NwRunner

My motor (1996 3RZ-FE) is making a wierd ticking noise that i cant find or figure out no matter how hard i try. It sounds kinda like a screw hitting the block way down at the bottom of the engine, and its not synchronized at all, very random. It usually does it when the engine is warm, and not all the time. Any help is appriciated

Skrillah

Mine does the same thing man...you aren't alone...i think its the exhaust manifold. I replaced mine once because of a crack and I bought some crappy OEM one off of ebay and I think its cracked again.

....have you come across any definite answers yet? how many miles on your rig?

NwRunner

i too have one of those crap OEM replacements just to get by for now, it has less then 500 on it.

I havent come across anything that i can think of, and ive only got 128,000

riverrat

I've been investigating aftermarket headers for the 3RZ. There are several, LCE apparently makes a decent one but its $400.

Someone responded to me over on the TTORA board that the later (2001+) "mini-header" style exhaust manifolds offer just about the same benefits, and are much cheaper since they are a junkyard item. They seem to go for about $100.

A guy on Pirate4x4 responded that they are a direct replacement for the earlier type. It is still a little unclear to me if the later style downpipe is different, or if the mini-header will bolt straight onto the earlier downpipe. But this is definitely the way I am going to go.

Skrillah

Riverrat,

Can you buy these new somewhere or do they have to be from Toyota?

riverrat

The guy who responded on Pirate4x4 sounds like he works at a recycler, and said that they've looked extensively for an aftermarket supplier but have not found one yet. So if they can't source one, it seems likely no one is making them except for Toyota.

Skrillah

Well, if i went to toyota...what model year should I tell them? 2001 Tacoma?

riverrat

From the same thread, copied into my "3RZ Notes" MS Word file:

"Direct replacement for the earlier style cast manifolds. They came on all 2000 California 3rz's and 2001-2004 3rz's both Cali and Fed. Not available new from aftermarket companies."

brylew

is the 2rz and 3rz "mini header" interchangable for those same years? might help with sourcing one at a junkyard...

Skrillah

Good thought but I don't think they are...maybe though....hmmm

riverrat

Some more info on this swap, and cost of new parts:

"...you can run your current down pipe..it is the same for all years." In other words, the pre-2000 downpipes will fit the later style manifold.

"...paid $212 out the door with the new header, gasket, down pipe gaskets and the egr gasket." [July 2008]

Here's a link to 1st Toyotaparts.com; they list the price of a new one as $163.51, list price is $227, but they don't seem to have it in stock. The gasket is another $25:

https://www.1sttoyotaparts.com/partscat.html

RE the 2.4 and 2.7- the prices are the same for both, but I can't see part numbers to determine if they are the same also.

Skrillah

Nice work rat...what do they refer the downpipe to? Is it the crossover pipe or front pipe? I need to probably just go ahead and nab one of those while I'm at it. I assume the downpipe that you are referring to is the pipe that connects the manifold to the cat?

kyle