Can anyone identify this engine?

Bought this truck for a good price. Running the plates it shows it’s a V6 but I only see 4 spark plugs? Maybe the engine was swapped at some point? Identifiers/stickers are all faded. Any help would be appreciated. 1999 Tacoma

 

2.7 3rzfe

 

How many lugnuts?

 

There may be a sticker under the hood. 2rz or 3rz

 

6 lugs

 

That’s a 4 cylinder as it only has one head. I think it’s a 2.4 and in 2000 they changed to 2.7. Doubt they did an engine downgrade from v6 to 4cyl as that’s a lot of work. The hood was probably changed from a v6. Go to the dealer and get a new under hood label. You’ll need it for the smog anyways. You can also lookup the vin specs on the Toyota website.

 

6 lug makes it a 2.7 4 cylinder 3RZ

 

Someone can correct me if I’m wrong. 2rz was never put into the 6 lug. 6 lug 4 cyl are 3RZ.

 

Hopefully you're aware that your heater does not work.

 

You are 100% correct.

 

Wow i see lots of strange stuff here, does this truck run? is the check engine light on or even work? its missing a lot of important stuff. From my limited experience 99 xtra cabs 4x4 generally came with v6 but thats not cast in stone, the prerunner xtra cab could go either way i4 or V6. The evap box being in the engine compartment says its a 4cyl truck, six lug, 2.7ltr, iirc the v6 evap box was below the bed. What i see is either a very poorly done engine replacement or swap and or the most poorly maintained truck ever. Lets begin, the radiator overflow/ expansion tank is incorrect, obviously the windshield washer bottle is ingenious but wrong, ground missing from engine to firewall, main battery ground connected to intake manifold should be lower on block, missing fan shroud which has the vent tube that connects airbox to evap box, heater hose missing for cabin heater hopefully the core is not leaking, thats. enough for now. The truck looks good from outside and worth some effort, if your plan is to get it right for a nice DD, i have some parts leftover from swap, (fan shroud, ecu, afm ect) i will give them to you just cover shipping, DM.
R/
Andy

 

Punch your VIN into https://www.toyodiy.com/parts/q.html and it will tell you what engine that truck left the factory with.

Being a 6-lug 1st gen, it should be either a 2.7L 3RZ 4-cyl or a 3.4L 5VZ 6-cyl. As others have alluded to, the 3RZ looks nearly identical to a 2.4L 2RZ, which came in 5-lug 1st gens. Your truck shouldn't have that, but if it's a swap who knows.

@OLDHMECH61 is correct that somebody's sloppily hacked around in that engine bay. You should look everything over very closely before you take it on a long road trip.

If you want to be ultra-sure, the engine should have either "3RZ" or "2RZ" (or possibly "3FE" or "2FE") cast into various parts of the engine. In this picture a block casting is visible just below the dip stick. It's probably somewhere on the head too, but I couldn't find a picture showing it.

 

3rz-fe......that sub- series engine was put in Tacoma's from late fall '97,,,,,
until fall of 2000....

That's a good one ....the sweet spot of the Tacoma world.....the dual coil efi

.......after 97.....untill 2002.....

these avoid point/distributor problems........and avoids the deadly 03/04 electronic TB self destruction......

so many parts for that 3rz.....on parr with jeep CJ's.....


These are notorious for eating head gaskets.......better go all out on cooling system




Only alteration I saw was the aftermarket washer reservoir....

The heater core output line is suppose to feed into the back of head....that all should be checked out

engine looks in good shape...ac compressor maybe bad or locked up....


Watch your coolant level like a hawk for next few months.....
......that will tell what you really have....
check your coolant for sealents.....

 

The trans crossmember would have had to been moved if it ever was a V6 truck, should be a clear giveaway, but I doubt it's been swapped.

Evap was under the hood in all 1st gens through '01.

No belt going to the AC compressor either?

 

That looks like a 4 banger to me

 

wonder if the missing belt on ac compressor means its locked up?