3.4 conversion

[Mark m.]

Looking for info from someone who has done this. I have a 89 toy 4x4 with a  3.0V6 and I'm going to be installing a 97 tacoma 3.4 Both trucks are 5sp. Need info on which flywheel , clutch , motor mounts , fuel lines , ETC.  Do I need a body lift so the hood clears the moter ? Any help would be great. Thank you.

[SEAN_at_TLT]

Hi Mark,
We are actually finishing up swapping, believe it or not a '97 3.4 motor into an '89 5spd 3.0 4x4 4Runner. It is really fairly simple. The key is to have everything on hand, then it can be done in a long weekend. Otherwise you can get hung up waiting on one little thing. To specifically answer your questions,

Motor Mounts: 3.0
Flywheel: 3.4
Clutch: 3.4
Fuel Lines: Flex Line Adapter from ORS (or custom made)
Body lift: a 2" body lift will allow ample clearance but you can also cut a hole in the hood or get a fiberglass bulge/scoop to graft onto your hood or just get a full fiberglass hood that has more clearance. I believe http://www.toyotafiberglass.com is working on a bulge hood for 3.4 swaps. We are cutting the hood out for now and can offer a downloadable template in .eps format very soon.

I'm sure you know that Off-Road Solutions offers "complete swap kits" and I'm sure you also know that they seem kinda pricey at $1,600. What you may not know is that the kit includes OEM Toyota parts including,

• Clutch
• Sparkplugs
• Oil Filter
• Radiator Hoses
• Vacuum lines
• misc other parts

and it also includes better than OEM quality custom

• HP PS line (with AN fittings)
• Sheet-metal Battery Tray (fits perfect)
• everything else needed to complete the swap (zip ties, brackets, etc)

If you want to source all of these parts yourself and/or reuse whatever you can from the donor motor, you can simply buy the conversion wiring harness for $650 which adapts the 3.4 engine harness to your trucks existing wiring. You do need the 3.4 ECU also of course.

Or if you are comfortable (and have time) with fairly involved electrical work, make your own harness and keep it really cheap!

We bought our '89 with 89K miles, a blown head gasket but otherwise good condition for $900 with intentions of swapping the 3.4 in. So we just got the ORS complete kit and wiring harness making for a slam dunk installation. By having new parts it also eliminates a lot of potential troubleshooting (headaches). The only thing holding us up is getting a custom cross-over made to let the exhaust run out the driver side like it's intended to on older trucks. You can route the exhaust out the passenger side but that will sacrifice ground clearance and risk damaging the exhaust. ORS is working on a custom cross-over as we speak. But any exhaust shop can make a nice custom one for a reasonable price.

I think that about covers it, if I think of anything else, I'll post it and if you have any more q's lemme know.

-Sean
Trails Less Traveled

[Mark m.]

Thanks alot Sean thats just the kind of info I'v been looking for. I have the complete 97 truck to get the parts from and I will be buying some stuff from ORS also. Thanks again.

[SEAN_at_TLT]

Thanks alot Sean thats just the kind of info I'v been looking for. I have the complete 97 truck to get the parts from and I will be buying some stuff from ORS also. Thanks again.

Mark,
I forgot to mention that you also need to use the oil pressure sender from the 3.0 (if you use the 3.4, it will fry the gauge) and you also need to modify the tach by soldering a 10k ohm resistor between to contacts otherwise it will read like 3,500rpm constantly.

I think I have some pics of the resistor modification, I'll try to find them and post them.

Oh yeah, we cut the hood last night, I will have a template soon. The hole is not that large and if you cut it nice it actually looks alright and keeps the CG low unlike a BL.

[Mark m.]

Any pics you have would be great.  Are you using the 3.0 radiator or the 3.4.  I just picked up a new TRD supercharger for it ! Do you know anything about the ECU upgrades some companys are selling.

[SEAN_at_TLT]

Here are the pics of the resistor soldered to the back of the tach circuit board. One of the pics is for your truck (85-89) and one is for the older trucks. I'm not sure which is which since I haven't done it to our tach yet but once you open it up you will be able to recognize one or the other. As far as the AC goes, there is an electrical problem there also that is currently being worked out by a member of another board as we speak, I will post any relevant info as soon as it becomes available.




I have a TRD SC in my '96 4Runner and it is awesome. It does occasionally ping in third gear but I just back off the gas immediately. I wouldn't mess with ECU upgrades but the fuel upgrades available from Underdog Racing are well worth the money. Their kit has been proven to be the best. I haven't done it to mine but I would if I had the money laying around or if I was really pushing the SC all the time.

[4runnerRob]

this is where im headed with this i have a '91 4runner with a 3.0 boat anchor with manual trans , i am searching for a manual trans 3.4L , i think i got most of it down i was just wondering about the fuel delivery , do i need to change the tanks ? or fuel pump? or will the 3.0 stuff work for my 3.4 and the exhaust i dont wanna pay 400 bucks for 3 flanges and 2 feet of exhaust (what do you recomend ) and whats this issue with the power steering line ?

[slabcs]

Wow, old thread!

For the crossover, you can make your own very easily using the factory crossover.  Just cut, flip, trim, and weld.  Here is a good writeup: http://www.yotatech.com/f160/build-your-own-3-4-crossover-pipe-138902/

The stock 3.0 fuel tank works fine for the swap, a little trick I used to make the engine line meet the body line is to loosen the banjo fitting on the engine, swivel it 90 degrees so it points toward the passenger side of the truck (where your factory body fuel line is) and retighten it.

The power steering line issue is the 3.0 trucks have a steering box and the 3.4 trucks have a rack and pinion.  The lines bend easily though and you can route them to the correct spots and secure them.

While you're checking out that crossover thread, yotatech has an entire 3.4 swap subforum with lots of good tech.  Everything you're about to do has been done before and documented!

[Dingman.]

i am searching for a manual trans 3.4L , i think i got most of it down i was just wondering about the fuel delivery , do i need to change the tanks ? or fuel pump?

I reused my 3.0L 5speed transmission with all of the 3.0L flywheel, clutch kit, etc...
I swapped my 3.0L oil pan to the 3.4L block, and bought new dipstick guides and such.  Not a problem.
I agree with slabcs  rotate that fuel line before you install the motor into the 4runner, it will make your life a little easier.
I made my own crossover as well, following that link.
I don't think i had any issues with power steering.
Didn't change anything regarding the fuel pump/tank.

[4runnerRob]

thanks guys , i appreciate the help and i posted on this thread cause im new to the forum and it says to look around and ask questions rather than start new threads at first