mtdave2 Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 (edited) 91 dolphin v6 auto with blown head gaskets 132k miles Looking for options here. I do plan on keeping this rv for many years so I want it do everything well and right. Once a year I will be driving get it on a 2 mile round trip vacation so lots off freeway driving. I live in Denver so lots of hills. The 3.0 kills me. So the 3.4 swap is a good option. I was thinking this morning about a Chevy v8. Has anyone ever done this? Any in put on this? Thanks Edited June 18, 2014 by mtdave2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 There's a Toyota 4x4 shop near me, San Francisco Bay area, that says they do the 3.4 swap all the time. Right now they have a 22re Sunrader 4x4 waiting for them to get started on it. Here's a thread from this site which shows the work involved to go from 3.0 to 3.4. Big job. If you can't do it yourself be prepared to pay some bucks http://toyotamotorhome.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4484&hl=%2B3.0+%2Bto+%2B3.4+%2Bengine+%2Bswap Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I haven't checked, but I read that this swap (3.0 -> 3.4) is so popular that it's hard to find a 3.4 cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 Can't say I've looked for one either but I bet it's often cheaper to buy an entire running but rusty truck then just the engine. I've often found that engines for trucks,cars and boats are often priced higher then the complete vehicles. I looked at a rusty 99 4-runner last fall in Michigan. Had a 3.4 V6. Ran good with 120K miles on it. I could of driven it home for $1200. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 91 dolphin v6 auto with blown head gaskets 132k miles. I guess someone has to ask. Have you run your VIN past a Toyota Dealer to see if the Head Gasket Recall was done to yours? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 I guess someone has to ask. Have you run your VIN past a Toyota Dealer to see if the Head Gasket Recall was done to yours? Ya I did do this, and it had been done in 1994 think it was. I had planned on eventualy swaping out the motor because of the lack of power, but not this soon! ha! I like the 3.4 sawp idea but it is hard to find a good deal like has been said. being that it is an automatic makes it even harder and I think I read that there are some donner trucks that will work with our auto tranys, though I am just now starting to look into all of this. It would be nice if there was a local shop that would do this swap for me, it is almost worth the money to be because of my lack of time. I could do it, but it would take me months. I want to go camping! so, Im not sure what I will do. I love the thought of a small block chevy in one of these rvs. How cool would that be? but I worry about if the rear end would take the power, and the frame ect. ugh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 There are other swap options. A Lexus v8 has been done. Your exact transmission was used on the Lexus V8 too. I've seen quite a few Chevy 350's. Chevy 4.3 V6 has been used too. Your differential is a tough one. It would be fine as long as your not drag racing Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Is there a write up some place on the v8s? Chevy and lexis. Loved the one posted above on 3.4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred heath Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 There are other swap options. A Lexus v8 has been done. Your exact transmission was used on the Lexus V8 too. I've seen quite a few Chevy 350's. Chevy 4.3 V6 has been used too. Your differential is a tough one. It would be fine as long as your not drag racing Linda S The 4.3 GM motor is basically a 350 with 2 of the cylinders chopped off. Plenty of stock and hi-po parts available. I've had 3 of them. All worked great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 If you are looking for power I don't think you find a lot of difference with the 3.4 swap unless it is supercharged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Is there a write up some place on the v8s? Chevy and lexis. Loved the one posted above on 3.4 Can't speak on the Lexus engine but the 4.3s were not exactly known for great gas mileage. Durable yes. Based on a 59 year old engine series which is a pretty long run. I've had several Astrovans with 4.3s. Throttle body versions and with "tarantula" Vortec CPI injection. None of mine ever got better then 18 MPG on the highway. My 1998 Dodge GrandCaravan AWD with a 3.8 gets 22 MPG and has all the power those Astrovans ever had. Linda owns an RV with a 4.3 last I checked. Ask her what she gets for MPGs. I met with a family that owned an Astro-Allegro RV with a 4.3 and they told me they were getting 14 MPG with it. On the subject of the Dodge 3.8 V6s - many Winnebago Lesharo owners have swapped in 3.8s. Reports from those I've conversed with say they get the same 14-15 MPG as with the original 2.2 engines - just can go faster. I'll ask a silly question but if you wanted to go through the effort of a V8 swap - why do it with a Toyota? It would likely be miserable to work on the engine if anything goes wrong and fuel mileage would likely be little different then many other small RVs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Is there a write up some place on the v8s? Chevy and lexis. Loved the one posted above on 3.4 http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=196821 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 19, 2014 Author Share Posted June 19, 2014 great info, thanks everyone. Still looking at options. I am thinking the chevy v6 or v8 is the way to go, but that could change in 5 minutes! I guess there is not a major rush to do this, though I would have loved to use the rv for the 4th of July weekend. =( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 The closest to a 'bolt-in' (ie quick) would be the 3.4 V6. Anything else is going to involve more down time. With the possible exception, I suppose, of a Chevy 350 with a carb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 A small-block Chevy would be a difficult swap. You'd probably have to modify the sheet-metal in the rear of the engine compartment to make room for the longer engine and the rear-mounted distributor. Also, adapting the Chevy bolt pattern to the existing trans would be near impossible unless the trans is two-piece and has a removable front. Then there's the added weight factor. A small-block swap would probably mean using a GM trans like a 700R4,4L60, etc. I guess anything can be put into anything if wanted. It's one thing if you've got an equipped shop and plenty of time to spend. Quite another if you're paying someone else to do this kind of work. I put a V8 into a 69 Datsun pickup years ago. It was a little aluminum 215 cubic inch Buick/Olds V8. Nice fit and much lighter then a Chevy or Ford SB. In retrospect it wasn't worth all the effort but back then - building odd-ball stuff was fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 SBCs have been swapped into everything. https://www.google.ca/search?q=toyota+pickup+sbc+swap+kit&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=joKjU_KdFI7M8gfmoYHYDw https://www.google.ca/search?q=toyota+pickup+sbc+swap+kit&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb&gfe_rd=cr&ei=joKjU_KdFI7M8gfmoYHYDw#channel=sb&q=toyota+pickup+lexus+swap+&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zero Posted June 20, 2014 Share Posted June 20, 2014 :Probably everything has been swapped into something somewhere. It's one thing when a person can do the work him/herself and maybe wants an "odd" conversation piece to show off. Something else when the goal is a reliable RV that can be serviced in remote locations if necessary - often by someone who did not piece it together. Lots of premade swap parts around but not much to mate a Chevy SB against a A340E auto trans. At least none I've seen around but cannot say I've looked very hard. Fabrication and adapting takes a lot of time and skill. If you pick a popular swap - then often the parts can all be bought premade but not cheap. I put a 1.6 VW diesel into my Geo/Chevy 4WD Tracker a few years ago and did NO fabrication at all. That because it was such a popular transplant. Not the same with Toyota 2WD RVs I bet - but again - not something I've done any research on. It's one thing to build a Frankenstein car/truck that does not wander far from home or the workshop. But for an RV that I assume travels far from home where the driver no longer has access to his own tools or workshop? Not something I'd want - but to each his own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 22, 2014 Author Share Posted June 22, 2014 i think I am down to 3 choices. 3.4, Lexus v8, and a sbc. leaning heavy to the Lexus. there are low mile motors and trans out there for $1500. It just the stuffing the thing in the yota. still looking, I would LOVE to find a shop that does these often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 i think I am down to 3 choices. 3.4, Lexus v8, and a sbc. leaning heavy to the Lexus. there are low mile motors and trans out there for $1500. It just the stuffing the thing in the yota. still looking, I would LOVE to find a shop that does these often. Where are you Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 24, 2014 Author Share Posted June 24, 2014 Golden Colorado, near Denver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted June 24, 2014 Share Posted June 24, 2014 Golden colorado, near Denver. Read this forum page from a Lexus Club. A member of this Lexus group specializes in Toyota Lexus swaps and he's in north Denver. Post is only about 6 months old so he's probably still doing it. You'll probably have to join this club Lexus group to send him a private message. Nixspeed is his name. Worth a try and it never hurts to talk to as many people as possible before investing this kind of money in a vehicle. http://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-first-generation/720637-i-need-a-2jz-swap-specialist.html Linda S Just found his Facebook page. Mostly racing stuff but this guy has some mad skills. Just don't talk to him about anything but a Toyota to Toyota/Lexus swap. He believes in his brand https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nixspeed-Racing/284844438226594 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nam Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 If the Lexus V8 bolts to A340E transmission, I would prefer this swap if time or money isn't a subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdave2 Posted June 28, 2014 Author Share Posted June 28, 2014 http://www.ebay.com/itm/371090810304 Some great deals on eBay for the Lexus v8s. Looking like this is the way I will go, and if I can not find a shop I guess I will have to do it. Linda, thanks for the link. I did email that nix guy but I have not heard back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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