Going to rebuild the 3.0 in my 1995 4runner and have been looking for a rebuild kit. I am seeing prices range from $250.00 to $700.00. Does anyone have a recommendation? Are the cheaper ones junk kits? Should I stay with OEM kits?



1995 4Runner 31" tires Automatic Trans

 

IMO Always best to go with OEM for anything major like a rebuild. In this case you actually do get what you pay for.

 

I seldom buy a kit. I shop for the best prices on each of the highest quality components.

Pistons here, rings there, rod and main bearings....Best to stick with factory gaskets on the 3.0

I never buy any component that was made in a country where there is not a high standard of living.

Slave labor never produces a high quality product.

 

I bought all Enginetech on my last rebuild, runs good, I should've sleeved the back of the crank though cause the rear main leaks, but no bottom end noise or clatter and I did all the bearings and everything with plastigauge and basic tools in a garage. Definitely have the block and heads checked by a machine shop, saved my ass, both heads cracked, got new ones from DNJ. All in all if you aren't super broke like me OEM is best for something of this magnitude, but my stuff works so far. Mine isn't a daily driver though, and a lot of things I do to it aren't advisable,

 

That is my same situation. This is not a daily driver at all. I do have a little bit that I can spend on this. Don't want to go crazy. Really just want reliable at the end. I do have a good machine shop in my area that I have used in the past. I am not opposed to purchasing a rebuilt unit just skeptical on where to buy one and the shipping cost to return the core. I'm sure shipping a motor back is not cheap.

Thank you for your information. I am not in a hurry and will continue to do research.

 

I'm actually in a pretty similar situation. Blew a hole in my block, going to get a donor truck tonight with a running 3.0 at 216k. I need the truck back up and running asap so I'm debating if I should rebuild the whole thing while its out or just throw on new gaskets and run it.

 

I would get an OEM seal kit and FIPG for the motor. ( FIPG is $20, not sure how much the oem kit is)

I got an AISIN timing belt kit on rockauto for $140, but most people get OEM from what i’ve seen. I’ve had no problem with mine though.

If you bore and hone it, I used NPR pistons and rings when I rebuilt mine and it runs excellent. My machinist told me NPR is basically equivalent or even a small bit better than OEM pistons. ($120 on amazon)

I would also just have a machinist mill both of the heads no matter what (my machinist charged me $40 to do both) and gives a better sealing surface for the HG

As for bearings I would go with Toyota or Sealed Power(cost me $80 for rod and crank on rockauto)

I would also make sure to get a new knock sensor pigtail, that thing is a PITA to get to with it in the car ($20 from dealership)

If wanting to prolong the life of your headgaskets, is slap some header wrap on the crossover ($15 on ebay).

A few things extra I did that most people don’t do is, I replaced the timing cover dust boot because it dry rots and gets very brittle. Found an OEM one for $11 on ebay brand new. The next stuff I did was buy exhaust manifold bolts and EGR delete from LCEngineering. can’t remember the price but it wasn’t much
(can’t stand exhaust bolts breaking off in the head..)

Hope this helps!
Max

 

Thanks for sharing your experience. Doesn't look like this will be too expensive. Also I am not going to use the stock exhaust, going with headers and possibly dual pipes out the back instead of the crossover underneath.