Viet0ne

So my engine has been giving me problems and I have lived with it for a while.

It has survived two winters going to and from the mountains snowboarding without many issues except an odd bubbling sounding engine noise that goes away above 1000 rpm.

I have kept common routine maintenance on it from a Chilton service manual and so far the car still seems like its running fine except for that odd engine noise.

Before I push my luck further, I want to know if its worth tearing down and rebuilding the engine. So far, the best I have been able to estimate I can get for my 4runner is a little over $3,000 because of the engine noise and a dent in the passenger front quarter panel that I found not worth replacing or fixing.

It would be nice for the truck to survive another winter as I am looking into purchasing a Rav4 during the year end sales. I want to get a 4runner but IMHO, the new 4runners are just too big and since I wont be spending much if any time off roading anymore, a V6 Rav4 seems to be within my sights.

The reason I may do the rebuild is because I want to be able to make it safely to the mountain passes and back dozens of times as I did last year and possibly give the car to my little brother if I decide not to sell it since he will be driving soon and the car was great for me and I would assume great for him too.

After looking at other rebuild threads, it seems the cost can easily get to $1,000 or higher for a rebuild. I already have most of the tools needed to get the job done and can borrow an engine crane from a friend.

So in the opinion of most of the people here, would it be worth the cost to rebuild the engine if I intended to sell it probably before the end of the year. I realize it would be in my best interest to do so if my little brother were to take the vehicle.

fireman1559

you might as well find you a good 3.4 and swap it in and be done with it my opion anyway i dont know anyone else feels

Viet0ne

I thought about that as well but my intention is not to spend much money and as little as possible because of the situation described. Also, my car is an automatic transmission which would require a new tranny so the swap alone would end up costing more than the car itself.

TNRabbit

The bubbling sound I would bet is your PAIR Valve or you have a line disconnected from the resonator for it.

http://personal.utulsa.edu/~nathan-b...78pulsedse.pdf

buckz6319

X2 TNRabbit....I would check that out first along with the radiator maybe it's stopped up some ware

GorgeRunner

I use my 95 4Runner for the same reason you do; up to Meadows and back. I live at 2100' so we get a little extra snow as well.
What is wrong with the engine besides the gurgling? Burning oil, loosing coolant?
Maybe you can fix it up and get a $100 AAA membership for security.

dntsdad

I am in the same boat as you. I have too much in it to part out and recoup my money, a 3.0 rebuild just seems like pouring money down hte toilet, and a 3.4 swap cost is about what the truck is worth.

Our differences are however, that my truck suits its purpose and I want to keep it.

I am opting to take on the 3.4 swap and currently looking for a donor vehicle.

In my quest to find a donor, I do see many 3.0 motors on Craigslist for anywhere from 200-1000. I would look there and see what you can come up with.