Non-VVTI swap to VVTI swap possible? (2 Viewers)

[khanguyen93]

Hello everyone! New owner to a GX470! I sold my 2003 v8 4runner earlier this year and had an itch for another one. Luckily, my uncle gave me a GX470 that he had lying around for free! Only downside is that it has a leaking head gasket and most likely needs a new motor. I checked the compression and the numbers seems to be everywhere. Fromm 100-160. The motor has 220k miles and I just don't feel comfortable replacing a head gasket just to find further damage down the line. I found a motor locally from a salvage yard with 50k miles for only $1500! Unfortunately it's from an 2005 GX470, which I believe has the VVTI. My question is, has anyone done a Non-VVTI to VVTI swap? I know that ECU will most likely have to be swapped, but I'm sure there's more to it. Or is it better for me to source a Non-VVTI and not to deal with the headache. I will be doing the swap myself. I've done plenty of motor swaps before, just never in a GX470.

Any help would be appreciated!

 

[mjrsfj40]

Great question! I have not completed the swap you are proposing; however I just completed motor replacement on a 2003 with a 2004 motor - both non-vvti. There are a lot of non-vvti used motors on the market for sale. I bought mine through an eBay seller, complete from pan to wiring harness with 135k and video proof of life for $1,600 shipped to my residence plus tax. Now I did replace the timing belt, water pump, etc before installing as no seller can confirm when this maintenance was performed. Just drove the rig from Los Angeles to Carson City, NV on Thanksgiving Day, delivering to my daughter. Smooth as silk. Even my wife was impressed! A labor intensive and patience testing process. Like yourself, not my first rodeo with an engine swap! You will need an engine hoist and transmission jack to capably complete the task along with an electronic version of the factory service manual - several helpful hints for the process.

Stick with the style of which came with your GX and the electronics will thank you! Plus, not obnoxious air pump system to deal with!

Good luck and if you have any questions, hit me up!

 

[Rednexus]

The VVTI motors also have a secondary air injection system (SAIS), which includes a separate set of exhaust ports on the cylinder heads. So your non-VVTI exhaust manifolds would not work (they don't cover the SAIS ports), in addition to the ECU and potentially some of the wiring being much different. I would hold out for a non-VVTI motor.

 

[rancejunge]

I am doing this exact swap right now. Non VVTI GX470 2004 to a 2005 VVTI 4.7 V8. I built a high output with forged internals to handle higher compression ratio of 11:1 and a TRD supercharger, ported & polished heads with Doug Thorley long tube headers and Magnaflow exhaust. I am using the sensors & ECU from the 2004 but my last major hurdle is the cam timing sensor and triggering device are very different. I will have to machine the driver side cam cog and weld a trigger tang to it so the 2004 ECU knows the correct timing. Also have to use a manual Pulse with modulator to manually control the cam position.

I know seems like a lot of trouble to do this, but I needed the piston oil squirters to help lower preignition by cooling the bottom of the pistons and controlling the cam timing manually will allow me to tweek for best torque & mpg for the tow vehicle this is going to be.