Talk me off the LS ledge

My 5vz has 350,000 miles, still runs good, but I’m finding I need more power. My truck is a daily driver, but I regularly tow a trailer on the weekends for camping trips. I need more power, and I have a few options.

#1- Completely rebuild the V6 and trans for reliability, then supercharge. Pros are a semi factory setup, less fabrication work, and easy install. Cons are less power than the V8, I have to run premium gas ( big negative for me ) and cost would be similar to a V8 swap by time I used the OEM rebuild kit, supercharger and supporting mods.

#2- LS swap, throw a cam in it, and use the OBD2 scanner for gauges, and then upgrade over time. Pros, great power, and easily upgradable to make more power. Cons, a lot more work ( although somewhat mitigated by using CX racing swap components ), also a lot more custom parts like driveshafts and and AC and power steering adapters.

My budget would be about $8k for either swap. Should I just go LS? Am I completely out of my mind, and should just stick to the V6? Am I missing anything in my swap plan?

 

Have you thought about putting the $8k towards a full size truck to tow the trailer on the weekend?

You can pick up a mid 2000s Silverado for a couple grand

 

But the heart wants what the heart wants

 

I have, I didn’t clarify, the trailer is a military trailer that we use for camping, to haul our RTT and gear in. It’s not that heavy of a trailer, but going up in down mountains I’m struggling to maintain 30mph with overdrive off.

 

Also, I apologize for creating another thread on this topic, as I see there is a recent thread on SC vs V8

 

The SC is kinda lame. For 8 grand you could do a lot of crazy stuff. Might be able to whip up a rotrex custom kit for that kinda money and have the best of both worlds for towing and performance. Turbo kit might also be viable and at 8k it would be pretty nuts. V8 swap scares me personally but I’ve never really done anything like that and I would tend to try and stay closer to OEM components just as a personal preference.

 

^ I found your typo. Let me fix that for you -

 

I’ve considered turbo, but it just never found any good information on doing it reliably. Also I still would have to run premium gas.

 

What he said ^

 

I too am nervous on the swap as I’ve never done anything like this either. But using the engine mounts and manifolds for the swap from CX racing would help a lot with the fabrication. The rest should be fairly straight forward, driveshafts, fuel, and AC and power steering conversion.

 

I'm new to Tacoma's but I've swapped motors into my honda's and acura's through the years. You always go over your planned budget, just prepare yourself for that if you do move forward with the swap.