Engine swap options for 1983 pickup

The best is about any 22R. ;D

With a welder and a torch, some fabrication skills and
mechanical/electrical knowledge, you can install anything you want.

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Toyota MDT Tech??

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greg,
i stuffed a 454 big block into an '81 toyota pickup so the 3.0 conversion
should be pretty simple.

that said, i think a 3.0 conversion would cost you a lot more than a v8
conversion. for starters, every salvage yard ive talked to wants at least
$2,000 for a 3.0 and that doesnt include the harness, the ecu, or any of the
accessories. also, go ahead and figure in the cost of replacing the head
gaskets. every 3.0 i know of has to have the head gaskets done sooner or
later. in fact, i just replaced the head gaskets on my 3.0 crate engine
with less than 35k miles.

im preparing to put a chevy 327 v8 in my '88 4 runner and i am selling my
3.0 for $1,300. i will be selling it so cheap because it needs to have the
valves adjusted professionally but at $1,300 its still a good deal
considering there is less than 35k miles on it. the entire conversion will
cost me less than $1500 (and that includes rebuilding the 327 AND rebuilding
the 700r4 transmission) so ill nearly break even after selling the 3.0. id
strongly recommend considering a v8 conversion or a 4.3 vortech gm v6
conversion. i prefer the 4.3 vortech over the 3.0 toyota for a conversion
because you can buy them in salvage for $800 - $1000.

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Nathan W. Collier

http://StreetPony.com/forum
Mustang Discussion Board

for clarification, that price is with me doing all the labor myself.

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Nathan W. Collier

http://StreetPony.com/forum
Mustang Discussion Board

Any idea what kind of mileage a conversion like this gets?

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a properly tuned 327 driven sensibly should get about 16mpg + in a 4 runner.
there are countless variables that can affect mileage (tire size, carb size,
driving habits, etc) but thats a rough working estimate. ill be doing a
detailed installation including pictures and video for my new toyota website
to be announced soon.

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Nathan W. Collier

http://StreetPony.com/forum
Mustang Discussion Board

Thanks, Nathan. How would you compare/contrast the reliability of the
4.3 GM v6 (without Vortech supercharger) to the Toyota 3.0 V6?

I read what I could find on the 4.3 Vortech GM V6, and it sounds like
I wouldn't want a supercharger, as the pickup has a motorhome* built
on it, so the supercharger would be engaged too much and get too hot,
if I understand correctly.

All else being equal, which I realize it never is, if the original
Toyota 4-cylinder gets about 19mpg and the Toyota 3.0 V6 would get
about 15mpg, about how many mpg would you guess the 3.4 GM V6 would
get, without supercharger?

Thanks,

Greg

*Upgraded to heavier-duty, non-breaking rear axle.

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im a little biased on that subject and dont know if i could give you a fair
answer. i really love toyotas and i think that the 22r/22re is the most
bulletproof engine ever built, but ill never own another 3.0 v6. right or
wrong, im convinced that its just a matter of time before the head gaskets
are gonna blow on the 3.0 leaving you on the shoulder waiting on a tow
truck. if given the choice of the 3.0 or the 4.3, the 4.3 wins hands down.
its not even close.

? a supercharger is engaged 100% of the time anyway, i dont see why it
would cause you a problem. i think if you opt. for an older 4.3 (89/90ish)
it will be more forced induction friendly (due to its slightly lower
compression) and shouldnt cause you any problems. if i were doing what
youre doing though, considering the load that the truck is always under, i
would opt for a v8 conversion.

with the added wind resistance of a motorhome body, i would GUESS that the
4.3 should get around 15ish. strangely enough, id bet money that the v8
would get the same (if not better) mileage than the 6 because it doesnt have
to work hard to pull the load.

how soon do you expect to be doing a conversion? i hope to start mine
sometime after christmas and i intend on having pictures, video, and even
live video feeds of the conversion available on my toyota website
http://4x4Runner.com . if you need info/pictures sooner than that, try
http://4x4Runner.com where they install a
4.3 chevy into a toyota truck.

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Nathan W. Collier

http://4x4Runner.com
Mustang Discussion Board

Thanks, Nathan. It sounds like both the 4.3 V6 and the 327 V8 would be
good choices and both probably more reliable than the Toyota 3.0 V6.

What about Toyota's 3.4, 190HP V6? (1995 Toyota Tacoma and others).
Any thoughts on it's reliability and fuel efficiency compared to the
others? Does it have the same head gasket problem as the 3.0?

I'm not sure when, and I won't be doing it myself. I'm just trying to
get a handle on what the reasonable options are.

I've also thought about Toyota's 2.7L, 150HP 4cyl. I've driven a
(150HP) V6 Toyota motorhome of similar length, and the power was
adequate. Unfortunately it's hard to find the floorplan I like in a
V6.

Good luck on your project, and BTW thanks for starting the
4x4Runner.com web forum, I'm sure it will be very popular!

Greg

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im sure there are _many_ out there that swear by the 3.0 v6 and im glad
theyve had good luck with them. for me though, id sacrifice the horsepower
and run a 22re before ill ever go back to the 3.0.

sorry, i really dont have any experience with the 3.4. my brothers wife has
one in her '02 double cab tacoma and they love it, but theyve only got 5k on
the odometer so it hasnt had time to prove itself. id certainly hope that
toyota learned from the 3.0, and corrected whatever it is that causes the
head gaskets to go out but i cant speak with any authority on it.

at some point im going to be getting an '03 double cab trd tacoma and ill
probably be getting the 4 cylinder in it just for the reliability. the
feeling of security is worth far more to me than a few horsepower. besides,
after the warranty expires on that im sure it will get a v8 upgrade as well.
:-)

many thanks! im going to take my time and build it right. when im done ill
probably turn around and sell it at a loss just to pick up another project
truck and start all over again. :-)

i really appreciate that greg! im looking forward to building an online
community of friends that enjoy toyota motorsports, but so far there is only
one other member. lol. im going to be offering much more tech info as time
allows but right now its just to cold to get out there turning wrenches.
anyway, i hope to see ya there sometime.

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Nathan W. Collier
http://4x4Runner.com