5VZ-FE Engine Swap: 2001 to 1998 Tacoma ECU Wiring

Hey TW,

I’m in the process of connecting a 5VZ-FE engine from a 1997 Tacoma into a 2001 Tacoma. Both trucks originally had the 5VZ-FE, and both are manual, but I’ve run into some issues with the ECU wiring since the two models use different harnesses. I have the full wiring harnesses for both the 2001 and 1998 engines, as well as both ECUs and dash wiring.

Has anyone done this swap or have advice on the best way to connect the electronics? Should I use the newer (2001) ECU and wiring harness, or is there a better way to make this work with the older (1998) system?

I was thinking of rewiring the old connectors into the new ones using both wiring diagrams but was wondering if someone had a better way.

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

Edit: sorry, I read that backwards. Keep the wiring and ECU for the chassis you are swapping to. You may need to swap throttle bodies if you have drive by wire

 

Thanks for the reply,
Your saying I should rewire the 1997 engine harness to plug into the 2001 Ecu. Just making sure I read that right.

Btw both are drive by wire.

 

Unknown if helps
But WTH

Subarus…..big thing was to put STI engine into a different model
NP mechanically, but (in my case) a 98 harness would have to be merged with the 05 harness
In 07 when I had swap done, only 3 shops in US had experience with this
(Had to be merged manually)

company called IWIRE started for this exact same thing
Now you can buy a plug and play harness from both vehicles to get swap done

unknown if they do Toyotas
But they sell huge array of loose/single pigtails
Super cool on phone….much like LCE/Motorwest was when I called them for taco stuff
Worth a shot
GL

 

I went through this and put a 2002 engine into my 96.

used the original ECU and engine harness from my 96 and the upper intake/throttle body as well. didn't have to adapt any wires.

pull the upper/lower intake off of both engines, remove both engine harnesses, and bolt everything from your 98 on. (edit: reversed but same idea)

 

1997 should not be drive by wire, it should be cable.

The 97 engine should drop in to the 01 platform with minimal reconfiguration, the only difference might be the throttle body wiring. So use the harness that's already in there.