4 cyl to 6 cyl

Okay, I'm considering buying a 4-cylinder stick shift Tacoma and immediately putting a v6 into it. I know this will require a new ECU and exhaust header and wiring harness, but I'm a decent mechanic and that doesn't bother me. It has a manual transmission.

Besides the naysayers that will say "this is a lot of work", what else would I need to put the V6 in there? I'm pretty sure it's the same transmission, and I'm pretty sure nothing would need to change in the dash wiring. I don't know if the cat converter or the muffler need changed out. Don't care about changing out the brakes.

What are some of the caveats I'd be missing?

Please, don't go on and on about "just get the car you want in the first place". Answer technical details, don't try to warn me I'm pursuing the wrong thing based on effort or judgment involved. Just the facts - what would it take to swap it out, materially.

thanks!

 

By the way, V6 tacomas in my region (Seattle) are rare if not impossible to find, at a decent price. They're coveted and for good reason. The 4-cylinders, I think, are way underpowered and you can get a 4 cylinder for fairly cheap. The v6's are about DOUBLE in price for the same year/model around here.

 

Welcome aboard

 

@BroncoBilli

Interesting that you're running into that situation.

Tons of members post up 1st gen 4x4s in both I4 and V6 and I hate that they're always below $6k give or take a few hundred.

In CA that's a whole different story where a 4x4 (regardless of engine) goes nearly double what a Prerunner goes for.

The V6 won't win any races, and if you're going off road, the I4 with some gearing goes a long way, especially being a stick shift.

 

The trans is not the same it's a project have at it but research first about what you are up against. The 4 is a bulletproof engine yep they are short on power but it will get the job done.

 

"research first about what you are up against"
Yes. Exactly. Which is why I bothered signing up for this forum.
Can't IMAGINE why a v6 would have a different transmission than an I4. Maybe MAYBE a different bell housing and possibly a heavier duty clutch.
Who on this site knows what MANUAL transmission pairs up w/ an I4 vs a V6? Year of Tacoma is a 1998.
thanks!

 

Why? What's wrong with the 4 cyl? Maybe you should drive it first... You might actually like it.

 

Looks like they used different transmissions. Hopefully this helps: https://core-shifters.com/pages/toyota-truck-transmission-identification

 

Okay, I found this:
https://board.marlincrawler.com/index.php?topic=35818.0

it seems like the v6 takes an R151B, and the I4 takes a W59B. I guess they're a bolt-in replacement, except the shifter will move by about 2".
Can't imagine why this is the case, but oh well.
Sigh.

 

Man... I can't handle "why don't you" questions... I've driven a handful of I4 tacomas while looking for the right car. I think they're piss poor on power. The Internets agree with me, BTW. Those of you who think the I4 has enough power, congrats on being able to get it to and from Safeway. This is going to be my Ski Truck. It needs to get up and down mountains. Easily.

Also, I don't want to be in the middle of some jam on I405 in Seattle and not be able to throw it into 3rd and jet out of a death crush. The I4 will just go "unnnghh. Nope."

 

What about a supercharger? LCE and I think URD make kits for the first gens. Idk man, I'm not trying to put you down I just figured if it ain't broke... But if you go thru keep us posted. I love watching swap threads.

 

Buy the 4 cylinder and put a small turbo on it. That will give you the power of the v6 without tearing the truck apart to replace the engine trans, driveshaft and rear end (because you know that's different gearing).

 

Motor mount perches and trans crossmember are in different places.

Will require cutting/welding.

 

Joke's on you, the V6 isn't fast either. The 95.5-04 V6 Tacomas use an R150 transmission which takes a different bellhousing than the W56. @jacobrippey has done an I4 to V6 swap, check out his build thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...wapped-tacoma-single-cab-build.464821/page-23

 

Engine mount perches as well as trans crossmember are in different spots, you'll be cutting and welding as well. I've had both, the 4 banger is only as intolerable as the driver. My supercharged 2.7 cooked v6s no problem and I wasn't far behind in NA form. Neither engine is a powerhouse

 

Also I lived where you do and had no problems conquering passes for over 6 years with the 4 banger and 33" MTs. Wheeled in high elevation with low oxygen content. Itl get you to and from anywhere if you can drive competently. But it sounds like that might be a challenge and if that is then swapping will be even more of one, maybe just buy a v6, I recently got another from Puyallup. They're all over.

 

had no problems conquering the passes with a 4cyl Tacoma? obviously the low oxygen was affecting your sense of speed and what is acceptable Passing The Stonies power. i cant stand being on Hwy 2 behind some
jacka$& 2wd car going 30 and the opposite lanes are full of carefree semis...

however, y'all scared me off. i am just going to buy a more expensive V6.

 

No prob maintaining 65-70mph at 4800lbs of weight. Even through crazy grades in Wyoming. It's only as bad as your driving.