Need some ideas ...

[Bamfster]

Let me preface this with .... I haven't had a lot of time to research this

I came across a toyota 4runner with a butt load of miles. It needs an engine, but the original owner has taken great care of it. It's immaculate with very, very minor typical rust. I can get it for a song .... he doesn't even want scrap value from me.

Question: anyone know how easy/hard it is to swap a SBC into these things? How about pitfalls? Companies that specialize in this swap?

I see a hotrod trail runner .... something to play around with in the snow ....

[SpiderGearsMan]

the stock sohc motor sucks

popular swap

http://www.northwestoffroad.com/parts/engineswap.php

[Barry Donovan]

cool site..
conversion.

the 4.3 is a good candidate, the inline is a wobbler, they designed around that wobble.

a v8 is too much..rice steel is ricer steel, is ricer steel is ricer steel.

chase it around in circles..the same result...do it again and its insanity.

little carb, and 4.3..



a ricer steel reminder:
the toyota fore runner front strut is barely enough for an exact fit on the rear of my 87 subaru with a 2000 pound total weight.

wheres the steel? its not there. it is a japanese illusion.

[milner351]

Back in the day when testing competitors at Honda - we blew both front struts out of the forerunner- exploded - running on the same rutt test roads the honda, ford, chevy, and jeep all ran across.... with no blown shocks.

I don't think I'd hang the weight of an iron V8 in the front of a toyota without some frame strengthening / additional cross members and a set of after market dampers - like bilsteins.

in contrast - a friends isuzu pick up had the heaviest full box frame full of cross members I'd ever seen in a mini pick up....

[STINEY]

Any idea of what the rough weight of the current 4runner engine is?

In my experience, the difference often amounts to the same as a couple of bags of dog food, or one 10-year old, etc. Not so much in that perspective. But it depends on the current engine weight really....

[min301]

Any idea of what the rough weight of the current 4runner engine is?

In my experience, the difference often amounts to the same as a couple of bags of dog food, or one 10-year old, etc. Not so much in that perspective. But it depends on the current engine weight really....

Which? The v-6 or the v-8?

[Bamfster]

the stock sohc motor sucks

popular swap
http://www.northwestoffroad.com/parts/engineswap.php

No prices on that site, and you know what they say? If you have to ask, you can't afford it! Pokin' around on some toyota forums, it looks like lowend is around $2700 for a full conversion "kit".

[Bamfster]

Which? The v-6 or the v-8?

The runner in question has a 22R in it Bill.

[JOES66FURY]

maybe just replace the enige in it and turn for a profit?

[milner351]

I was looking up some prices on Norther auto parts for rebuild kits - they had lots of 22R stuff that seemed pretty affordable.

Maybe best to just rebuild what's there?

[DanStokes]

I've had SUPER success with Colorado Japanese Engines. Amazingly, they're in Colorado and sell Japanese engines. They get those low-mileage engines from Japan that you hear about and I've done a bunch of them. BTW - there's also a company in San Antonio, TX that deals in these but I don't have their name (bro used 'em with great success). This sounds like an EXCELLENT candidate to install a fresh used engine and turn for a profit - that's exactly what I'd do if this fell in my lap. Detail it out and rehome it!

Dan

[min301]

I've had SUPER success with Colorado Japanese Engines. Amazingly, they're in Colorado and sell Japanese engines. They get those low-mileage engines from Japan that you hear about and I've done a bunch of them. BTW - there's also a company in San Antonio, TX that deals in these but I don't have their name (bro used 'em with great success). This sounds like an EXCELLENT candidate to install a fresh used engine and turn for a profit - that's exactly what I'd do if this fell in my lap. Detail it out and rehome it!

Dan

I've used them with excellent results. The engines in question usually have about 30k on em.

[SuperBuickGuy]

I know this will sound odd coming from me - but I'd put another 22R back in. There are headers and all manner of speed parts for them - if it was the worthless, headgasket blowing V6, it'd be another advice (involves C4).

I had a 89 SR5 truck with the 22R, it was peppy, no top end, but absolutely bulletproof.

If you have to go bigger, Buick V6s are the ticket. I had a friend who did V8s in his, they can fit, but require a lot of vaseline.

[SpiderGearsMan]

the timing chain used to flop around and saw through the timing cover on 22r /
...

[Bamfster]

The more i think and research it .... the more i think I'd rather flip it if anything. A 289/302 would be a better fit according to the myriad of toyota forums, but even then it's more $$$ than I'd be willing spend.