So sunday afternoon, the guys I work with and I decided to go off roading.Our group consisted of a 90 tracker, mostly stock, 2 qauds and my runner. We were going to try an area down off a rural road one of us had heard about. After 45 minutes of exploring, we never found a suitable area to unload the quads so we took a trip up the highway north.

We left the highway and took to the old logging trails and oil exploration/pipeline trails and were doing fairly well until we came to a particularly deep hole about two hours into our exploration. The quads made it through, the tracker made it through.

My turn.

Ya know, I was going to fab a snorkel but I thought, "nah, I won't cross anything that deep". Well I wasn't until today. Midway through, the wash from my entry hit the opposite bank and came back at me. My filter let some water past it and my engine sputtered and died.

After a brief check and bo duke-ing it in and out of the vehicle cause the water was taking my rubber boots we decided that it can't do any more harm and started the truck. Bent rod, messed up bearing somewhere in the short block, and white smoke like you wouldn't believe, I killed my 3.slow.

I then proceeded to back out of the puddle, and shut down. After some grilled 'dogs I then wheeled my knocking engine to the highway and 20 klicks back to the shop. I assure you there was some white knuckled moments there.

I now need a new motor. Waiting to hear back to see if my co-worker's getting the drive train out of a 98 taco for free. The truck's scrap due to body/frame issues but motor and transmission are fine. Which means I get an upgrade from a 3 to a 3400. Might actually be an improvement. Might also be a long day tomorrow. When I finally get home I'll upload some pics and video links.
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access to full truck, wiring, ecu, everything. Two problems: first, the other truck has to be able to move under it's own power second, my boss wants this accomplished by tuesday since I'm using the shop.

anyone ever rammed a 3.0 into a 98 taco? and had it working? I think I may have to be the first.

tick tick tick off to bed, early morning and long day ahead.

 

Sorry to hear. Should be a lesson to us all.

 

And most people think that snorkels are just "for show"...This situation perfectly illustrates where snorkels are useful.

 

agreed. and my source for the swap backed out. later, I'm going to have to pull the block. Not having much luck sourcing out an engine so i may have to ram in a new piston if the block's still good. Not as much white smoke after the ride home so I may have gotten "lucky" in that regard. went to drain the coolant while waiting for the guy with the scrap truck to show up and ended I didn't have any coolant loss. Pretty sure the white smoke had to do with misfire and moisture in the engine.

frustrating more then anything. any other time, i would've had access to a bunch of junk that could be stripped and crushed once i figured out one rig. but it's the fall so anyone trying to get rid of their "old beater" is holding on until spring again.

and yeah, snorkels are good, as long as you're using them. good winter project for me I guess. I think my 4bying's done for the year.
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Update! (for the tons of people whom I'm sure were oh so interested)

Due to my father moving north at the end of the month, I need all three of my vehicles running. Don't have a choice on waiting till spring 'til everyone dumps their beaters for a 3400 swap. Didn't have much choice in engines either: $1000 for a 190k km rig or $1600 for a certified 35k max unit.

oh, and i've gotten all my parts together for a snorkel LOL