1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

TRD engine swap

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Remedial man, Feb 12, 2025.

  1. Feb 12, 2025 at 9:10 AM
    #1
    Remedial man

    Remedial man [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2025
    Member:
    #464954
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    Hey Everyone!
    Seems to be quite a bit of knowledge on this site so i joined. Ty.. Doing an engine swap in 16 Gen 3 TRD and updating to a 2020 TRD gen 3 both are 3.5 everything seems to match up and connect after install but having a tremendous amount of fuel smell/vapors coming out the tailpipe and it wont start now.It did initially and ran for 30 seconds then i shut it off to check for any leaks of fluids. It wants to restart but, will not? Is there any special relearns or resets on software that it may need to have done? And is it something i can obtain? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thnx
     
  2. Feb 12, 2025 at 9:22 AM
    #2
    hyrule_trd

    hyrule_trd It’s a Secret to Everybody

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2020
    Member:
    #317260
    Messages:
    10,179
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Harford County, MD
    Vehicle:
    2020 Black TRD OR
    Ironman Stage 1 Foam Cell Pro lift kit, 255/85/16 Cooper ST Maxx, SCS BR6 Wheels, SPC UCA, Heated seats, MESO TRD start button, Meso Total Tail v1, Meso V5 mirror white DRL turns, bed decal, ditch and hidden bumper lights, screen protech, RAV4 radio knobs, steering wheel anytime camera kit, dash cam, ECGS bushing, Timbren Active Off Road bump stops with Wheelers flip kit. 35% Xpel CS Ceramic Tint, KD Max Tune, SumoSprings front bump stops, RRW Sliders ‌ ‌ ▲ ▲‌ ▲
    Sounds like you know what you’re doing but any chance the negative battery terminal is loose?
    I don’t have the knowledge to suggest anything else unless it flooded with fuel and you’ll need to wait a while. Could be the cause of the fuel smell too… maybe.

    Either way, good luck!
     
  3. Feb 12, 2025 at 9:24 AM
    #3
    TA2016

    TA2016 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2015
    Member:
    #162050
    Messages:
    4,003
    Gender:
    Male
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRD Sport AT V6 4x4 ACLB P&T Package Red
    Any trouble codes?
     
  4. Feb 12, 2025 at 10:30 AM
    #4
    Buck Henry

    Buck Henry Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2020
    Member:
    #349241
    Messages:
    3,663
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2019 White TRD Off Road
    Well, I know this is a Captain Obvious statement, but it sure sounds like she is flooded. Have you tried the old "floor it" trick? I know that was the solution for old carbureted engines but not sure if that works on fuel injected engines. Good luck and good on you for being able to do an engine swap!
     
  5. Feb 12, 2025 at 10:41 AM
    #5
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,677
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    Couple questions...when you say TRD...were both TRD Off-Road engines and not mixed up with a sport? The TRD OR and the TRD Sport have different cam shafts and vacuum setup. Also, try disconnecting the injectors and crank it over for a while to see if it will start?
     
  6. Feb 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
    #6
    gudujarlson

    gudujarlson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2019
    Member:
    #298083
    Messages:
    7,370
    Gender:
    Male
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2020 TRD Off-Road DCSB 6MT
    Kings, Dakars, SPCs, 33's, Mobtown Sliders, TRD Skid
    Does that work in these days of throttle by wire? I’m not sure the throttle would open all the way at startup even if the pedal was depressed the whole way.

    I’ve never actually tried it on a taco, because as far as I have observed they either never get flooded or they take care of it for you.

    I have observed harder than normal starts after killing the engine on a steep slope (manual transmission). I’m not sure if that is due to flooding though.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2025
    Chew likes this.
  7. Feb 12, 2025 at 1:12 PM
    #7
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,677
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    Toyota is one of the few vehicles I know of that don't shut off fuel when you floor it and crank the starter.
     
    gudujarlson[QUOTED] likes this.
  8. Feb 12, 2025 at 8:43 PM
    #8
    Toycoma2021

    Toycoma2021 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2021
    Member:
    #351607
    Messages:
    1,781
    Northern California, Temporarily
    Vehicle:
    2021 Access Cab, LB, AT, V6, Off Road
    In my off-roading experience (not Tacoma) when stalling an engine on inclines the engine actually runs backwards after the stall and the sensor timing gets messed up. That is why it takes longer to start the engine - it has to find itself again.

    I have an AT in my Tacoma, and I have found one sure fire way to duplicate this: Head down a steep hill, put the vehicle in Reverse and back up the hill a bit and then release the accelerator pedal, the truck will stop going uphill and reverse to going downhill forward while the gear selector is in reverse. This will kill the engine, and it will take longer to start the engine.
     
  9. Feb 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
    #9
    Ricardo13x

    Ricardo13x YT: @UrbanOpsOffRoad IG: @urban.ops.offroad

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2020
    Member:
    #318785
    Messages:
    2,931
    Gender:
    Male
    Upland, CA.
    Vehicle:
    05 OR DCSB ProRunner(4x4 conv.), Chevy 63”s, NWF EcoCrawler, 35”s
    Random stuff. Oh! and converted to non ADD 4x4.
    For real the long block is different? Damn.
     
  10. Feb 12, 2025 at 8:52 PM
    #10
    Vlady

    Vlady Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2017
    Member:
    #238986
    Messages:
    4,621
    Gender:
    Male
    Issy, WA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White SR5 DCSB V6 4x4
    Most issue are related to improper connections. Recheck the engine harness connectors.
    The other advise, get a quality scanner if you do this type of job.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2025
  11. Feb 13, 2025 at 3:23 AM
    #11
    MetalUnsettle

    MetalUnsettle Member

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2023
    Member:
    #434410
    Messages:
    17
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2023 TRD Sport Premium DCSB
    What is source of this? It was my understanding the 2GR was the same across all Tacoma trim levels.
     
    skidooboy likes this.
  12. Feb 13, 2025 at 5:13 AM
    #12
    Wire4Money

    Wire4Money Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2019
    Member:
    #282137
    Messages:
    631
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tim
    Vehicle:
    2024 SR5 4x4 long bed
  13. Feb 13, 2025 at 9:39 AM
    #13
    airforceb2cc

    airforceb2cc Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2021
    Member:
    #368194
    Messages:
    1,677
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Don
    KCMO
    Vehicle:
    2021 DCSB Nightshade
    Ironman FCP; 315/75R16; KDMAX; Skids; Sliders
    Yeah, live and learn on that one!
     
    Ricardo13x[QUOTED] likes this.
  14. Feb 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
    #14
    kahanabob

    kahanabob Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 19, 2011
    Member:
    #51477
    Messages:
    2,578
    Gender:
    Male
    Maui
    Vehicle:
    16 TRD 2WD 4DR
    Did you also swap the ECU from the 2020? I think ECU is the computer,DUH!
     
  15. Feb 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
    #15
    Remedial man

    Remedial man [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2025
    Member:
    #464954
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
     
  16. Feb 14, 2025 at 5:10 PM
    #16
    Remedial man

    Remedial man [OP] Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2025
    Member:
    #464954
    Messages:
    8
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    I had to block off the Vacuum pump with my original plate. I examined the cam that the pump goes into and plugged the port at the end of the cam. (looks like an oiling port for pressure?) I didn't change the ECU and have a Snap-On Triton scanner that relearned to factory specs? I even changed the reluctor for the crank sensor but its the same anyhow. Im still lost as its still dumping a bunch of fuel it seems? I also loosened the fuel supply to the HPP and then it tries to start. All the connections seem nice and everything is in place as far as it looks.
     
  17. Feb 14, 2025 at 5:24 PM
    #17
    Vlady

    Vlady Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2017
    Member:
    #238986
    Messages:
    4,621
    Gender:
    Male
    Issy, WA
    Vehicle:
    2017 White SR5 DCSB V6 4x4
    Just cranks? Checked for sparks, compression on each cylinder at tdc?TDC?
    Check fuses
     
  18. Feb 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
    #18
    BLtheP

    BLtheP Constantly Tinkering Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2022
    Member:
    #394355
    Messages:
    4,647
    Gender:
    Male
    Plano, TX
    Vehicle:
    2021 MGM TRD On-Road DCSB MT
    RC60F Transmission ADD delete with FJ full-time tube FJ Metal Clutch Pedal OEM Mexico-Spec Condenser Fan 265/70R16 Michelin Defender LTX M/S 2 OEM 1-Piece Lug Nuts Custom Built Switch Panel for all Electrical Accessories Rigid Amber Pro D-SS Ditch Lights Rigid 30" SAE High Beam Driving Light Bar Rigid SR-Q Pro Back-Up Light Kit (Recessed) VLEDS Tail Conversion VLEDS Foot Well Light Kit KC HiLites Cyclone V2 Under Hood Lights Operable (Switched) Clutch Safety Bypass
    There is no such thing as a long block on these really. What is different between the different engine versions is how they equip the cam. All models use the same cams, but trim levels using a vacuum booster have a vacuum pump driven by the bank 1 intake cam. The pump mounts to the cam tower and inserts into the hole in the back of the cam for oiling. For hydraulic booster models (TRD OR/Pro), they seal the cam hole with a sealing ball and then put a block off plate over the hole in the cam tower.

    There are no other differences in the engine itself, it is just a difference in how they cover up the hole in the cam and cam tower. OP addressed it properly by sealing the hole and installing his own block off plate that he removed from the old motor.
     
  19. Feb 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
    #19
    World2405

    World2405 WUBBA LUBBA DUB DUB!!!!1!

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2023
    Member:
    #439676
    Messages:
    420
    Gender:
    Male
    Delaware
    Vehicle:
    2023 Toyota 4Runner
    I would have gone the hilux route lol
     
  20. Feb 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
    #20
    t0p_d0g

    t0p_d0g 私はタコマが大好きです

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2023
    Member:
    #422653
    Messages:
    1,869
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2023 TRD SPORT 4X4 DCSB CSM, 2004 TRD OR DCSB IRP
    100% correct….
     
    BLtheP[QUOTED] and Ricardo13x like this.

Products Discussed in

To Top