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Bringing my first vehicle back to life..

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Old 03-04-2012, 12:01 PM
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Bringing my first vehicle back to life..

This was my first vehicle back in 2003, The motor locked up in 2004 with 389,*** miles on it. Now i'm ready to tackle the rebuild, debating wether i put the 3.0 back in it or swap out for a 22re.. wouldnt mind the good gas milage. Any suggestions? And i cant seem to find a replacement passenger window. It has been sitting for a long while so it needs a lot of work.
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Old 03-04-2012, 12:03 PM
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Nice and clean. I would ditch the 3.0 and go 3.4 if you have the know how and money. But 22RE is simple an fairly cheap as well.

I like that runner.....glad to see that someone isn't going to let it rot. Keep us updated!
Old 03-04-2012, 12:10 PM
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It will most likely be a daily driver. I'm not against throwing some money into the build but my know how is pretty limited. i just dont want to pay someone to do it. Even if i dont go all out at least i want to do it all
Old 03-04-2012, 12:16 PM
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Yeah 3.4 is a spendy swap. Id stick with 22RE. But if at all possible id shy away from that 3.slow.
Old 03-04-2012, 04:34 PM
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Nobody swaps a 3.0l for 2.4l. Maybe it's happened, but I've never seen it.

Most folks say the 3.0 isn't worth the cost of rebuilding. Better off putting the money toward a 3.4.
Old 03-05-2012, 04:21 PM
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I really want to get this thing running quick. If i rebuild the 3.0 with the kit from www.engnbldr.com what else should i do to the motor?
Old 03-05-2012, 04:42 PM
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If you can rebuild a 3.0 you can swap a 3.4 in. Everything bolts up there is no need to fabricate anything and any engine rebuild/swap is going to cost money no matter what. If it had a 22re id rebuild it, but there is no dependability in a 3.0 especially as a daily driver. Search 3.4 swaps on here there is tons of knowledge and helpful people to help get it done. i just wouldnt put money into a motor that has proven to be a better boat anchor then anything. my $0.02
Old 03-05-2012, 05:00 PM
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If it came with a V6 its alot easier to keep it that way. Either rebuild the 3.0 or swap in a 3.4
Old 03-05-2012, 05:33 PM
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not worth going to 4 cly. You will have to chop and reweld the mounts on the frame. You will need different driveshafts, transmission crossmember, fuel lines, transmission... etc..
Either rebuild the 3.0 or get a junk yard 3.0. Or 3.4 swap.
Old 03-05-2012, 07:42 PM
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Originally Posted by black toy
keep the engin close to stock it will last longer. and as for the 3.4 vrs 3.0 they both have the same botomend so if u want more stuff to wory about get the 3.4
That's a misleading post. The 3.4 for has consistently proven to be a vastly superior power plant to the 3.0. Much less to worry about, actually.
Old 03-05-2012, 07:50 PM
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yeah i agree there are 3.4s from the factory with nothing but an oil change and basica tune ups that have 300k+ miles, the 3.4 puts out more power, torque and gets consibly better gas milage, the trannys will bolt right up, the 3.4 is basically a drop in swap minus the wiring, is your runner a auto or a 5 spd? maybe if you can get the 3.4 bolted in and put in wabfab will do the wiring for you? its worth spending, that or contact toyonlyswaps, they will sell you a plug and play wiring harness, your best bet is to do the 3.4 swap, ull spend a little more but in the long run youll have more power, gas milage and alot less headache, thus saveing money in the future most likely
Old 03-05-2012, 09:13 PM
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ooh oooh oooh........I've got a passenger door window if you need one! PM me!
Old 03-05-2012, 09:24 PM
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I know a lot of people don't like the 3.0, but I've had good luck with several of them. They have good power when they're fresh. My understanding is that swapping in a 3.4 means custom exhaust work, and having to deal with the wiring harness and computers and sensors... my humble opinion is to rebuild your 3.0 or go with a good used one.

Don't use your old throttle position sensor or air flow sensor. Both of them affect gas mileage (and power) and yet when they get worn out they often won't trip the check engine light.

Anyway, to limit the complications in your life AND get your rig back on the road as soon as possible, (or off-road if you prefer ) I would keep it a 3.0.
Old 03-06-2012, 05:44 AM
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I hear all this talk about dependability of the 3.0 but my runner got 390,000 miles somehow. I wonder if that is dependable? It would cost me way more to do a 3.4 swap.. though I would like to do it. It seems more sensible to fix what I got right now.
Old 03-06-2012, 10:16 AM
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just a heads up... I finished my 3.4 swap for 2100. The cheapest long block 3.0 i could find was 1875. And that 3.0 price didn't include the rest of the gaskets or fluids.
Old 03-06-2012, 02:22 PM
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http://www.4x4wire.com/forums/showfl...5&o=14&fpart=1
Old 03-06-2012, 04:17 PM
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i dont need to spend 2 grand on a long block.. I didnt blow the old one up it just started knocking so i let her sit.. I was 17 i didnt know what to do
Old 03-06-2012, 05:50 PM
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I'm one of those 3.slo-tolerant heretics, as well. The only gripe I have ever had about the engine is that it hates pulling up long freeway hills and prefers not to go over 65...I kind of like the right lane, anyway. It's only at 230k but has never had a HG issue and still pulls pretty hard. Blah, blah.

Like you I would be tempted to rebuild my engine if it went bad in the topend--mainly out of frugality. I would go with engnbldr, as well. In $$$, I would think this makes the most sense. If the thing blows out your rebuild in, say, 50k miles, then you're only down a few hundred bucks--though I would argue that 50k miles is more than worth the cost of a rebuild.

I have seen numerous longblock 3vze's with (maybe dubious) install at <=$1500 out west. Don't know about OK.

I've been made to understand that putting in a 22re is an absurd amount of work and a waste of money since you could buy a truck/4runner with the 22re for less money than the swap.

I have considered a 3.4 swap, but in my cheap-ass case, finding a truly cheap donor or, at least, a cheap engine is practically impossible. Sigh...maybe someday. Or better yet something that gets more than 20 mpg. Like a 1KD...mmmmm.

Finally, if my 3.0 was mated to an A/T I would think much differently about this.
Old 03-25-2012, 01:56 PM
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What machine work should i do while i have the motor apart? I dont want to have all that labor in it and tear it back apart later because i didnt make a good seal somewhere.
Old 07-28-2012, 06:10 PM
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Badly in need of the passenger sliding glass!! HELP


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