PICS May purchase 89 4Runner

bsharp · 04-28-2008, 03:10 PM

I may purchase a 1989 4Runner that is in great shape cosmetically but the owner tore into the head and never reassembled. He claims all is good but it was running hot and needs a new cylinder head. OK so if that is the case then I am looking at about $250 for the head ~$60 for the gaskets and another $100 just for the miscelaneous bolts, fluids and other crap. Well what about the pictures he sent me of the cylinders? I am looking for some opinions of the condition of these before I drive an 1.5 hours to see it. He turned it over before he took the pics you can tell. It sat for about a year with the head off in his garage (if he is being honest). If he isn't lying about the rest of the driveline do you think that the cylinder walls are scared or pistons beyond cleaning? I have a mechanic friend that is a Toyota Genius but thought I would get some more free advice from more toyotaholics here.

LTrunner · 04-28-2008, 03:45 PM

if everything else is good why not buy the truck and pic up a used engine for about $400

crolison · 04-28-2008, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTrunner

if everything else is good why not buy the truck and pic up a used engine for about $400

Ditto

zlathim · 05-08-2008, 08:39 AM

If the price is right on the runner, the engine will be easy to replace. Buy a used one or put a new head on the existing engine. I don't see any glaring problems, but the it is kinda hard to tell from just looking at a few pics. How much of a ridge is there on the top edge of the cylinders?

04-28-2008, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
bsharp Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1	PICS May purchase 89 4Runner I may purchase a 1989 4Runner that is in great shape cosmetically but the owner tore into the head and never reassembled. He claims all is good but it was running hot and needs a new cylinder head. OK so if that is the case then I am looking at about $250 for the head ~$60 for the gaskets and another $100 just for the miscelaneous bolts, fluids and other crap. Well what about the pictures he sent me of the cylinders? I am looking for some opinions of the condition of these before I drive an 1.5 hours to see it. He turned it over before he took the pics you can tell. It sat for about a year with the head off in his garage (if he is being honest). If he isn't lying about the rest of the driveline do you think that the cylinder walls are scared or pistons beyond cleaning? I have a mechanic friend that is a Toyota Genius but thought I would get some more free advice from more toyotaholics here.

04-28-2008, 03:45 PM	#2 (permalink)
LTrunner Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: spfld, MA Posts: 228	if everything else is good why not buy the truck and pic up a used engine for about $400 __________________ 89 4runner 3.0L, 5spd swaped like what ya see...check my build http://www.yotatech.com/f116/my-very...runner-143762/ Don't Follow me, you won't make it "Wheeling the piss out of it" AND "DD"ing it since 2005

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05-08-2008, 08:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
zlathim Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,006	If the price is right on the runner, the engine will be easy to replace. Buy a used one or put a new head on the existing engine. I don't see any glaring problems, but the it is kinda hard to tell from just looking at a few pics. How much of a ridge is there on the top edge of the cylinders?