When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Chiming in on this...Im the 2nd owner of my 88 3vze, currently sitting at 400k+ mi. Ive owned for 10 years and done 1 timing belt w/ no other major fixes/maintenance, just regular/scheduled. Mods include egr/pair delete, intake, 2.5in exhaust. The bigger exhaust was by far the best mod done. Noticeable hp and mpg gains. This engine still runs just fine and averages 19-20 mpg, not a big difference between highway and in town.
All that being said, I was able to source a wrecked 98 4runner with a 220k mi 5vze. Complete vehicle. Im currently in the process of swapping 3vze for the 5vze. I purchased a 99 4runner in July of 19 from my dad who had bought it new, currently 456k mi. Driving that truck was what made my decision. The 50 more ponies are instantly noticeable and the reliability is un-˟˟˟˟withable. For now just the engine is being swapped, but future plans are for replacing the 5spd with the auto from the 5vze with cruise control. Auto trans not only for road trips, but I also prefer auto trans for offroad as well.
I know this is a fairly old post. I couldnt help myself
Just to chime in: I have a 1995 Pickup DLX 5 speed manual, 4x4 with the 3.slow. I love this truck, but it can’t get out of its own way. I bought the truck with 182k in October. Replaced valve cover gaskets, dizzy, plugs, wires, and flushed the coolant. In March it blew a head gasket and completely hydro locked. Considered doing the swap but ended up driving to West Virginia from Jersey to pick up a reman that I found on EBay because the deal was too good to pass up. It was a 0 mile rebuilt 3VzE with brand new heads, MLS gaskets, and ARP studs, built by Denny’s Machine shop in Maryland. For $2,000 I got the engine, a set of Doug Thorley headers, and Bosch 4 hole injectors. The only original tins are the throttle body and intake plenum which I cleaned up like new. Did the LCE engineering EGR/ pair delete kit, a semi-custom cold air intake, a Magnaflow cat and Borla muffler and guess what? Absolutely no difference in power or performance from the old engine. Zero. However, I’m really not interested in performance, I’m interested in reliability and I believe that I’ve achieved that. There’s no reason to believe that I can’t get another 200+k miles out of this engine. Also, it looks awesome and sounds killer.
The 2 biggest upgrades to the 3vz will be cams and stand alone engine management. You wont see big improvements in power because the stock cams are quiet small. Engines are just air pumps more air in and out equals more power.
The biggest improvement in 3vze power in my experience was EGR delete and using the 7mge AFM and headers. More air in, more air out. Let the engine breathe and it will definitely wake up. I've done 105 mph on 33 inch tires in my truck with this engine.
My full list of engine mods:
EGR delete
ISR delete
Flamethrower fuel injectors
Had a set of NWOR headers but now have an eBay set
7mge AFM
Timing set to 12 degrees
8mm plug wires
plugs gapped to .040
05-27-2020, 10:36 AM
