Manafre high output 3fe engine. Anyone have one?

[Snyper2384]

I am about to pull the trigger on getting a new 3fe. Rebuilt Early Model 3FE Long Block Engine for 1987-1992 Toyota Land Cruisers - Landcruiser Parts - https://manafrelv.com/product/rebuilt-3fe-engine/
For 9800 it has high compression pistons bored. 40 over decked head and rv camshaft. He claims a 20% increase in power. My question is first of all has anyone ever done business with them. 2 is the engine worth the almost 10k. Or would it be cheaper to do a different engine swap from start to finish.

 

[Pitter Patter]

Having just rebuilt a late model 2F, I believe you could do this a little less expensively and with much more confidence in the product than buying from a supplier. Assuming you have a functioning 3F to rebuild….? And if you’re looking for more power and don’t care about originality then I wouldn’t waste $10k on a rebuild. Just do an LS (or pick your favorite) swap.

 

[jonheld]

I am about to pull the trigger on getting a new 3fe. Rebuilt Early Model 3FE Long Block Engine for 1987-1992 Toyota Land Cruisers - Landcruiser Parts - https://manafrelv.com/product/rebuilt-3fe-engine/
For 9800 it has high compression pistons bored. 40 over decked head and rv camshaft. He claims a 20% increase in power. My question is first of all has anyone ever done business with them. 2 is the engine worth the almost 10k. Or would it be cheaper to do a different engine swap from start to finish.

I love the 3FE more than most, but can you say "diminishing returns"?
A brand new shiny 3FE was rated at 155 bone crushing horses, trying to push a 6K lb truck. The 20% would give you 186 HP.
A brand new stock 1FZ-FE was rated at 212 HP and that is anemic by today's standards.

If you have $10K burning a hole in your pocket, there are other ways to go about this.

 

[Devils Paw 80]

Man A Fre has been a supplier of Land Cruiser parts and accessories for decades. I believe they have a fairly good rep, although I have no personal experience to share.
Since I'm all for keeping these beasts Toyota, my inclination would be to stick with a 3FE. There would certainly be cheaper options than this brand new unit. For instance you could get a used one from Land Cruiser heaven that includes a manual transmission for $4500. 3FE 91-92 80 Series Land Cruiser Petrol Engine w/ Transmission - https://store.landcruiserheaven.com/3fe-91-92-80-series-land-cruiser-petrol-engine-w-transmission/

 

[jonheld]

Since I'm all for keeping these beasts Toyota, my inclination would be to stick with a 3FE.

Or a 2UZFE out of a 100 Series with 228 HP or a 50% increase.

 

[ppc]

The 3FE seems to a reliable motor but extremely poor performance, sucky gas mileage. A 20% improvement still does not change much favorabilty. ROI does down. An $8,000 investment will not increase value, more likely reduced because modified vehicles will make it difficult or impossible to find those parts in the future. Finding an experienced mechanic willing to work on it difficult. Say I'm wrong that you can maintain it, you don't come across as an experienced shade tree mechanic, but a relatively new owner of a dream vehicle with big ideas but are now disillusioned by the engine. I think that applies to most of us when new owners.

My advice is to pay attention to Jon Held and others that contribute that have been learning and helping for over thirty years now. Just ignore the fact he's from New Jersey.

 

[leonard_nemoy]

Man a fre is a good company. You could swap a different motor like a v8 or aomething but that is a very challenging project to do yourself and paying someone to do it would be more than $10,000.

If you could get a good deal on a manual transmission and swap the man a fre 3fe on your own than it might be a viable option. I would imagine the combination of the two could make quite an improvement in driveability.

That being said if it were mine I would be saving $$ for a v8 swap with an 8 or 10 speed automatic

 

[mudgudgeon]

For instance you could get a used one from Land Cruiser heaven that includes a manual transmission for $4500.

Pictured with an auto transmission

 

[Snyper2384]

I am actually an ase mechanic. Worked Toyota for 6 years and now work on heavy duty CNG trucks for the last 6 years.. Swapping an engine is no biggie to me. And it's not that I have 10grand burning a hole in my pocket. It's just I have had this truck for years and absolutely love it. It has over 400k and a rod knock as well as eating rod bearings due to a clogged oil passage and scarred crank. Nobody around my area would i trust to rebuild it properly and nobody regrinds cranks here either... My wife passed recently and due to life insurance I can get the beast running again after seeing it sit for over a year while I drive my 05 tundra flare side... I trust the 3fe because it has never let me down in the roughest of places and I have pulled more than my fair share of jeeps out who were stuck and a garbage truck . I am just lazy when working on my own stuff and wanna just swap the engine, not engine, trans, ecu, etc

 

[mudgudgeon]

A swap like for like is definitely the path of least resistance

 

[leonard_nemoy]

I am actually an ase mechanic. Worked Toyota for 6 years and now work on heavy duty CNG trucks for the last 6 years.. Swapping an engine is no biggie to me. And it's not that I have 10grand burning a hole in my pocket. It's just I have had this truck for years and absolutely love it. It has over 400k and a rod knock as well as eating rod bearings due to a clogged oil passage and scarred crank. Nobody around my area would i trust to rebuild it properly and nobody regrinds cranks here either... My wife passed recently and due to life insurance I can get the beast running again after seeing it sit for over a year while I drive my 05 tundra flare side... I trust the 3fe because it has never let me down in the roughest of places and I have pulled more than my fair share of jeeps out who were stuck and a garbage truck . I am just lazy when working on my own stuff and wanna just swap the engine, not engine, trans, ecu, etc

Sounds like you should do an ls swap.

 

[Snyper2384]

I have thought about an ls swap but the thought is as far as it went.. I haven't looked into ecms electronics, adaptor plates or new trans. Not to mention which Ls. While I do want more speed going down the highway I also love how it crawls through so much stuff with ease. And the 3fe is very reliable. If I could stick another engine in there and still feel bulletproof in the swamps and sand I would not be opposed to it

 

[Snyper2384]

What all would go into doing the 2uzfe swap?

 

[CrabCake]

I am actually an ase mechanic. Worked Toyota for 6 years and now work on heavy duty CNG trucks for the last 6 years.. Swapping an engine is no biggie to me. And it's not that I have 10grand burning a hole in my pocket. It's just I have had this truck for years and absolutely love it. It has over 400k and a rod knock as well as eating rod bearings due to a clogged oil passage and scarred crank. Nobody around my area would i trust to rebuild it properly and nobody regrinds cranks here either... My wife passed recently and due to life insurance I can get the beast running again after seeing it sit for over a year while I drive my 05 tundra flare side... I trust the 3fe because it has never let me down in the roughest of places and I have pulled more than my fair share of jeeps out who were stuck and a garbage truck . I am just lazy when working on my own stuff and wanna just swap the engine, not engine, trans, ecu, etc

If you are happy with the 3FE, it's definitely the easiest way to get as much life as you could imagine from your cruiser with the least effort. $$ is outweighed by simplicity...again, if you've been happy with the 3FE. Sounds like an easy choice to me.

I was considering an LS swap in mine, until I started going down the rabbit hole of the LS swap thread...backed out of that idea in a hurry. Mind you, I've done a fair bit of heavy engine work/conversions on other vehicles, so I'm quite capable if I so choose.

Man-A-Fre has been around for a while, in my opinion, I'd trust them if that is your main concern.

 

[Godwin]

@Snyper2384 I'd look for a shop closer to home to do the rebuild. Mosely Motors is in Memphis, @FJ60Cam , Rocket City Cruisers in Huntsville, AL @RocketCityCrzrs , or Over the Mountain Cruisers in Leeds, AL @Bama4door.

 

[ALX4X4]

I paid 20k 10 years ago for my LS swap drive in, drive out. For that you get nearly 400HP from a 6.0. In those 10 years I've changed the spark plugs as a while Im fitting a new exhaust and thats it. Oil and filter only. It really is cheap HP and so worth doing !

 

[Snyper2384]

I am in Panama city fl. There is a machine shop here we use for things on occasion and I have never been too pleased with his work. So I don't trust him enough to rebuild my engine. Plus the crank needs machining and he doesn't do that either. But quoted me 3500 to do a standard rebuild.

 

[pgmatt]

The guys on the 60 series forum have more experience with the 2/3 F engines and would be good to ask. It's probably pretty easy to find 20% more power if you work the head some, cam and improve airflow in and out. I have had good experiences ordering parts from Manafre in the past but have no experience with engines from them. I think if you keep the 3FE, throwing the oem fuel injection system in the trash and installing a mega squirt, holley etc aftermarket EFI system on would make a dramatic difference. The 80's early 90's fuel injection is a mess and does not deliver good reliability, fuel economy or horsepower.
2024 prices are dramatically different then even a few years ago so the price is probably not that terrible in these times. If you can source some parts I'm sure you could have one built at a machine shop for a few k less. Maybe ask some of the land cruiser specialty shops if they have any options or advice.

 

[Hammer45]

just pulled the trigger on this and an h55 and new transfer case with 5th gear from @cruisermatt. I'm not a motorhead so this seemed the best for me to do here by myself with a reluctant wife as the primary helper. What did you decide on @Snyper2384?

 

[Kernal]

3FE Turbo maybe? Looks like a few people have done this:

Turbo 3Fe?

I know @YooperCruiser has put a turbo on his 3FE, but has anyone else?

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