1990 4runner Build (3RZ Swap)

[82rustbeast]

I saw you today while you were driving down Palmetto, Runners lookin damn good. The motor from Putney's, was it the basic $1900 one?

[lilbuddy]

I saw you today while you were driving down Palmetto, Runners lookin damn good. The motor from Putney's, was it the basic $1900 one?

Thanks g.

I just got the bottom end done. All new bearings and gaskets pistons and bored over. I used my old head. He shaved the block/timing cover and the head so theyre completely flat. I also got a full motor gasket kit from him. It was like $800 or so for all of that. Its pretty legit. I hit rev limiter all the time in that bastatrd (mostly just to be a richard and show off) and it hasnt skipped a beat. I told Putney how its at high RPM's all the time and he said "good, you wont blow it up any time soon"

[82rustbeast]

Did you assemble it yourself?

I got a quote from him to rebuild my block ready to drop my head on for $1000.

Jim really looks like he knows what the hell he's doing

[brookspage]

dude i just want to say that looking at your runner makes me wish i could build my 96, any ways bad ass rig keep them pics coming

[lilbuddy]

He assembled the bottom end and timing chain...thats it. I did everything else myself

[Steve97TJ]

Updates on this bia? You got the front linked yet?

[lilbuddy]

Nothing really new with it. On the way to fordyce a few weeks ago my tranny grenaded again so I got it towed back to hick, swapped in the third one, and still rocked it that weekend.

Just been doing minor things here and there to it. Got a 5/16" balanced driveline and I can now drive 80 no problem.

No plans for links anytime soon. The leaf springs are still holding strong. All thati really want is new shocks and a nce exhaust on it. Other then that it's completely dialed and does everything I want it to.

[lilbuddy]

Well... Last Fordyce trip was a success but failure.

Another transmission blew up, Broke one of the studs on my 60 that hold the spring plate down (that was Caterpillar grade all thread), motor mounts chundered, a hub isnt working, my friend puked all over my driver seat, and a couple other minor things.

Not entirely sure why my transmissions keep blowing up but it blows. Toyota drivetrain sucks as far as I am concerned. Still was able to drive it home with it being clapped out but had to flat tow it the last mile or so.

Gotta love wheelin.

EDIT: One of these days I will post up some current photos of it.

[83yota]

Hey man i just read through your build. sick man. one question... Maybe you answered it, but... when you did the SAS with the toy axles did you use the sky offroad full width kit or the toy sas? any tips on the full width, just started mine on a 90

[lilbuddy]

Hey man i just read through your build. sick man. one question... Maybe you answered it, but... when you did the SAS with the toy axles did you use the sky offroad full width kit or the toy sas? any tips on the full width, just started mine on a 90

When I did the SAS with the toy axles using a full width kit? sorry your question is kind of confusing to me.

When I first did the SAS with the toyota axles I used a hanger that I made. When I did the toy axles to the 1-ton swap I used the same hanger but cut it up and just got a new piece of material to weld on the spring hangers themself to the new material and then onto the frame. When I put the whole front hanger onto the frame I didnt gusset it at all and the weight of the dana 60 ripped it off the frame. I then cut out part of the original frame and then made my own front part of the frame out of thicker material and then welded the hanger (redone, again) onto that.

If you are planning on running anything bigger than a toyota axle and planning on running larger than a 37" tire I definitely recommend gusseting the frame a lot. I now have two gussets on the back of the hanger that go up to the original frame. Im running 40" MT/Rs with a D60 and its held up to a lot of abuse and no cracks or anything like that...

No real tips on the SAS at all. If I ever do it again I am not even going to bother using the stock frame material from the front of the body mounts forward. I will just make my own frame from the vin number all the way up. That way you wont have to deal with cutting all the brackets and grinding it to look nice. Not only that you can mount it up higher, make burly motor mounts, put the motor as high as you want, be able to have a low height and all sorts of stuff. Since I didnt do that this time my runner is pretty low for 40's but i only have like 1.5" of up travel.

For the rear if you plan on running leaf springs just cut out everything that has to deal with the stock link brackets and everything. I didnt really cut much out when I ran the toy rear but when i took out everything and then did the 60 I cut out as much as I could (minus the brace that goes across and holds the gas tank on) and then made my own crossmember that also acts as my shock "tower"

Ask away if you have any more questions!

[83yota]

sorry about the confusion. you answered my question. I thought you used the sky kit and did not know if you bought the full width kit or the toy sas kit. but you built your own so it dont matter. thanks i will ask if i come up with something.

[Steve97TJ]

Updates man. I get on here every so often and always look for your build.

[builttoabuse]

Pics from tonights progress

so jelous ive been wanting to do this forever!

[lilbuddy]

Out of all the crap I have talked about never doing a 3rz swap.... im going to get one. I love my rebuilt 22re but its just too gutless for the weight of my rig. I know that a 3rz isnt much more but for how cheap I am getting it, its really too hard to pass up.

Id rather not spend the time/hassle of swappign in a new motor, however, this one is ready to swap right in. Its already sitting in a 91 toyota so I just have to splice in the needed wires to make it run and boom. I will have to do a lot of work to get it smog legal, but it will be fine, for now.

I really want a 5.3 but that wont be coming soon. I just cant justify spending the money to put in a 5.3 and still have toyota cases behind it. Thats just asking for disaster. If I were to do a 5.3 id definitely want an atlas.

[Dingman.]

Welcome to the motor swap club.


I sometimes wish i wasn't in it.  lol

[kiyul4130]

I really want a 5.3 but that wont be coming soon. I just cant justify spending the money to put in a 5.3 and still have toyota cases behind it. Thats just asking for disaster. If I were to do a 5.3 id definitely want an atlas.

wouldnt we all. that setup is definitely a pay to play choice, especially if your going for smog legal.

[88Rokyoat]

Are you selling your old motor? Let me know if u do.

[sabatoa1]

This is a nice build, but I would not put in the 3.0 you will hate it save your money and buy the motor you really want. I have a 7mge in mine and love it just wish I would have went with a motor that was alittle shorter, so I could run a/c. NICE BUILD!!!

[redrocket93]

This is a nice build, but I would not put in the 3.0 you will hate it save your money and buy the motor you really want. I have a 7mge in mine and love it just wish I would have went with a motor that was alittle shorter, so I could run a/c. NICE BUILD!!!

Your'e thinking of a 3vz 3.0 V6. He's doing a 3rz swap, which is a 2.7L 4cyl.

[superyota]

Out of all the crap I have talked about never doing a 3rz swap.... im going to get one. I love my rebuilt 22re but its just too gutless for the weight of my rig. I know that a 3rz isnt much more but for how cheap I am getting it, its really too hard to pass up.

Id rather not spend the time/hassle of swappign in a new motor, however, this one is ready to swap right in. Its already sitting in a 91 toyota so I just have to splice in the needed wires to make it run and boom. I will have to do a lot of work to get it smog legal, but it will be fine, for now.

I really want a 5.3 but that wont be coming soon. I just cant justify spending the money to put in a 5.3 and still have toyota cases behind it. Thats just asking for disaster. If I were to do a 5.3 id definitely want an atlas.

do a 5.3!  I'll get hook you up with a low mileage 5.3 with harness and ecu for dirt cheap. 

[sabatoa1]

Ya, I missed that but he isn't going to like either one so!!! I would save and do the 5.3 you know that you want it more, and superyota is offering a great deal.

[boggerunner]

ive got a 3rz/w56/duals w/4.7's in my 90 4runner and it has platy of power around town and to go 95 down the interstate.  it has 35's with 4.88s and a spool in the rear too.  you will love the 3rz swap.

[Thomas P]

Damn interested in this swap, I have always thought about this, or a 4.3 vortec like I have in my work yota....... DO WORK!!

[lilbuddy]

ive got a 3rz/w56/duals w/4.7's in my 90 4runner and it has platy of power around town and to go 95 down the interstate.  it has 35's with 4.88s and a spool in the rear too.  you will love the 3rz swap.

I have at least a thousand pounds on you though. 40s with 17" steelies and 1tons.

Im hoping it will be worth it. TO an extent anyway. I know its still going to be gutless. I just hope its a little less gutless. Granted it was a single cab taco, i was able to go 75 up a grade that i could only hit at about 50 in my runner. Im hoping i could at least hit 60 with a 3rz

[Dingman.]

Thats a lot of work for a 10mph difference.   

[superyota]

go with a 5.3 and be light on the skinny pedal 

[IronClad]

do it right the first time imo. V8 all the way

[GONZO97]

Id go V8 as well anything else will be gutless ask me how i know

[superyota]

do it right the first time imo. V8 all the way

x2

[superyota]

anything with tons and 40s needs to have a v8.