2004 V6 to V8 and other work. Tips?

Hi all,

I just inherited my late grandfather's 2004 Tundra with the 3.6 and access cab. He's been gone a while, and the truck has been passed between my mom and grandmother until the motor gave out. They gave it to me knowing I'd fix it, and I'm thinking I should just put a 4.7 into it.

The truck has about 300k miles, and it will not be a daily or even weekly driver, as I'm only keeping for sentimental value. That said, I will be able to take my time fixing it up.

Outside of the engine, I'm going to replace the bushings, ball joints, shocks/struts/springs, u joints, and wheel bearings. I'm looking at the TRD big brake kit as well. Are there any other non-engine related items I should be looking at?

Also, if I'm going to have the motor out, I figure I should rebuild it rather than put a used/questionable motor in, so what are good mods for this truck/engine? I saw there's a CARB legal header set, and a street cam set, so those seem likely suspects. I assume the transmission from the v6 doesn't work with the v8? What about the diff, driveshaft and axles?

I know this isn't necessary for a truck that will be barely driven, but I want to make it as enjoyable as possible when I do drive it, and my other two vehicles are both Tesla Model S, so I've gotten spoiled. Something that especially drives me insane when driving other cars is poor brakes.

Thanks!

TLDR; 2004 Tundra has non-functioning V6. Want to buy/rebuild/install V8. Have lots of time. What are your suggestions?

 

We'll get to the main question in a bit BUT.....



Some past threads from here....a number are out there at other Tundra Forums via search....doable and time is your friend, so you say ! Make your gramps proud !

Swap V6 for V8 question | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

02 v6 swapped to a v8 | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

Tundra Solutions....

 

Why not just buy the 3.4L Supercharger?

 

My swap of the day today would be a 302/t5.

Is it 4x4 or rwd?

tear the spinny bits out of one of those electric toy cars and make a tundra tErd.

 

I'll have to take some photos at some point then. haha

Thanks for the links. I'll keep searching.

I believe the current motor has a blown headgasket, so the original plan was to rebuild it and leave it otherwise stock, but after realizing there was a V8, I figured I could go that route instead. V6 with SC vs NA V8 in this case looks like the V8 has more power, and I assume better reliability. Is that incorrect?

It's a RWD, which I'm hoping makes the swap easier.

I don't think a 440+ lb-ft electric motor would do an empty truck bed any favors...

 

First things first, seems like everyones second favorite topic around here, how much rust has eaten the frame?

 

I’ll have to climb under it this coming weekend, but I’m assuming none. It’s always been inland, and in a place that doesn’t snow (Sacramento Valley, CA).