2x4(we’re keeping it that way, sort of) 98 sr5 auto with the 2.4

so that’s my vote

I also thought about a turbo OM617/616 as a no turbo 300D was my first diesel. OM606 is tempting but more fab and money than we are willing to spend on a utilitarian delivery truck.

not sure how well a 4bt would fit in a stock og first gen, but I’m on the lookout for one of those to put in an old gmc small block 1500

would love to see you make a 6bt fit

tbh tho I wouldn’t mess with the 3rz until it dies, especially if you’ve already invested in boost.

 

@madmax700r has done a 4BT swap. Barely fits in there with major modification.

 

Figure out what you end game is decide the best way to meet those goals .

Far to many idiots on the road and cameras these days .

If your wanting power not speed Gears and another case does a great job.

Good Luck.

 

4bt will fit with not a crazy amount of fab work. I don’t think it’ll fit with factory ifs in it still. Only way to make a 6bt fit is moving radiator to the bed and front core support cut to shreds but it could fit.
Here’s the clearance with my 4bt between the engine and factory radiator

 

O poop forgot 1uz. Still too expensive for us as the cheapest option I saw was an sc 400 at 4K, sold the next day

and those engines don’t make it to the junkyards around here

 

My vote too. Great diection if you don’t live in a f's state like Ca.
You can see big tuned numbers with acceptable mileage

 

I've actually got a really good friend to TDI swapped his 89 pickup. It's pretty sick, good mileage and loads of torque. It did take a lot of figuring out though. Personally, I'm not so sure that I'm wanting to go the diesel route... but I do have a really convenient one for reference!

It seems like close to where I live a 2jz is pretty easy to pick up for >$2k.. There's a long block posted for $900 with 110k on it I may go snag. Might as well start digging into some TDI options.. just in case.

Very true. Honestly I don't know what I want. The real answer is probably just something to work on.

 

Fwiw I grabbed that 2.0 full donor vehicle for 1700, most YouTubers seem to find fresh wrecks for ~1300. For us we want to keep it auto to keep the nice interior stock, so an 04 with .1L more and upgraded injection was a no brainer. Fuel economy is the goal more so than hp, especially as a hauler (~1000lb loads mostly, occasionally a light 3-400 lb)

for us this makes sense because there isn’t really a small diesel truck option in the us. Wiki says the Colorado offered some before the duramax but I imagine it was out of the country, and at 1700 vs 20k+ for todays light duty trucks there’s really no comparison.

I pretty much only mentioned the other diesels we considered as anything less than a v8 gasser would likely be disappointing for the money spent, unless you have a free donor 5vz or something

 

Now that I’ve thought on this more, something cool you could do with the 3rz would be an external tank propane conversion. Common in Europe, they usually do a 100L tank filled to 90% and the Australians boast some crazy range.

No experience with this but would love to see it. The case I’m thinking of was maybe a 2uz swapped land cruiser, so with a 2.7 it might be better to have a smaller, removable forklift style canister. You’d have a trade of less power for more range, not sure on how tunable the 3rz would be in that respect but such is the case with small engines, which likely isn’t your goal tho. Also haven’t seen a boosted propane engine…

But if you grenade the 3rz your truck will be setup already for a second fuel tank, maybe for waste oil/biodiesel

Edit: found one
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0yp9qdww3PI&feature=share

22r:
https://youtu.be/Oi0yaR-srmE