I've got a 95 Runner 3.0, my dad bought a 2002 Runner and seems to get much better mileage on his truck than I. I'm sure the fuel tanks are the same capacties (65 liters)... is the 3.4 so much better than the 3.0's? Better power (obviously) and fuel economy?

4 valves/cyl, better intake tract & breathing, better combustion chamber design, better ECU and programming.... 400 more ccs... that sort of thing.
The 3.0 will run forever, till (if) the headgaskets give out, at the same so-so level of performance coupled with crappy mileage (in a 4Runner at least, the trucks do much better).

Ooops, DUCK! Here comes Frank!!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

That pretty much sums it up there Bill! I know with my 3.0 I get 21 - 24 mpg which I believe is pretty outstanding compared to the other posters mpg! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/coolg.gif" alt="" />

I never said my truck gets good mpg..... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Check this out. Look down the thread for post from Dan 90SR5.... *hint* Camry heads.. truck block... much more HP....

Frank

I suspect the 3.0 autos do worse than the 5 speeds partly because of too-tall gearing.

Frank

Yeah, and the torque converter is not a good match. When we bought our 1990 4Runner new, we drove the auto and could not BELIEVE the difference in power.

The newer autos are much better in being thought out.

When I look at the variables like autos,torque converters, and the effects on performance it leads me to believe that the problem is less with the engine in many cases and more with the set. Maybe the correct "question" is auto's Vs. Stick transmission".

Bill did you get a chance to check that link?

Frank

Add truck weight to that. Phenomenal difference between my 1990 4Runner 5 spd even new, and my stock 1989 XtraCab 5 spd. The 3.0 in the truck was actually just fine on power and got ~20 mpg in town/some highway.

Sounds like the fella in the link turns a 3.slo into a 3.4 minus about 400cc with that head swap. Almost (almost) as tricky as an engine swap. But pretty cool. Sounds like it deals with the 3.slo breathing problems in a summary fashion.

I'm going to be watching that with interest. Sounds like it's a basic motor rebuild, just different parts, without all the other little issues like harness,exhaust, etc... of the 3.4 swap. It'll probably be less dough too.

Frank

before I did my 3.4L swap I serioulsy toy'd wth the idea of a performance rebuild to the 3.0L. DOA heads, cams, overbored throttle bodies, headers.....anything I could think of to get more power....the cost was actually more than the 3.4L swap! And the worst part, when I talked to Tim at DOA he said at best I could expect about 185 horsepower....not thaqt great for $3000 worth of extras.

The wiring on the 3.4L swap isn't that bad...as I've said before I am a complete idiot when it comes to wiring...and I figured it out! Everyone has it blown wayyyy out of porportion. Just have to take it one step (wire) at a time.