LS6 Swap 2nd Gen Build

Hi all. Starting this thread per the request of a lot of people on Facebook, also for my own record. This truck started as a daily for my daily. The old daily was my Lexus RC350, that's been caged and supercharged and wide-bodied. Obviously cant use that as a daily anymore, so enter: 2007 TOYOTA TACOMA DBL CAB 4.0L 6MT 4WD. Purchased it with 240k-ish miles. I proceeded to smoke a mailbox with It on day 2. Turns out fiberglass is cheaper than oem, so I glassed the whole truck. I now had a stock tacoma with fiberglass. great.

Later, I installed king extended travel coilers front and rear with reservoirs and adjusters, spc control arms, OME rear leafs, and 35" tires. Wrapped the truck gray instead of white, got a CMC from DRT Fab, installed some goodies like a tire cage from 454 motorsports, got bumpers from c4 fab, a ton of lights from Baja designs. Life was great in the mind of my tacoma. I started ordering long travel parts from King, got all 10 shocks required for full long travel and then BOOM. The 4.0L V6 in my tacoma finally let go at 267k miles. I drive the thing like I stole it, so it really wasn't a surprise given the milage. I had always planned for a motor swap when It let go, but certainly wasn't ready for it when it happened. I have 10 shocks now sitting waiting to be installed, but what good is long travel on a truck that doesn't drive?

I bought an LS6, holley terminator, and built 4l60e. I don't plan on keeping the 4l60e, id like to reuse the stock trans, but this thread is mainly to keep track of the swap so we can all learn along the way. I want to keep 4wd, specifically Toyota IFS 4wd, and I want to keep stick shift.

all the attached pics are in chronological order.

 

Nice ride

 

Sweet man! Eager to see the progress

 

I did a 6.2l in my Rover Discovery 1. Turns out....it was a pain in the ass....yet......it's so much more reliable, cheap to get parts for, and well...ya know what, I hated that lame assed 4.0 liter V8, that was actually a damned Dodge motor from back in the day. Your build has me VERY intrigued. Is there an adapter, and engine mount kit out for the swap?

 

I still have nightmares about that 4.0 trash ass fucking V8 engine.

 

Swapped in an L92, never been happier.....though if I had to do it again, I would have not done drive by wire.

 

Nope, atelast not that I’ve found yet. Got some custom weld in mounts getting water jetted right now. Gotta figure out a trans adapter still.

 

Shorty headers, plug wires, new valve covers, gaskets, plugs, etc etc ordered. All the basic LS stuff. Got some universal weld in motor mounts ordered too. A gentleman named Chris Widing sent me the cut files for longer motor mount flanges, he swapped his tacoma as well but he didn't retain the stock trans. I got those ordered, without him I'd probably be stuck. Things are moving quite nicely, the stock motor is gonna be out tonight(for real this time). Id also like to have the LS completely cleaned up and enameled tonight.

 

Nice Tacoma man! How are those Baja Designs lights working for you?
Best,
Brandon

 

They're great, honestly. I really dig your IR stuff. Ive tried a bunch and yours are the best I've found in terms of output and visible signature.

Your friends Hunter and Chase over at Two Track are the ones who got me on board with them. Haven't looked backed since.

It's cool you guys have a presence here on the forums. I really want to get some of the laser options you guys offer, but with everything going on with the LS swap its probably a wise decision to wait haha.

 

Glad to hear they are helping you out and that the IR lights are working great. When the day comes for those lasers feel free to send me an email at brandonk@bajadesigns.com and I can help you out on an order.

 

I appreciate it!

 

Definitely watching this!

Why use the stock trans, to keep 4wd I guess and cost down? It's a clunk box in the 2nd gens. Being that yours has 267K on it I wonder how long it's going to last handling 400-450HP. Just a thought....

 

I want to keep the stock trans for a few reasons. Primarily simplicity, and the fact that I want to retain a MT with the Toyota IFS. Sure, there's other ways to do it, but then we're talking getting rid of a proven transfercase and 4wd system. It would also require a lot more fab work that A. Im not qualified for and B. that I don't have the time for. The trans is definitely coming out and getting a complete rebuild, though.

 

I just want to say I was here at the start of this epic thread. Good luck along the way!

 

That makes a lot of sense, you're definitely going to be doing some serious fab work though. Custom mounts, custom trans adapter plate, custom axles, the wiring should be interesting also but I'm guessing you're going to use a standalone unit.
I'm not pissing in your Cheerios either I'm excited you're doing this. I've swapped many motors but they were always from the same manufactures family.

 

Yep i have a holley terminator I’m gonna be using. As far as fab work goes, really all i think I’ll need to do is motor mounts and a tube front chassis. The trans adapter is gonna be made by someone else, and axels are made by BTF so not worried there.

 

Subbed! I've always wanted an LS for my first swap due to the sheer number of resources out there for it. Excited to see how this turns out!

 

Why would you need axles if you plan to execute the swap in such a way that you don’t move the transmission?

 

Exactly my point. I don't. The only reason I need new axels is for the BTF LT kit. Need longer ones haha.