1GR-FE 4.0L V6 Engine Swapping Info 4Runner Tacoma FJ.. Year Range and What to Expect when Swapping

I see a lot of people having the same issues as I am when it comes to swapping their 1GR engines. Info is scarce but me having gone down the rabbit hole and making numerous calls, speaking to others with 4Runners Tacomas and lastly speaking to Toyota lol. I’m here to give you that information. Hopefully this helps and spreads.

I currently purchased an 05’ 4Runner 4WD, previously owned a 15’. The 05’ had a head gasket issue but once we took it apart the whole cylinder wall was cracked into the engine. There is no saving it or possibility of rebuilding it. Now, is the 1GR-FE or 1GR for short engine. 4.0L V6.

4th Gen 4Runners range are from 03-09. Keeping that in mind most would stick to those years for engine swaps for the 1GR Engines in their 4th Gen.

The 1GR’s range from 2003-2016. Now this is where I went down the rabbit hole as I first mentioned. Even though the 4th gen 4Runners utilize these engines, the 03 and 04 1GR’s are different from their 05-09 versions. You have the wire cam sensor going from 2 to 3 and I believe it was the vvti going from single to dual, unless this part was for the 2010’s.

Regardless, the fact of the matter is that, even though you have a 4th gen 4Runner. The later model years (05-09) won’t work for the early model years (03-04) without having to change a few things as you’ve seen many people post that they’ve had to change extra parts to make it work.

in short the 1GR motor from
03-04 is its own version
05-09 is its own
And of course 2010-2016

Giving this info to make it easy for those swapping motors with much less issues. This way, you won’t have to worry about the extra work if you don’t want to do it or wonder why you weren’t able to get it to work right away. Thus, spending more time and possibly money into making it work. Especially if you end up ah ing to pay for someone to fix it. BUT WAIT THERES MORE !

This is where it gets a bit more complex. 4Runners, Tacomas, FJ’s and even Tundras all utilize the 1GR-FE at one point or another. The same concept for year range is applied there. Where it differs is when the engines are being swapped between one another.

if your swapping your Tacoma year range (ex:05-09) (ex:04-09) (ex:2010-2016) engine with a 4Runner or vice versa or even an FJ. It won’t work without having the harness, sensors and ecu swapped out. In some cases I’ve heard of a few extra things needing to be done. But for the most part that is all that is needed for that type of engine swap between different models. Let’s Get Into The Tundra!

As for the Tundra’s 1GR variant I am told by absolutely everyone not to. For some reason it just won’t work without a good deal of trial and error, part swapping and even then good luck. That engine for that specific model is different even though it’s the same if that makes sense. Dont ask I don’t know the specifics because after being told not to even think about it. I didn’t go into further diggin as to why.

I will update once I’ve done my engine swap. I’m going to have to go to a different state more than likely since my state hardly has any 1GR’s for some reason. So far I’m looking at a 08 Taco 1GR no issues and a 07 4Runner 1GR which may need a bit of a part swapping to it but I have my engine to replace parts with when needed.

My Sources are forums, speaking to people like y’all and those who have gone through these exact swaps that I’ve reached out to and spoke about. People who have installed these engines and/or sell these engines for 4Runners Tacomas etc. 4Runner enthusiasts, Tacoma Enthusiasts, FJ enthusiasts Facebook Groups or other social media groups. Lastly Toyota themselves. I’ve spent days and weeks gathering this information. I would say; if someone had posted something like this I know I would have appreciated it. Saving so much time and research that is quite frank, hard to find because it’s spread out. Anything to the contrary please do your own research do your own calls. Trial and error is the best way to learn after that. This is just the information I was able to gather and piece together like a puzzle. Reading Why didn’t this engine work, (asking myself well why is he having trouble) looking into it further again asking people looking into the engine. Narrowing the down the engine components (to an extent) year make models.

Hope this helps people, especially those who are stuck and of course the newer generation or just newbies getting into the scene or working on their vehicles. Everyone in general though

 

I ended up swapping both the engine and the Transmission (1GR-FE 4.0L V6 & 4X4 5-speed Automatic A750F 4990)
Just to keep everything all original as possible from a 2007 4Runner that I did have to get from out of state.

As I mentioned before I ended up having to swap parts that the new one needed from my old one. Simple things like alternator, air intake, a sensor or 2 and fan clutch. Extremely easy and painless regardless of the parts swapping and fitting the whole powertrain into the engine bay and hooking it up. (Just time consuming & a few people helping)

Cam sensors were the same along with the whole wiring harness. Just hooked everything up and she started right up. Only issue I’m having is figuring out which pulley is screeching! But will fix here soon

 

Congratulations! That seems like almost a miracle.

 

Thanks! @backpacker I contribute the ease we had with the install and starting her right up to all the research and the information I utilized from it.

I feel like if I didn’t, I would have ran into the same issues as others because I was literally on the verge of purchasing an 04’ 1GR in the very beginning

 

@Anthö
Hey Man,
I am literally going through this scenario right now. I have an 06 Tacoma Double Cab with a blown 1gr-fe. I picked up a 2016 4Runner motor w/60k miles and the wiring harness for a good price. I am in the middle of swapping the 4Runner motor into my Tacoma. I am retaining the 16 harness as instructed. My question is, What sensors do I need to remove from my original 06 motor and put into the 16 4Runner motor? I know I need to swap the ECU, and I'm looking to buy one soon. I am, however, keeping the original trans from my 06 motor. Hopefully that doesn't F me up too bad. So I'm curious about which sensors I need to swap, and what mods or repairs to the harness do I need to make? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!