crawler85

Have you not read about the v6 head gasket issues?

AZ-YOTA

I know about the issue, since I have the 3.0 V6 in my current pickup ('93 4x4), but I also know it's a problem in the 22R/RE trucks as well (dad drives an '85).

I know I'll probably get a lot of grief for this here, but having experience with both of these engines, I think that that 3VZE is really a misunderstood engine. I really haven't had many problems with it even though I just do regular maintenance on it, and though it's got 210k+ miles, it still runs excellent, gets decent mileage (~18mpg right now) and puts out decent power to where I can climb hills on the highway without slowing down and also go do some light trails without feeling like I'm lacking power and getting stuck.

I would really go either way, though. I see lots of guys running the 22RE and totally killing it, sometimes with really minimal modifications. The legendary reliability and ease of finding parts for that engine is just a huge bonus.

j2the-e

I had an 87 22re and an 89 3.0. Both 5spd. I liked the 22re better. Lighter, better mpg, more torque. Maybe geared differently, I dont know, but the 22re felt better to me. I had a TRD cam, LCE header and full exhaust on it. I pulled quad trailers and jet ski trailers with both engines. The 22re did better for me. When I first bought the 89 3.0, my original intention was to swap the 22re into it. But then I came across a great deal on a 3.4....
I was a Toyota tech for 15 years. In that time I did more head gaskets and short blocks than I can remember on the 3.0. I never replaced a 22re short block, and the only time I ever did a head gasket on one was while replacing the timing chain.
In short, I hate the 3.0. They blow head gaskets, burn valves, spin rod bearings, rods like to exit the side of the block, and the injectors leak. Nothing but a boat anchor in my opinion. Thant being said, many people have had great luck with them, including me. I had mine for a year and never a single problem. 205k when I yanked it, engine had never been apart. Either way you chose, you will likely be wrenching from time to time. The things I like better about the 89: sunroof, power windows, cruise control, more comfortable seats, tachometer and oil pressure gauge

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

The auto to manual tranny swap wouldnt bother me, most everything is just bolt on. The 3.4 swap would be intimidating to me as there is wiring, fabbing , and other things that are involved. Depends on your strong points.

I have had the 3.0 with a 5 speed and really liked it and never had to do any serious work to it. When fuel first went thru the roof is the biggest reason I got rid of it. Several complain about the 3.0 but try and find a low mileage 3.0. Good luck, in my opinion they are less likely to need major repair. Yes the head gasket is an issue, and it is alot more difficult to work on from what I understand, but when I started looking for one, the miles is was unbelieveable to me. 2,3, and 400 thousand all day long.

The 22r series is a great little motor but from my experience, it has a bigger headgasket issue then the 3.0. It is just easier and cheaper to repair from my experience. I have done several 22r head gaskets. I cant speak a whole lot from experience for the 3.0 but from the 22r/e I can and I really like the little motor so I am not trying to be biased, just being open minded.

I posted this link about the 3.0 on another post and maybe it will help you if you decide on the 3.0 >>> https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...k-3vze-187741/ I thought it had a lot of good info.

osv

are you planning on building it up for crawling and such? if so, I wouldn't spend $4k for a stock 4runner, because it'll cost you a lot more in the long run.

there are rigs coming up for sale for $6.5-$7k+ that are pretty tricked out, if you can swing it... a lot more bang for the buck, if they are built right... check the for sale boards on pirate and marlin crawler.

2toys

I'm not a first gen guy but I own two 3.slows. had one of them rebuilt a couple years ago put it in and it had no power couldn't pull a hill to save its life turned out to be the tps runs like new now.

Richard

if you want a little road trip , I have this gem for sale

http://salem.craigslist.org/cto/4061179559.html

Gamefreakgc

It comes down to maintenance with the 3VZE's and 22R, RE's. A well maintained vehicle will last a long time with little issues. A poorly maintained vehicle will have many issues, including head gaskets. It really just depends on how the owners took care of it. That's what you should be looking for in the engine, evidence of a well taken care of vehicle. Low mileage also helps.

Greg_Canada

3vz to 5vz swap is much easier and cheaper than 22re to 5vz swap.

22re to 3rz swap is much easier than 22re to 5vz swap.

smracing

iTrader: (1)

Having driven and worked on both engines in a 4Runner, I'd take the 22re. Matter of fact, I wouldn't own the 3.0. Working on the 22re is easy money.

AZ-YOTA

so I just noticed there is a board for Buying and Selling Advice... my bad. I don't mean to crowd up this board with my posts... if any Mods want to move it, I wouldn't mind. (noob mistake)

So I've been practicing my patience and just waiting for something to come around, and something cool popped up. could I get some advice on this one?

*apparently* it runs (says is *will start*) but it's got a blown head gasket. 22RE so I'm not excessively worried since I've had experience replacing my dad's a couple times (and getting the head welded and machined to fix a rusted cooling port).

Anyways, check it out, see what your initial impression is, and let me know what you think. Everyone has been such a great help at providing insight and experience, I am really thankful.

Bonus: it's only $1000 obo. I could definitely use the extra money saved to do some of the work to it, and maybe the total would still be less than the $4000 for the other runners.


Here's the link. Thanks!
http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/cto/4087006195.html

crawler85

Offer 800 cash and worse case scenario, you have a "hangar queen" with a plethora of spare parts in case you can't get it going.

j2the-e

Did you see this one?
http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/4087576556.html

AZ-YOTA

Nice! I'l have to see about getting down there this weekend to check it out! Looks like it has a bent drivers front fender but luckily my best buddy's uncle owns Hannemann Fiberglass... hehehe...

I was figuring I would make an offer like that, and for that price, even if I spend another $2k fixing it up, I'm still in for less than any of the other options.