Think I can talk you into a v8 swap?

The common denominator of everyone that says a V8 conversion on a 3rd Gen is simple:

None of them have done it, and never will.

 

How is ABS , Airbags, Heat and AC being affected all those items are being retained !!

Also you mention drivetrain components , only items would be rear axle swap !!!

Again this swap is very easy and very affordable!!

 

But not on a truck that I paid $35,000 for. That’s just plain crazy.

 

Unless you have a magical black box that can convert GM ECU to Toyota ECU then none of that stuff is gonna work, as it's all controlled or prioritized by the ECU.

You cannot, with a straight face, say the only thing you need is a rear axle to run an additional 100+ HP and 100 more lb ft of torque.
You need:
A transmission
Output shaft
Transfer Case (if 4WD)
Drive shaft
Front Axle
Front and rear differential
New wheel sensors with correct encoders (must have to communicate with new ECU to provide VSC)
New front suspension
Frame modifications

And that is just the main items. We could talk about gauge clusters and instrumentation and go from there.

Now, if you have a 2WD access cab SR model, and you wanted nothing much to work except your engine, then it would probably only cost $15K or so to do, not including labor.

Here is a screen shot from a reputable supplier for a new Tacoma Diesel conversion. This is $28K on TOP of the Tacoma cost, for a total cost of around $70K. I would expect the price to be even more to do a V8 swap.

 

Thanks for the insight guys, fingers crossed for the twin turbo then!

5k > 30k

 

I believe there is a tread on here of a guy doing a Tundra V8 Swap into a taco which was started a while ago, I wonder if anything ever came of it.

 

@jberry813 was doing it on a 3rd gen but he deleted it for some reason. Not sure what ever came of it.

 

Since we already know this would be very expensive, the next concern would be emission testing. To be street legal, I believe you have to use an engine newer than the vehicle and also pass emissions testing for that engine application. Using an older engine than the vehicle means off road only.

 

If I were going to invest in any engine swap for this truck it would be a 1/2JZ swap. Build monster power, and keep it in the family.

OTOH, I won’t turn up my nose if one of you want to invest your time and money into making a LSX work, either.

 

The thread was deleted, but I think it wasn't going well even for someone with ways and means to attempt such a project.

This is TW though, somebody is going to do it eventually.

Never say never....

 

id love to see where your finding LS7 swaps for 5k. LS2/3 swaps are that much for the full setup (transmission,engine,accessories,wiring harness, ecu, pedal)

 

Keep in mind you'll never get a quality TT kit and all the supporting ancillaries for 5k either...........

 

Yea even an OEM Toyota swap isn’t always just plug and play for the engine and dash harnesses. I miss the days of civic where it was like legos and you could just swap an engine and have it running in a few hours. I may be a minority here but I don’t care about a v8 swap for a Tacoma, especially from the factory. These trucks are already pretty expensive, I can only imagine what they’d price a v8 tacoma at.

 

AGREED! and......even if speaking "engine only" engine to trans adapter plates @ Bell housing, cooling system (radiator-fans) upgrade, coolant sensor conversions, inputs rpm/power curve for running TCM side (if auto), Body-firewall modifications, every alternator, ac condenser, emission pump, bracket and electrical conversion custom fab'd, complete harness re-wire (ya ya maybe painless wiring conversion- you want to rewire the whole truck?)....hence why my earlier post I mentioned earlier gens and off highway use only and posted build link to show how extensive even "simple" conversions are.....the reality is, unless its a platform suitable and friendly for conversion (much earlier production vehicles or within same brand (wrangler+Hemi /Camaro+Big block,etc) or a build specific to non street legal purposes (crawler, trail rig only)....engine conversions on late model vehicles are complicated, if not cost prohibitive, to keep their full functionality and ability to be legally street compliant. HUNDREDS of professional labor hours and custom fabrication time do not come without the associated price tag - and backyard butcher jobs don't come without the death trap, endless work in progress, non engineered, functionality abortion factor. Most any conversion can be done, weighing the cost to value will often determine if it makes sense compared to other alternative routes to desired end result (IE; different vehicle). My opinion, from a "few" years of real world experience as a guy who actually got paid for designing/building conversions. YMMV.