RIP 3VZE. I never did like you much.
05-04-2010, 09:08 PM
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RIP 3VZE. I never did like you much.
While I was at work today, my wife called me and told me that her car was making "funny noises". She pulled over and got a ride home. I checked the car when I got home. It was two quarts low on oil (which seems to have recently leaked out of the drain plug area), and once I got it topped off and started, sounded like it either spun a bearing or broke something inside. She said that there was significant loss of power.
Considering that I purchased the car for $2500, and that it is a '92 automatic with a 3vze in it, I wasn't expecting that it would be worth my time to put it back on the road. A Toyota mechanic friend of mine offered me $1k for it. He will build a new engine for it and resell it.
I now need to get a car- quickly so my wife and daughter have transportation. My '86 is a bit rough for them to use for a daily driver yet.
I'm not sure if I will go for another 'runner or not. I'd like to stay away from the 3.0 if I do, and I don't think that she wants to deal with a 2 door. That makes things a bit more expensive.
The money and time simply aren't in the picture for me to do a 3.4 swap in the truck.
BUT.... on craigslist I found a '74 Dart for a good price. I wouldn't have to deal with smog any more, they get pretty good mileage, and my wife likes the look of it. If it has A/C, then it might be a winner. I will see about looking at it tomorrow and go from there.
Don't worry- I'm still a Toyota guy. The '86 isn't going anywhere.
Considering that I purchased the car for $2500, and that it is a '92 automatic with a 3vze in it, I wasn't expecting that it would be worth my time to put it back on the road. A Toyota mechanic friend of mine offered me $1k for it. He will build a new engine for it and resell it.
I now need to get a car- quickly so my wife and daughter have transportation. My '86 is a bit rough for them to use for a daily driver yet.
I'm not sure if I will go for another 'runner or not. I'd like to stay away from the 3.0 if I do, and I don't think that she wants to deal with a 2 door. That makes things a bit more expensive.
The money and time simply aren't in the picture for me to do a 3.4 swap in the truck.
BUT.... on craigslist I found a '74 Dart for a good price. I wouldn't have to deal with smog any more, they get pretty good mileage, and my wife likes the look of it. If it has A/C, then it might be a winner. I will see about looking at it tomorrow and go from there.
Don't worry- I'm still a Toyota guy. The '86 isn't going anywhere.
05-04-2010, 09:19 PM
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05-04-2010, 09:27 PM
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guilty by association...
Now dudes gonna fix it for the same $300 you coulda fixed it for...
But if it's worth all the trouble of selling and finding a new and in what condition vehicle to run low on oil... gohperit!
Now dudes gonna fix it for the same $300 you coulda fixed it for...
But if it's worth all the trouble of selling and finding a new and in what condition vehicle to run low on oil... gohperit!
05-04-2010, 09:28 PM
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Nobody ever said that it was the 3VZE's FAULT, just that I didn't ever like that particular engine much. I don't know where the oil leak originated, other than that there is an oil slick under the engine where it never existed before, and that it never lost any oil that I could tell until today.
Something will come up.
Something will come up.
05-04-2010, 09:31 PM
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The 3VZE does suck, I can't disagree with you there. Too bad it's not salvageable at all.
Maybe look into getting the wife a old Corolla, my ex had one of those and they are really reliable.
Maybe look into getting the wife a old Corolla, my ex had one of those and they are really reliable.
05-04-2010, 09:31 PM
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05-04-2010, 09:32 PM
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Fixing an "extra" car for 300.00 plus my time is one thing. Leaving my wife and three month old baby stranded at the house while I do it is another. My work doesn't allow for much time off. It may only cost 300.00 if you have the tools to do it. I don't.
