If you could put any engine inside the 3rd gen's chassis...

Lets say you had the time, money, and skills to make this happen, which engine would you pick?

 

Chevy 350. Runs forever...........

 

LS. It just has to be an LS.

 

Time proven 2.7L for the ultimate in reliability.
Poof! Done!

 

I’d probably choose a 1970 celica engine

 

If I had the time, money and skills to make that happen, I'd do something more rewarding with all three.

 

Ford 2014-2017 V6 3.7L(NON TURBO).
Super easy engine to work on, very very few issues, more power then the 4.0L Tacoma, better mpg as well, main issue was waterpump leaking but they redesigned it and its super easy to change.

 

2 Chevy Volt drivetrains and battery packs; 100% torque at 1rpm and easily divertible power.
Oh, and pretty much free to operate.

 

Ford 300 straight 6. Lots of torque and bulletproof. And, it got good mpg.

 

Front and rear electric.

 

380 Fred flinstone

Dude was legit hauling around a whole family by himself with a dinosaur in the back

 

The 3.5L Supercharged V6 out of the Lotus Evora. Hehehe

 

8.2l Cadillac from the 70s. Supercharged. Because why not


Edit: and in a first gen, obviously

 

4.8 L 1LR-GUE V10




Keep it in the "Toyota" family because even though I have considered and LS swap I'm a Toyota purist at heart and have beautiful Yamaha tuned combustion music.

 

I’d settle for the 5.7L V8. Really love how it feels in my tundra. Can only image how it would feel in the Tacoma

 

How about... A 3.5L V6? Seems to work well...

 

5.7 hemi if it would fit under the hood

 

It's like the buffet restaurant of engines. No one food is really great, but at the end of the meal you're more or less full and it was palatable.

 

Probably an LS3. But hell just give me the old 4.0 1GR-FE. That’s the only reason I haven’t switched to a 3rd Gen yet.