surfer5567

so im looking for a new vehicle and the vehicle i have narrowed it down to is a 89-94 toyota 4runner 4x4 5speed. my plans for it is to someday have an ls1, some sort of manuel trans, 4x4, smog legal(i live in cali), and pre runner it. so my concerns with this are

1. will a stock toyota 5speed hold up to 350hp ls1? how long will it hold up? is a 6speed out of the questions?
2. what about the transfrer case, will i need a different one or will a stock one work?
3. how will the front ifs and rear end hold up to that kind of power?
4. considering a I4 4runner weighs in at 3500lbs and a v6 is about 4k lbs, what will i be looking at if i add a ls1? will it be around the same?
5. is shooting for 25mpg out of the questions?

ive done my research and i know this swap is possible and fairly common. its just ive had a hard time finding these specifics. the first 3 questions are my biggest worry. oh and this will be smog legal correct since the engine would be newer than the truck?

thanks for all your help!!!

blazerboy72

iTrader: (9)

I am finishing up the same swap right now. I was afraid of using the stock transmission and transfer case. After looking into adapters it was cheaper to buy a TH400/208 that it was to adapt them. I couldnt find a way to gain the needed clearamce for the ifs without converting to 2wd which I wasnt willing to do. I ended up with a sas and a 3" body lift for transmission clearance. The only other problem I ran into was finding a place for the fan which I havent figured out yet.

surfer5567

ya i was reading about your project and it looks awsome!!! so why couldnt you keep the ifs? i would like to stay 4wd and ifs because i am going to go pre runner route and i go to the snow so i like to have 4wd. also, how would a t56 6speed work in there? is there room? what about the stock transfer case and rear end?

surfer5567

also if you dont think an ls1 would fit my needs what do you guys think would be best? also, what should i start out with in the first place, a 4 banger or v6?

blazerboy72

iTrader: (9)

I had oil pan clearance problems. You may be able to use an f body pan or one of the aftermarket ones and make it work. I didnt have the money to try many pans so I made the truck one work. If you dont use the ls1 I would use a 4.3 chevy or the 3.4 toyota. If you are planning on keeping the stock axles, the v6 would be your best bet. Im not 100% sure of the difference but the v6 carrier is 4 pinion while the 4 cyl is 2. I put the th400 in mine today and it appears it would have fit without the body lift, so im sure t56 should fit just fine.

surfer5567

see i plan to take it to pismo and the snow quiet a bit and i heard that the 3.4s dont do too well with the blowers on them in the sand. thats why i was looking at the ls1. super light weight(for a v8) and hugh n/a power potential. i am looking for around 300 hp. can the 3.4 yota do that for cheaper than a ls1 swap would be? i mean i figure

2-4k for a 89 4runner
3-4k in suspension front and rear(total chaos caddy 2)
and about 6k for an ls1 swap.

so what would it cost to get the 3.4 into that range? i know i would need a super charger too. i mean if the 3.4 will do it thats awsome thats the way i'll go. just making sure though before i start planning a budget

blazerboy72

iTrader: (9)

Does the total caos kit lower the diff? If it does you should bea ble to make it work. With your budget you should be able to do it. I am planning on selling mine and dont want to put tons of money into it just to turn around and sell it. With the ifs you dont need much clearance like you do with the sas. A 3.4 probably wouldnt be the best for you in the sand. I dont have any experience with them but they are a huge imprvement over the 3.0.

surfer5567

ya and the thing with the 3.4 is the mpg. i mean i was reading up and they get AT BEST 20mpg?!?! i would hope to expect at least like 22mpg from the ls1. the total chaos kit to as far as i know doesnt lower the diff, it works on the a-arms and that type of stuff. so a low profile say miloden (or whoever makes one) oil pan would work then? so say i pick up a 89 4runner that has a 5speed v6 in it and i have a ls1 with a 6speed. aside from all the wiring and mounts the only things i would have to worry about are a lower profile oil pan correct? the stock transfer case will work? what about the v6 rear end? i know they share the same rear as the turbo yota does.

if those 2 items wont work, what would you put in? i want everything to stay as simple as possible, but also work for a very long time. thats why i plan to leave the ls1 stock? oh and i know i would need a different drive shaft probably.

surfer5567

also, as long as i swap over all of the SMOG equipment from the ls1 to the 4runner, and keep the engine stock, it should pass a SMOG test correct?

blazerboy72

iTrader: (9)

I dont know about the transfer case. I have never seen an adapter for the toyota to a t56. I have heard that as long as you keep all the smog equipment and use the same year model or newer you sould be fine , but california is much more strict than georgia.

surfer5567

so what would you suggest to use for a transfer case??? ya cali blows when it comes to smog

blazerboy72

iTrader: (9)

np205 if you can adapt one to the t56. I am using a 208 because I had it but the 205 or even a dana 300 would be good for your plans.

surfer5567

ok sounds good. so now i have a plan to follow!!!
-87-89 4runner (starting life with a 5speed any motor(preferably 22re))
+v6 or turbo rear end with selectable locker
-ls1 with t56 and all smog ****
-np205 transfer case
-total chaos front suspension with king/fox 2.0/2.5 shox
-deaver rear springs and same shox as front

so that would basically take care of everything im looking for, power, 4wd and suspension travel. everything else would be easy to figure out(interior/exterior) wise.

so this plan seems pretty well sorted out to you? seems doable?

kirtondog23

So.... doing an entire SAS was cheaper that getting a new or different oil pan? If this is the case let me know how as I would love to do a SAS on my chevy for cheap!

Not trying to start a fight just wondering what I am missing here.

surfer5567

i think he wanted to go to sas anyway, so the clearence was only one more reason to do it...

AmericanMuscle313

iTrader: (5)

If you dont mind the extra cost you could go dry sump. Either ls7 or aftermarket. This might solve your oil pan issues.

surfer5567

what are the added benefits of this?

surfer5567

bump for any more help or insight

mmmchickenboy

4WD T56? Good luck. I've only seen one picture of the setup. If it's become more common, or adapters are more available now, please let me know.

surfer5567

what trans would you suggest for running a manuel and 4wd?