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'95 3vz engine swap into '88 1st gen

Discussion in '1st Gen 4Runners (1984-1989)' started by BryS, Dec 24, 2019.

  1. Dec 24, 2019 at 6:50 AM
    #1
    BryS

    BryS [OP] New Member

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    I just purchased a 1st gen '88 4runner and the previous owner installed a '95 3vz engine in it. The original engine harness and ECU are still in the car but not everything was switched over to mate with the original harness. The items that I still need to replace are the distributor, fuel injectors and knock sensor. It looks like he switched over all the other sensors already. The distributor is pretty straight forward a I am just going to purchase an '88 distributor but I was wondering if I can just relocate the knock sensor so I don't have to tear the engine apart? Or, do they sell a pigtail converter to connect the '95 sensor to the '88 engine harness. I don't want to cut into the engine harness. I actually have the same question for the fuel injectors. The connectors don't mate with the '95 fuel injectors so i was wondering if someone sells a pigtail jumper to connect the two. Thanks!
     
  2. Dec 24, 2019 at 7:01 AM
    #2
    36tacundra

    36tacundra New Member

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    The fuel injectors are easy. I changed out the plug ends last Sunday. We had to use two separate wiring harnesses two get to 6 plugs because 3 of them were broke. Just look into the plug and take a pick or eye-glasses screwdriver and lightly release the pin lock while gently pulling out. This is on the 95 engine into a 87. We had it running that knight.
     
  3. Dec 24, 2019 at 7:22 AM
    #3
    BryS

    BryS [OP] New Member

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    This is why this forum is so great. I didn't even think of that. I have the connectors that mate to the '95 fuel injectors so I will try to remove the pins from the '88 connectors and install them in the '95 connectors. Thanks so much.
     
    36tacundra likes this.
  4. Dec 24, 2019 at 7:28 AM
    #4
    36tacundra

    36tacundra New Member

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    It took about ten minutes to do. Practice on the ones being replaced, so you can really F them up and get the hang of it. be sure to note the wire location. You don't want the injector sucking fuel, LOL! I don't think that can happen? Just put a dot on the black wire location with a sharpie.
     
  5. Dec 24, 2019 at 7:29 AM
    #5
    BryS

    BryS [OP] New Member

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    Will do. Thanks.
     
  6. Dec 24, 2019 at 11:06 AM
    #6
    BryS

    BryS [OP] New Member

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    After further research, it sounds like the '88 fuel injectors have a different internal resistance than the '89 - 95 fuel injectors so I will need to purchase '88 fuel injectors since I have the original engine harness and ECU.
     
  7. Dec 25, 2019 at 9:22 AM
    #7
    36tacundra

    36tacundra New Member

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    Good to know. I would have changed the injectors. The owner of the truck did not want me to. He didn't want me to touch the engine because,"it ran like a top." So I changed the the plugs ends. Now I wounder what kind of a problem they will have. The engine started up and ran, but how good, lol! I guess time will tell.
     
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