Aussie Lexus V8 4Runner - New here!

[Twisty]

Hey All,

I signed up recently as I've started to build up a 1978 FJ40 and have found heaps of useful info on here!!

Anyway, since I got my license I've owned 2nd gen 4runner, so I thought I'd say hey in this section too!

My first 4runner had 2" susp lift, 3" bodylift, 33 BFG Muds on 15x8 Alloys, front lockright lokka, 4.8's and the 3VZE V6.....I ended up rolling it at a local 4x4 park, and my insurance wrote it off.

After the roll.

It wasn't long before I got another 4runner.......

This is what it looked like when I bought it.

Current Spec Are:
94 4Runner RV6
1uz-fe Lexus V8 Conversion
BJ spacers and wound up torsion bars up front and 80 series crusier coils in rear (3.5-4" lift)
Rancho 9000x shocks
2" Bodylift
TJM Bumper which has been modified with clear turn ligths and some recessed driving lights
Custom 4x4 Fabrications Rear Bar with Tyre Carrier, and sliders/steps
315/70/R17 (35x12.5) Mickey Thomson MTZ's
17x9 Brute B201 Wheels
4.88 Diff Ratios
Rear Air-Locker
Dual Batteries
Custom trimmed interior with Recaro seats
Patrol Bonnet Scoop
and other bits and pieces.

Some pics.

 

[Twisty]

I was building a rock crawling buggy (which got scrapped in favour of the FJ40)...and had some 37x14 Iroks on 15x10 Classic II's for it.....I'd stick them on the 4runner now and then for shows, and the odd mud/beach run. I loved it on these, and wish I could run tyres that size all the times!!!

Somes pics of it on the 37s!

 

[Twisty]

And some vids....so you can here the Lexus V8.

A mate and I having a little drag....his also has a Lexus V8, but is running programable engine management, so goes a but better than mine!
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a181/mg_ellis1/?action=view&current=DoubleIslandtrip11-1.flv


4runner doing a bit of circle work.
http://s11.photobucket.com/albums/a181/mg_ellis1/?action=view&current=DoubleIslandtrip11-2.flv

 

[KliersLC]

Sweet rig,

Can you elaborate on the BJ spacers?

I am looking to get a little more out of the front end of my T100 without doing a full lift kit.

Thanks,
Dan

 

[Twisty]

Heres a link to the Ball Joint Spacers I installed....have seen similar ones advertised on Yotatech for guys over your side of the world.

http://www.toyotasurf.asn.au/techsite/customsuspension.htm

They are a cheap way to get a bit of extra travel or lift out of the IFS. I've had mine in for almost two years now with no problems besides them making it more difficult to change the CV's or front diff. But have fixed that now by removing the studs out of the axle flanges on the front diff and replacing them with a nuts and bolts.

 

[ajfriz]

That looks great! I wonder how hard it would be to stuff that lexus v8 into my first generation runner...

 

[Twisty]

That looks great! I wonder how hard it would be to stuff that lexus v8 into my first generation runner...

It's been done a phew times....and isn't any harder then a 2nd gen....


Heres a couple pics of the engine bay.

 

[hoser]

Great looking engine swap! Looks factory!

 

[Kyle95sr5]

That is one of the sickest 2nd gens I have ever seen! Keep up the great work on it. That is one clean looking swap. Your the man.

 

[ajfriz]

How bad was the electrical on that? What transmission did you use? I am liking this more and more. I wonder how hard it would be to find one of these engines.

 

[Twisty]

How bad was the electrical on that? What transmission did you use? I am liking this more and more. I wonder how hard it would be to find one of these engines.

Electrical was pretty easy. I bought a modified loom off Venom Custom Fabrications, which makes it almost plug and play. Just had to hook up fuel pump, ignition wires etc....Took me about 2 hours and it was up and running.
http://www.venomcobras.com/

I used the std. 5spd manual trans that was behind my V6 (R150F). Then used a bellhousing/clutch kit from Dellows to mate it to the Lexus V8. Castlemain Rod Shop also do bellhousing kits. Both companys are in Australia, but will shop overseas if needed.
http://www.dellowauto.com.au/
http://www.rodshop.com.au/

Engines are really easy to get a hold of over here in Oz, but not sure what the go is over there. These couple of sites might help you out.
http://www.lextreme.com/forums
http://www.uzswap.com

 

[Silicon 70]

Wow V8 in a small truck. Sounds like a great swap to do. Its too bad there's no pictures of your truck going through the whole engine swap process.

 

[dsa03cjj]

looks good! nice engine

 

[Bear80]

Wow V8 in a small truck. Sounds like a great swap to do. Its too bad there's no pictures of your truck going through the whole engine swap process.

Go look him up at Yotatech.com

Good to see you here Twisty!

 

[notyourmomslx450]

Nice work! That thing sounds fantastic in those videos. Wow.

 

[Twisty]

Thanks for all the comments fellas!

Wow V8 in a small truck. Sounds like a great swap to do. Its too bad there's no pictures of your truck going through the whole engine swap process.

I've done a buildup thread of my 4runner from the start to how it currently sits on the Downunder4x4 forum (including the V8 swap). It can be viewed here.
http://downunder4x4.net/forum/showthread.php?t=561

or as Bear80 mentioned, there is a thread on just the V8 conversion on Yotatech.
http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=76701

 

[SK4RNR]

how did the V-8 conversion go? I'm interested in doing that with with my '90 4runner