Engine swap differences between 2016 and 2017 Off Road 3.5, 6cyl?

Any differences mechanically, specifically vaccum systems of a 2016 and 2017 3.5 6cyl, both from TRD Off Road?

Here Is why - My post way back In December I had the original engine for 2017 Off Road cylinder six lost total compression with only 75k on engine. Toyota corporate and local dealership would do no good will due being out of warranty. Total you are SOL treatment from them both. Told me 13k to replace with used or 17k to rebuild it.

I own a logistics business running Dodge Ram Promaster vans and deal with a Dodge dealership and they are pretty good at taking care of me. I went to this dealership to see If they could find a engine and put it in. They found a 2016 3.5, 6cyl in a OffRoad that had been totaled In a t-bone situation that had 40k miles on it. $4200 for engine and 2k to drop It in and hook It up. So I went for it. Job done, seemed everything was good. Then Engine has started burning oil and the blue puff of smoke at startup, running a tad rough at idle so I figured It sat and valve stem seals are shot. I take it back to the dealer to see about them replacing seals on their dime. They give me an update info call and say this engine Is missing an entire vacuum line In the rear of the engine. We see one connection but cant find the other end where it goes. Second call back they are telling me this is a 2017 and the engine we put in is a 2016 and it wont work as there are incompatible systems between the two engines and we just cant cap off that vacuum line. Can this be or are they full of shit?
Im like, wtf?? you all found and purchased this engine to put in this vehicle and I have been driving for a couple of months.

 

It shows 2 different available 3.5, one with and one without a vacuum pump.

 

With, or without the engines are interchangeable.

 

Manual and auto tacomas have different brake booster setups

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/shared-vs-independent-brake-and-clutch-reservoir.732478/

 

This may help. I'd have to assume this is vacuum pump and the other end goes to cars with vacuum brake boosters (which you don't have). I'm making a lot of assumptions here but I think the pump is driven by one of the cams? I doubt Toyota makes different heads/valve covers they probably just block the hole off on models that don't have the pump. But I also have no idea if its ok to just block that the hole off and delete the pump or if the cam is different.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2018/RCRIT-18V211-7735.pdf

 

I think @Jowett has done some research regarding these pumps before??

 

No difference, there is a block off plate, uses the same gasket as the vac pump.

 

I have been looking into this lately and came across this thread. I thought I’d add that I discovered there are two different set ups for the intake cams on the passenger sidproduced for this gen tacoma. Bank 1 for the Off-road trim comes with the hydraulic brake booster and the others with the vacuum booster. The TRD Sport, for instance, has a hole/space in the end of the cam for oil to feed and lubricate the impeller on the vacuum pump. The one for the OR does not (or rather it is plugged). From what Ive found it is the same part number. So be careful. I am looking to delete this and install an electric vacuum pump if need. Any info on that block off plate part number would be appreciated.