3fe engine swap

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abqcruiser

abqcruiser

10 Year
Joined
Apr 1, 2013
Threads
18
Messages
887
Location
Albuquerque, NM
I was at our local U-Pull and Pay today looking for bucket seats for my build and came across two LandCruisers, a 88 and a 92. Both had fully intact engines and manifolds. I'm no where near thinking about converting to a 3fe engine but these don't come around here very often. So my question is, is it worth grabbing one, which one?, and mothballing it for later. I was planning on going back for the power steering assembly anyway. Any comments would be helpful.

Thanks, Mark
 
I have no idea how many miles are on the engines, the speedometers have been pulled. I assumed that the engine would have to torn down and rebuilt anyway. I think it would be around $250-$300 for the engine. I have no idea how much a rebuild would set me back. Another option that I have heard of, is people putting a 3fe head on a 2f block but I was also told that it wouldn't work on my 77 engine because of the compatibility of the pistons with a 3fe head. Is that right?
 
You can bore the '77 block and run flat top pistons to adapt to the 3FE head, keeping the lower end of the 2F, but gaining FE.

Increased compression and a stouter lower end, but you're gonna need long arms....

Personally, and I'm considering this possibility myself, if opting FE and willing to deal with the intricacies, I think the 1FZ is a better, overlooked option.

It's been done and documented in a Pig, parts are readily available, and is the pinnacle of Toyota's I-6 development.

Again, you'll need long arms....

On another note. Should you opt for a 3FE, I'll offer up new lifters and pushrods that have been cryo'd in the spirit of Cruiser karma, since it's not looking good for recouping the money spent on, an error on my part, since I chose to retain the OE block and ordered in error.
 
Delancy, In your opinion, if I were to purchase the 3fe, how much would a complete rebuild of that engine run me? Also, which would be the better year, the 88 or 92? I would try to do as much of the rebuild as I could myself, short of any machine shop work.
 
Pistons, rings, con rods, con rod and main bearings ~$1,000.00

OS valves, valve springs, retainers, etc. ~$120.00

Lifters and pushrods Free. :)

Gaskets ~$400.00

Machine work, including head, balancing, polishing, plugs, cleaning, ready to assemble ~$2,000.00

I'd budget $4k. I don't know what injector service costs, but should be included, along with attention to manifolds.

For the same, you could keep the OE block and build a 2FE with late internals for better performance, overall, or find a good used 1FZ for the same as the used 3FE and build it similarly.

Now you know why it's common to see SBC crate motors dropped in.

I think the 1FZ is the better option. Right core and you won't need to touch the bottom end.

I'm looking at a 1FZ, H151, and HF1A, which is going to cost a fortune, but makes more sense than dumping $5-7k in an F, 3 speed, and TC rebuilding, at face value. There are H55/ split case options that would do fine for a non-wheeler, as reading has eluded.

Of course, the Chebby crowd feels similarly....but I'll have no party to. Hahaha.

(Ron would be a good one to ask the expense of SBC swap, since he went about it right)

Research 2 FE and see what you think. It's similar to dropping an F head on a 2F, as far as compression and grunt are concerned.
 
Thanks for the input. At this point I'm leaning towards pulling the 3f head and manifolds and shelving them for a later date. I think I could walk out of there for less than a $100.00. Also, I'll be interested in what you come up with for yours as I want to stay Toyota as well.
 
abqcruiser said:
Thanks for the input. At this point I'm leaning towards pulling the 3f head and manifolds and shelving them for a later date. I think I could walk out of there for less than a $100.00. Also, I'll be interested in what you come up with for yours as I want to stay Toyota as well.
Click to expand...

Think that's your best bet.....

Bore the OE block with late 2F OS pistons (I have a good source. :) ) keep the crank, with late OE rods and mains, all balanced and cryo'd if you subscribe to the powderpig's methodology.

3FE heads and manifolds.

You can't find OE dome tops, custom forged are expensive, and the block doesn't care which of the two are in it, it's the head that does.

With the 3FE head, essentially, you wind up with a "stroked" motor, but someone more fluent on decking, milling, and squish would be a better resource to explain. ( I'm merely regurgitating.)

My sanity has been established, but if new OE 3FE heads were available, I'd opt that route, although I don't know the story on their similarities to the late 2 F heads, as far as lifespan is concerned.

Other option would be to find a late 2F head, to keep it all simple.

I'd suggest discussing with Robbie. He knows his chit and could handle the machining easily.
 
Well I bit the bullet and pulled the 3fe head, manifolds and all other possible pieces that I might need off the 88 fj62. I was way off my estimate on cost, more than double what I figured. They really nickeled and dimed me on every little part. Another learning experience I guess.

Chris, thanks again for the info. I started reading up on the 2fe conversions here on mudd. There is a lot of good information to be had. I just wish my brain was big enough to take it all in.
 
I remember that day we all helped you get the engine in. Look how young Mateo looks!

3FE.webp
 
Thanks for the pic Tucker. I did manage to grab the VSV. Now I just need to find an ECU. Cruiserparts is calling it an EFI computer. Same thing? They want $100.00 for it. Other places want $350.00 and up. Any thoughts?

Thanks, Mark
 
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