Hi all

I'm interested in opinions and wisdom from those who have gone down this path:

I have acquired a 95 4runner in great shape, but has a blown head gasket. The oil doesn't look milky, but the engine overheats quickly and shoots white smoke.

I also have a 93 T100 that has a rebuilt v6 in it, however the body is shot.

I am considering transplanting the T100 engine to the 4runner.

The alternative is to fix the head gasket.

I have an engine hoist and stand but I'm not a mechanic.

Without breaking the bank, what is the least painful route for diy guy like me?
Engine rebuild or transplant?

 

Why not go for the transplant?

 

since you already have the donor engine, you should do the swap. cheapest choice for sure.

 

+1 on the transplant. next cheapest way would be the 3.4L swap, which would cost about the same for a reman 3.0, just without the reciprocating 3.0 HG issue

 

I rebuilt my engine last year and total came out to approx $2500. If you feel confident enough to do a swap I would go for that vs rebuilding a 3.0. Either or its still a good choice.

 

I've seen this stated several times. Is this true only if you can DIY? What if I am too ignorant and have to farm the work out? I'm considering dropping in a reputable re-manufactured engine into a 94 4runner 3vze and it's looking about 3k installed, could I pay some one to drop in a 3.4 (rebuilt properly, with quality parts) for 3k? Did I seen you need to do a lift for this?

 

I can see the transplant as the cheapest option, only requiring my time. Anyone know if the T-100 engine a direct swap to the 4runner?

 

It should. . Maybe? You could swap the engine and get back on the road and possibly keep the blown 3.0 and work on it from time to time and then sell it to make some profit or keep as a spare.

 

Started the 3vze removal process. I'll post my experiences with a few pics.

 

Turns out that I was driving to my friends house this morning.. And all of a sudden, White Smoke everywhere.. : ( their goes my head gasket! Looks like I'm stuck in a same situation.

 

I've been reading up on this problem and I'm afraid if I get a new headgasket it will go in under 30 thousand miles..? The guy I purchased my runner from had already gotten the HG done at 80,800 miles.. It currently only has 117,700 on it! That is way to soon for it to go on me. I'm wondering if their is any options that I can do to make head gasket last more than 40,thousand miles?

 

Im pretty sure it could be bad installation, was the head checked and machined, etc

 

Well the guy had the work done at the toyota dealership under warranty back in 99..so I would assume it was done properly?

 

I have the actual dealership receipt with date, service. Done, and miles..

 

If he did it back in '99, I wouldn't think it that strange that it blew 14 years later. Who knows how it was stored and what coolant was left in it... how it was run etc. Rubber deteriorates over time. My '87 blew a few months ago and it had 32k original miles on it. It just got old.

 

You are right tho.. It was bareley driven.. It just sat their most of the time.. Other than timing belt and water pump and new head bolts, what else should be done now that I will be getting HG fixed.?

 

Guys I only get a little white smoke when I start the 4runner, but I definitely know Im not getting any compression on cylinder 2, however it runs fine, even took it to 80mph on the freeway, doesnt overheat, I wouldnt even have known that it had a bad cylinder 2 if it wasnt for the tune up i just did...

The mechanic told me i need a headgasket job, for $975.. but the bottom end is not covered, and he is only giving me a 90 day warranty.. what do you guys think?

I plan to tow my 2000 pound boat about 600 miles 3 times a year?

 

A HG job for $975? That would be the deal of the century if that was true... I would be SUPER suspect of the parts he uses for this price. On my HG job the parts alone (oem) were $1200.

 

Well, engine+transmission+tcase pulled... almost hesitant to put another 3.0 in...

 

Put the 3.4 in, it will save you slot of headache later