3.0 V6 Issues

[Benge Scott]

:maddest:Basically I'm p.o'd.

I have an 88' Runner that I've SAS'd with electric lockers front and rear, rock sliders, tubed bumber ala All-Pro, custom tubed roof rack, a rebuilt tranny (thanks Marlin, its running great), a rebuilt 3.0 V6 with about 35K miles since overhaul and I've just blown a headgasket, FOR THE THIRD TIME!  Toyota fixed it the first time, I had the engine rebuilt the second (~270k miles) and now I'm 800 miles from the guy who rebuilt the engine with no chance of getting him to fix it.

I want to keep the truck as it's been a kick on the trails so here are my options as I see them.  1) Do a head gasket job, which by the way doesn't amuse me.  2) Sue the mechanic who overhauled the engine, but he now has cancer and I'm 800 miles away.  It just wouldn't be nice.  3) Toss the lowsy 3.0 V6 and swap in a different motor, e.g. turbo I6, Buick V6, etc. which now that I've moved out of cali and into Oregon smog is not an issue.  I would like to improve highway driveability (accelleration, towing capacity, milage) while giving me good low end torque for the rocks.  I'm really tired of the lack of power in the 3.0 V6.  A dualcase was in my immediate future but  now I'm stairing at an engine dang it!

I'm pretty handy with tools though welding is my biggest weakness as I'm welder poor.  Fabing stuff isn't that big of a deal for me though.  Let me also say that this is my daily driver and I put a lot of miles on the rig ~ 25K a year.

So, what does this illustrious body of mechanics and oil-can philosophers suggest I do.  Sky's the limit but do be somewhat practical as I don't want to have a lot of down time nor hemorage my bank account.

[79coyotefrg]

i dont know how easy the swap would be but i would try for a 3.4 or supra befor i went chevy

but you say, dependability,torque,highway getty up
 just might be you need to talk to brandon and do the 5.0 mustang i wonder how these new  mini V-8's are,  like the ford 4.6

[79coyotefrg]

or
http://www.doaracingengines.com/v6.html

[dan_b]

I've got the 3.4 in my '86. Been driving it for about three years. Its supercharged and runs my 35's on a grade in 5'th gear. Torque and fuel milage is exelent. You rig having the 3.0 allready would be a good canidate. your trans will bolt up and i'm sure the eng. mounts will be in the right spot.
I definetly  recomend it
DAN

[Benge Scott]

Dan,  are you positive about my V6 tranny bolting directly up to a 3.4L?  I've got a lead on a 3.4 for about $1700 as a long block and am checking on how much they want for all the other associated goodies.  I've also heard that even the 3.4 was plagued with headgasket problems.  Do you know much about what's going on?  I like the idea also of the supercharger but how much heighth does it add to the engine and will I have to hog out a hole in my hood?  Thanks for your inputs.

~ben

[84runner]

Did you check o a recall about the head gaskets cause I kow Toyota had them on the V-6.  And you didn't have to be the original owner cause they document it by vin#.  Just an idea

[Benge Scott]

Yep, see the first paragraph of my original post - I've already played that card.  Thanks though.

[79coyotefrg]

the 4runners i have seen locally with the supercharger have a hood scoop,   about 2 inches hi and about 8 or 9 wide

[dan_b]

The first two year of the 3.4 had a head gasket problem. After that there have been no problems.
Yes, you can use your 3.0 manual trans. Use the clutch for the 3.4 ane the T/O
bearing for the 3.0.  Bolt patern on the trans are the same.
Yes, you will have to modify your hood. Unless you believe in body lifts. I dont so
I cut a hole in the stock hood and inlayed a fiberglass cawl scoop.
Let me know if I can offer more info.
DAN

[84runner]

when toyota fixed your problem did they just do a head job or replace the motor? Cause in some cases they replaced moters in the vehicles, so who knows if u want to persue it.

[BigMike]

The problem with the 3VZ-E is that it only produces 47 HP / Liter.

That's almost as bad as American crap engines of that day, like the 5.0L Mustang engine with only 45 HP / Liter.
But of course not to say the 5.0 is a bad engine (*cough* *choke*) because we all know its got good torque and its heavy I mean, whoops (props for Brandon and Project Mo-Power )

Newer engines are definately better. The 3.4 Taco engine is 56 HP / Liter, well just look at the V8 in the Lexus GS400, 4.0 L and 300 HP = 75 HP / Liter, stock 300k+ mile reliable. That's sweet.

HA! The stock C5 Corvette only makes 61 HP / Liter hahahahaha piece of crap ahhahaha


BigMike

[Benge Scott]

Ok Dan, I done it.  I have a 3.4L sitting in my shop and now comes the noodle scratching phase.  The engine came out of a '99 runner and the first thing I noticed is that the exhaust Y's together on the right side of the engine versus the left on my '88.  I've been looking at various header options but there doesn't seem to be much for the '99 engine.   Would a header for the 96-98 3.4L work on the '99?  My guess is that they would but I'm not sure on this one.  

The engine had already been pulled from the vehicle and most of the accessories stripped though I was able to piece them back together and have what I think are the big chunks.  I'm missing the airbox with the airflow sensor and since I didn't get to see the engine in the vehicle before it was pulled I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for.   It seems that Toyota changed things around a bit between the introduction of the 3.4L and the '99 so its unclear to me that anything older than a '99 would work with the harness and ECU I have.

How much of the smog stuff do I need to keep and what's the minimum required to get the engine running smoothly?  As I'm up in Oregon, the smog deal is a little less of a concern but I know the ECU requires some of the gadgets to keep things going.  
Thanks,  Benge

[dan_b]

Congrats.  I think its the best choice.
I used the stock manifolds---because "we" (us at Toyota) don't ever see problem with them. They don't warp or crack.  I cut the flanges off the cross over pipe and took them along with the truck-(with the motor, trans, drive shafts, ect. ) to the exahust shop. they fabricated a cross over that dumps on the left side. It look really good. This shop knew what they were doing.

There are some changes in years and bodys. Some 4-runners are different then Tacomas then T-100s. The air box did'nt fit in my '86, it was too tall. Had to use a Intake kit, like K&N. Find just the air flow meter it self. Those are all the same except the first couple of years. So any 3.4  '98 and newer is fine.
The  evap. canisters are in different places. All depends  on your model.
GET THE VIN # FOR THAT RUNNER, when looking for parts the dealer can tell you wher they are. For ex. the canister can be in the engine comp. on the drivers side, or, uner the body behind the rear axle.
You will need the O2 sensors and the cat if you can get it.
There is realy very little smog equ. on that motor. Unlike the 3.0 .
Use the clutch and starter for the 3.4, but use the T/O bearing for the trans that will be used. Hope this helps, let me know if I can help more.
Dan