Topic: swap options for a noob!

[altron32]

first time posting here, been lurking for years. joined pirate when i first got my yota. figured this would be the best place to ask some questions about motor swap options for my truck

93' xcab long bed
sas'd with 35" mtrk's
smooth run 3.0v6
stock auto a340h
4.30 gears, elocker in back

truck has built rear bumper, slidders, and soon a front winch bumper, i plan on putting some tube over the cab this next winter.

so my questions, 2rz, 3rz or just go 3.4? not trying to start a whats better thread, just not sure whats best to power this vary heavy rig, just went to scraper yeasterday, weighed in at 4100lbs with me and 1/4 tank gas.

the 3.0 i have runs great, but with out anything in it i struggle to cruse at 60-65mph on flat ground. now i know i need better gears, 4.88's in the future.

now price wise the 2rz is cheap around here, 600-1000$ with low miles, 3rz's are double that price, and 3.4's are about the same as a 3rz.

i plan on swaping to a a340f i have soon with dual stock gear cases and 23spline inputs. hoping that will help some with my crusing issue, getting rid of the chain case robbing power.

so flame on and share all your knowledge to this noob

[jimbo74]

I would go with a 3.4

[RCKSQRL]

I'm a huge 4cy fan and an looking forward to my 3rz swap however for the price I agree. 3.4 may be better for you.


Sent from magic wish granting phone

[3toys]

3.4 would be a helluva lot easier swap.  Near bolt in...

[Snowtoy]

Your first step should be to swap the gears from 4.30's to 5.29's, otherwise you wont be happy with whatever engine you swap in.  The 5.29's will still be one gear set less than you need for the automatic(5.29's and 35's is the 5-spd set-up), but that is the tallest you can run without running into strength issues.

After the gear swap you will have a better idea of what the 3.0 will give you power wise.  If you still want/need to do a swap, the 3.4 5vze should be the engine of choice.  It will be more of a bolt in swap, and with ORS  (offroadsolutions) up and running again, the wiring will be basically painless.

If your budget wont cover the engine swap, swapping the auto for a 5-spd will help with the performance and fuel economy, the automatic behind the older engines just sucks up what power they have.

[altron32 [OP]]

thanks for the incite guys, i was starting to lean more towards the 3.4 being that it will be the easiest swap. budget isn't an issue, but $ dont grow on trees. i know i need gears but i used what i had when i did my sas swap. getting rid of the auto will never happen, my knee just cant take anymore clutch driving these days, i dd a subaru legacy 5mt, and by friday my knee hates me. plus the wife likes the auto.

ive been doing alot of research here and on other sites on 3rz and 3.4 swaps getting an idea of what all is needed for different gen trucks, since i plan on helping my brother do a 3rz swap into his 81' soon, but yes the 3.4 seems easy with what i got.

called a local guy i got my a340f from, 1400$ for a complete swap with 148k on it, hear it before pulling out. seems to be a good deal, wreaking yards want 1200-1800$ for just the motors.

[StrangeR4WD]

Hi, you have the almost the same truck like I have. Mines is a 89 x-cab, 3.0l, but 5 spd. Yours a long bed with x cab? wow. gotta see a pic. Though I think you should check out and consider a 7mgte if you want power without a lot of pushing. Depends where you live, smog might be issues..Since I hate the 3vz how it performs for 60+mph this is why I am considering the 7mgte because it is proven and as strong as v8s, gas is more/less of a v8(doesn't matter to me, 3.0l eats like a v8) and just a tab extra work than any 3.4 or 3rz swap since wiring. If you want to stay with 3rz or 3.4l then I say it should be good if you are not towing lots of load and just for wheeling or DD. I tow pretty heavy loads at times and use my truck for almost anything that's why I need power. However a tip: if you get a 3.4l, get a motor from a 97up , a pre 96 3.4l don't have EGR so it will be a pain for smog.

[altron32 [OP]]

smog is not an issue, my rigs are licensed in a none emissioned city. 3.4 is what i plan on doing since its such a straight forward swap, ive driven my brothers 99' runner around and it gets up and goes great with all that weight(fully loaded sr5).

a pic for fun, my boy loves going wheeling, and no he never rides in the back

[Sparkplug]

Id go 2 or 3rz, the 3.4 drinks gas like a v8 IMO

[John Doe]

I went with a 3.4 for the added power over the 3rz. I am in the middle of replacing my tired old 22re with a 3.4 right now.

The 1 thing I will say is find a complete vehicle and pull everything you might need. It is the little thing down the road that will start do drive you crazy and possibly start to strain the bank. As far as fuel economy, I never got the best mileage with my 22re so I doubt I'll complain about the new v6 consuming fuel.

[toyotajoe35]

Go with the 1uz v8 from the lexus.

[Dingman.]

I went with a 3.4l when my 3.0l died.  But you say you have a good running 3.0l, if you are set on swapping the motor i would gather what you need and just run that 3.0l till it blows up. 

If I were you I would regear first just like snow toy recommended. See how you like it then.  I will tell you, even with the 3.4l I am was not super happy when I had stock gears in the axle. Thinking back when I had a 3.0l I would bump the timing a little above spec, I believe that made a little differnce.  My buddy has headers on his 3.0l and it cruises along on the highway just fine with stock gears and 37's.

[2manytoys]

I'm almost done with a 22RE to 3.4 swap. I traded my old broken down Suburban straight across for a rolled 99 4Runner with 125xxx miles. Parting out the donor is paying for the swap.

I also saved everything I could think of for the swap. Used the A/c amplifier, exhaust, wiring, brackets, bolts. Tons of little stuff that helps you fab up what you need instead of have to scrounge through the bone yards.

My point is getting a complete vehicle will save you time and money.

By the way, I sold the radiator today to a guy that put in a 1UZ Lexus in his 4Runner in place of the 3RZ. He loves it.

[tyes]

Go with the 1uz v8 from the lexus.

funny, im doing that swap now! Why move from small to medium, then medium to large, when you can go extra large. lol..