bgibb

I'd been warned over and over about the 3.0 head gasket but thought I might get out ok....that was until 2 hrs ago...so now that its blown...what do I do?

I have over $1,000 on mods (fliter,shocks,tires...) and lots more in time and sweat...and I hate to see it go...and none of that work goes into resale...

My original plan when buying it was to keep it for a year or two and then get into the 3rd generation 4runner after I knew a little more what I was doing...

Now...I am debating what to do...the body has rust that is spreading...not quite cancer but on its way and its the older 3.0 (v8 gas mileage with 4 banger power) where I would like the 3.4...so do I spend the money ($1500 at least I've been quoted) and do the job right (water pump, valve job, timing belt...) and keep it for the next 100,000 miles? Or do I just get the gasket fixed, sell it and upgrade...

If anyone has been through this I'd like advice and what you decided...

Thanks in advance...

Bumpin' Yota

hmmmm rebuild the 3.slow nad get a paint job and eliminate all rust now before its too late. But that's me. Keep in mind a chevy smallblock will fit in with relative ease - you just need to attakc the firewall with a BFH to make room for the distributor. Unless you put a ford smallblock in - then the distro is up front.

Ah hell just put in a 2jz-gte and be done with it! lol

rimpainter.com

I never suggest trading in vehicles...but maybe a dealer would take it (disclose the problem to them) on trade for a 3rd gen? It wouldn't cost them much to get it road worthy, so maybe they would give you full trade in value. Just a thought. 3rd gens are great!

Down2TheC

Depends on what you have in it and how much longer you want to drive that truck (rust and all). Option A: spend lots of time taking off mods and be an ebay hound trying to get a little back, then donate or auction. Then you still need to find and pay for a G3. Option B: Invest minimum to repair 3.0 and assume you won't get much of that investment back a few years from now (due to rust). Option C: 3.4 and stop/slow the rust and resolve to drive her for a few years to get your $$ back.
IMO B or C depending on how long you want to drive her and how much investment is alread in her.

Please post your mileage. I've had my '95 for a month and you're scaring me! I ran the VIN and mine didn't make the recall. So I should be on the orig HG.

bgibb

The milage is 115,000...From what I have heard the "danger zone" is between 100,000 and 125,000...If you make it out of the 125,000 there isnt as much reason to worry...Mine didn't make the recall either because its a 95.5 and they claim they fixed the problem...

Here's what I have come to so far...let me know what you all think...do the expensive rebuild cause I have to spend at least $1000 anyway...if i do the good rebuild ($1500...head, valves, water pump, timing belt, ect...) i still leave my options open to A: keeping it until i can afford a paint job (how much should i be spending on one of those?) or till the cancer takes over or B: sell it right away and since the engine is bascially new I could get $500 back out of it in a higher price...

Biggest question now...does having the head go reduce value...do I have to lower my asking price now because of it or do I leave it...

Second biggest question: is there anyone out there that has a 3rd gen they are getting rid of or does anyone want a rebuilt 2nd gen?

bgibb

How complicated/time consuming/$ consuming is a 3.4 swap?

User 051420

How much money ya got?

Silver_Truck

Do it yourself...get the parts from engnbldr its not that tough just takes some determination and some time...check out Morphine and my threads about top ends.

ChickenLover

I second that. The HG on my 95 blew at 106k. I replaced it myself for about $300.

Epic Ed

I have a '95 that also wasn't covered by the recall, but also experienced the head gasket failure. I did a cheap install of a bad rebuild when it blew around 97,000 miles, and really regretted going this route about 10,000 miles later when the cheaply fixed engine had an oil pump failure and the engine blew up. I then spent nearly $2,500 on a remanufactured engine and did it right -- heads ported and polished and installed headers.

If you're going to unload it, do the cheapest fix possible. This may mean doing the head gasket work yourself and putting it up for sale. If you're going to keep it, don't skimp on the work you have done or the parts you buy to do it yourself. Build it to last, and do it right once the first time.

Engine swaps are an alternative, but usually only make financial sense for those of us who already have more into our mods than we'll ever see in return if we decide to sell it. If I were in your shoes knowing what I know now, I'd fix cheap, sell it, and get a 3rd generation 4Runner. I love my vehicle, but am still disappointed with the power of the engine even after some of the most popular mods. Granted, I haven't done everything, but that's kind of my point -- with all the money I've spent I can't help but feel like it would have been a better investment if I had done it on a 3rd gen 4Runner.

Ed

bgibb

I thought alot about doing it myself but I have a few problems with that...I am a student living in an apt right now with no garage to work in...i can borrow the in-laws garage but not for more than a day or so...I also only have a mechanics tool set that I carry in my truck so I am limited there...but with that if its still possible I would be interested in knowing how...my biggest worry is that I have never done timing and other more complicated adjustments that would have to be made with this sort of job...

bgibb

Another question...does this repair decrease the resale value of the vehicle significantly? If I did go ahead and do the job right and then try to sell, would it help get more for the truck or will it not make any difference?

Epic Ed

It certainly won't decrease the value. Done by a certified maechnic and with receipts for proof that the work was done, I'd say it would help boost the value of the vehicle since most people looking to buy a 2nd gen 4Runner know that it is a potential issue. Bonus points for you since it will give them peace of mind knowing the head gasket has already been replaced.

Ed