96 3rz in a 99?

Hey guys, I recently picked up a manual 99’ 3rz truck sitting at… 560000 miles..
I bought this truck for a good deal pretty much knowing that I would need to do some major engine work. The body however is immaculate which was my reason for buying.
The truck has a 3rz distributor type that is throwing misfire codes, I haven’t ran compression tests yet but the guy I bought it from said low compression in cylinder 2, which sounds about right. Truck had a head rebuild 100000ish miles ago so this leads me to believe the bottom end is on its way out, not surprising considering the miles. It really doesn’t run too bad but I know it’s only a matter of time. Considering doing a valve adjustment to see if it helps but really I’m thinking a rebuild or new crate motor is in my near future and I was pretty much expecting that when I bought it.

now my main question, I’ve been scouring looking for the right engine because I know it’s pretty important to find the right type and year. But I’ve only been able to find the 95-96 distributor type. How many issues would I run into trying to drop that year into my 99? Also all these engines seem to be out of tacomas, will this be a problem?

Is it doable or should I just wait it out for the right one.. OR should I just do the rebuild? Also do you guys have any tips on where to look online or honestly anywhere on the west coast? I can make a drive if need be. Located in nw Oregon

 

Only the 1996 and 1997 4runners have a distributor, by 1998 it went to coil. Earlier engines on other models like the Tacoma also used a distributor, but the changeover to coils on them could have happened later.

I have no idea how difficult it is to use one ignition system on the other engine. The distributor engine would have a gear to drive the distributor rotor. You might be able to plug that port up and continue using the coil pack off the 1999. I'm relatively confident that whatever is needed to make the coil system work can be taken off your old engine and put on the 1996-1997 3rz.

The only difference I know of between 3rz from a Tacoma vs a 4runner is the 4runner has an oil cooler while the Tacoma does not. It's probably as simple as removing a plug and bolting on the oil cooler from your old engine. The intake manifold on the 3rz was revised slightly at some point, many people consider the earlier version to be superior.

Another revision you see is the exhaust, on some 4runners the there was a cast iron manifold and others used a mini-header style. This is a non-issue, both work but if you get to choose get the mini-header because they don't crack like the cast iron ones. You can even swap them between engines, it's a common upgrade and I've done it myself.

After 2000, the 3rz was dropped on the 4runner but continued on the Tacoma. I know that on the Tacoma they went to plug on coil ignition and probably had even more changes, but since that isn't the 4runner I don't know as much about them.

 

Odd, obviously I don’t know everything about this truck but I was under the impression that this was the original engine. However it is definitely a 99 and it definitely has a distributor so maybe I’m wrong! In that case I wonder if I should get a 99 coil engine or just stick with what was already swapped in.

 

Are you sure it's a distributor type? They can look kind of similar but if the spark plug wires plug in at the top it's a coil and if it comes off the side it's a distributor.
Distributor:

Coil:

I'd go with whatever you think is the best engine for the price. If you have a 1999 then at some point in it's life it worked with a coil pack, and apparently it was working with a distributor. So it's proof they can be swapped.

Each system has its advantage and disadvantage. Coils are better at doing their job and don't need adjustment, but you can burn them up if the sparkplug wires or sparkplugs wear out which isn't an issue with distributors.

I'm not sure if Toyota put the VIN on the engines or not, but if you can find it that would be definitive proof it isn't original. The 3rz is rebuildable too, being cast iron you can bore the cylinder out and put new pistons in and it'll be good as new. It is rarely done because it is usually cheaper than getting another engine, but 3rz aren't cheap engines.

 

I thought all engines, including a distributor system use coils to crank up the voltage for spark.

I think you meant that the system changed from a Distributor to an ECU based ignition system?

For a dizzy usually it's a single coil and for the modern ECU systems, there are coil packs.

 

Yes that is true. When I say coil I mean a coil pack which is controlled by the ECU, the distributor does the same thing mechanically.