3RZ swap

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Joined
Sep 8, 2006
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Location
Elizabeth City, NC
Anyone have input on this? I know the mounts, oil pan, and wiring harness all need to be changed/modified, is it worth it?
 
There's a guy that has a 3RZ he's been trying to pawn off on me for a while. It's just sitting in his garage. I would say if you're going to do a swap to a totally different engine (something that's not even close to bolt in) I would def get something you want. The 3RZ isn't exactly a huge HP gain and it is a lot of work. Heck, if you're going to do all that why not a 1UZ or 2UZ. :D
 
I am a big fan of the 3rz motor. I like a torquey little 4 cyl. that has more torque than horsepower.

There has been a lot of people, as of late, that have gone this route. Check out marlin crawler's forum and search for "BigMikes" build thread. It will tell you all about what needs to be done...

I say go for it.
 
It all depends on what you're looking for.

Here's Mikey's truck versus a full competition F-Toy drag racing recently.
 
http://www.chilkatdesigns.com/ToyotaMotor.html

this place sells engine mounts and a very expensive oil pan, needed for IFS axels, that will allow a bolt in option, I think he sells an exhaust cross-over pip too. To me the hardest part is the engine wiring harness and ECU and even that does not scare me, just need the engine, harness and ECU. I'm not looking for speed just a bit more TQs, and a more modern OBDII ECU, DOC 4 valve engine, it's probably a bit better in the MPGs then the 22RE.
 
I dread the day I find a 3RZ in the local u-pull boneyard. The thought of taking a day to pull the engine. The thought of storing it in the garage until I'm ready to install. I hope I never find the engine because I'd pull it in a heart beat to replace my 22RE. And Marlin sells the bellhousing to mate to my R151F. Oh goody, no Tacos at the u-pull today. Ya, there is no way I'd pass up a 3RZ for my 4Runner.
 
Pappy. agreed, I even know of a couple guys who've done a 3rz in place of a 3VZE and one of them even threw on the supercharger to bring it up even more.

My logic is this, and I do see where Jerod's coming from, but only if the rig's already spec'd with the 3.0. If you're driving a truck, just a truck, not a 4Runner, go for the 2.7-3RZ swap. It's easy overall and puts out a great powerband.

If however you have a 3.0'd 4Runner and want a little more power and better mileage, and won't be going over 33" tires and keeping with 4.56's (4.56's are the 5VZFE Spec that matches to the 3VZE 4.88 spec to keep the RPM's in a manageable range) go for the 5VZFE.

In a truck or X-Cab, the advantage of the 3RZ is you keep the space to wrench, in a 4Runner, you'll want the V6.

*Yes, I deliberately left a Lexus out of the equation here.
 
the 3rz is definitely a great motor. and even though i just rebuilt my 22re, i am wishing that i knew about this swap before hand.

while i would not consider it for a long while, if i did re-power my truck again, (or maybe another truck i find thats beggin for a swap:grinpimp:) I still am having trouble with the decision between 3rz and 5vze.

what i dont understand is the 4runner = 5vze and pickups= 3rz mentality. ...i mean the only difference we are talking about here is about 200 lbs of fiberglass top...thats it.

are you telling me that extra 200 pounds warrants putting in the 5vze if you have a 4runner??? i mean thats about the equivalent of a passenger.. i dont get it.

yeah, the 5vze probably would have more power, but does the 4runner NEED the 5vze vs the 3rz...im not convinced.
 
pappy said:
I dread the day I find a 3RZ in the local u-pull boneyard. The thought of taking a day to pull the engine. The thought of storing it in the garage until I'm ready to install. I hope I never find the engine because I'd pull it in a heart beat to replace my 22RE. And Marlin sells the bellhousing to mate to my R151F. Oh goody, no Tacos at the u-pull today. Ya, there is no way I'd pass up a 3RZ for my 4Runner.

Haha....yeah I'm starting to feel the same way, I've heard they are the modern day version of the 22RE, perhaps even better.
 
bryan89 said:
the 3rz is definitely a great motor. and even though i just rebuilt my 22re, i am wishing that i knew about this swap before hand .

Same for me, although something has gone wrong as the number to cyl in my 22RE is much lower then the rest, 150 psi vs 180, my thoughts are remove and replace With the better 3rz 4cyl, just have find the engine, harness and ECU first
 
Power to weight is the concern. I did the 3rz swap back in 99' and while its a great upgrade and adds 50% more power over the 22re, the 3rz weighs the same as a 1uz that has nearly a 150% - 200% upgrade in power. It costs more but is a huge power gain. The 5VZ is great but weighs more and has less power than the 1uz. I certainly wouldn't go that route if a the 1uz was an option for you. Any one of those motors is an upgrade from the 22re. In the end you may find you go with the one that you can purchase most conveniently.
 
4WheelUnderground said:
Power to weight is the concern. I did the 3rz swap back in 99' and while its a great upgrade and adds 50% more power over the 22re, the 3rz weighs the same as a 1uz that has nearly a 150% - 200% upgrade in power. It costs more but is a huge power gain. The 5VZ is great but weighs more and has less power than the 1uz. I certainly wouldn't go that route if a the 1uz was an option for you. Any one of those motors is an upgrade from the 22re. In the end you may find you go with the one that you can purchase most conveniently.

What did you do the conversion on, a truck or 4Runner, how involved was it? Did you make your own mounts or buy ones for this type of conversion? Was this a 4wd or 2wd truck?
 
The only down side to the 3RZ is the balance shaft problems, however I believe there is a lasting fix for those. Other than that, the 3RZ is a great motor. I think it could work in both the truck and 4 runner based trucks.

Now if I came across a great deal on a 5VZ would I hold out until I found a 3RZ...Nope. There both great engines.
 
4wheelunderground,
you are sayin the 3rz weighs the same as the 1uz, which is a v8 right?
im not too familiar with them...do they have an aluminum block or something?

what did/ do they come in?

but there is the space issue in the engine bay, how close to a "bolt up" is it compared to a 3rz or 5vze. and what about wiring...is it as complicated or more complicated than these options....??
 
I have a 2RZ in my rig (23 MPG on avg.) Fast on the highway (80 plus)... Been all over the east coast in it. Would not go back to a 22R any day!
38512_1433515689893_1592965522_1041823_578700_n-1.jpg
 
Who has installed a Tundra V8 in a mini? IIRC those engines are a tight squeeze in an 80 series Land Cruiser. I don't see them fitting easily in a mini.

My 22RE has, and continues to be, a fine engine. Is it a rocket ship? Nope. Does it fit my needs? Yep. Would I like a modern 4-valve-per-cylinder 3RZ? Dang right. I've seen a 5VZ in a Gen1 4Runner and it sure looked like more work than I want to attempt.

No matter how one looks at it the 3RZ is a significant upgrade over the 22RE.
 
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Who has installed a Tundra V8 in a mini? IIRC those engines are a tight squeeze in an 80 series Land Cruiser. I don't see them fitting easily in a mini.

My 22RE has, and continues to be, a fine engine. Is is a rocket ship? Nope. Does it fit my needs? Yep. Would I like a modern 4-valve-per-cylinder 3RZ? Dang right. I've seen a 5VZ in a Gen1 4Runner and it sure looked like more work than I want to attempt.

No matter how one looks at it the 3RZ is a significant upgrade over the 22RE.


i agree with pappy. thats why im on the fence. the 3rz would def be a solid upgrade over the 22re. and pretty easy as far as engine conversions go. most of it is bolt up. but the 5vze has more power for a little more work (mainly motor mounts). BUT it would be way more crammed in there than a 3rz. So, if I were to do it, I would be on the fence about the added power of the 5vze, but is it worth the cram factor??
 
Who has installed a Tundra V8 in a mini? IIRC those engines are a tight squeeze in an 80 series Land Cruiser. I don't see them fitting easily in a mini.
.

There has been a lot of people swaping in the 1uzfe (comes out of a Lexus SC 400) into early gen 4 runners and trucks. It is an all aluminum V8 that is somewhat compact and will fit into our year engine bays. If were talking about swpping motors to get the best bang for the buck and time involve...that is it.

Here is the forum dedicated to to the swap
Lextreme: Lexus-Toyota V8 Forum - Powered by vBulletin

Here are a couple of build threads on the swap...to show the motor does fit, however there are always modifications to be done. :grinpimp:

1988 4runner 1uz swap - YotaTech Forums
My Lexus V8 into 2nd Gen 4Runner conversion. - YotaTech Forums
 

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