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Full rebuild or just top end?

Old 12-18-2009, 09:19 AM
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Full rebuild or just top end?

I your guys/galls opinion about my motor. It blew the HG the other week and I planned on doing a full rebuild but its alot of work and I just helped my friend with a 3vz rebuild and I dont want to go through it again.

I drained the oil and there was tons of coolant in the oil. Since I got coolant in the oil, should I do a full rebuild since im already at it? Or would you think id be alright just doing the top end?

Theres 212k on the motor. Do you all think my "short cut" would end up costing me more time and more money in the long run?
Old 12-18-2009, 09:25 AM
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even though you just did one, if you have the time and money, i would do a complete rebuild, it would suck to do the top end and then have problems in a year or two, and you know how it goes, fix something, and your truck will find the next weakest spot!!!lol
Old 12-18-2009, 10:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Tubbyfatty
I your guys/galls opinion about my motor. It blew the HG the other week and I planned on doing a full rebuild but its alot of work and I just helped my friend with a 3vz rebuild and I dont want to go through it again.

I drained the oil and there was tons of coolant in the oil. Since I got coolant in the oil, should I do a full rebuild since im already at it? Or would you think id be alright just doing the top end?

Theres 212k on the motor. Do you all think my "short cut" would end up costing me more time and more money in the long run?
I had the same problem with my 95 4runner and I just did the top end. No problems to date. It has been about a year now, or should I say 60K miles ago. I sure hope I do-not start having problems.
Old 12-18-2009, 10:14 AM
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Do it big or don't do it at all. What 300 or 400 rebulid, or wait and end up needing a crank maybe, or even worse?
Old 12-18-2009, 10:25 AM
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Originally Posted by keithguts
I had the same problem with my 95 4runner and I just did the top end. No problems to date. It has been about a year now, or should I say 60K miles ago. I sure hope I do-not start having problems.
What headgaskets did you use, or gasket kit? What was the total cost you did yours for?

I have tons of time but not tons of money haha. I just want to get this thing back up and runnin lol.
Old 12-18-2009, 11:01 AM
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With 212k on the v6 motor and heavy amounts of water in the oil pan, I'd lean towards a bottom-end rebuild.

You honestly don't know the condition of the mains and a planned rebuild is easier/cheaper than an unplanned rebuild.
Old 12-18-2009, 11:12 AM
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Originally Posted by Windsor
With 212k on the v6 motor and heavy amounts of water in the oil pan, I'd lean towards a bottom-end rebuild.

You honestly don't know the condition of the mains and a planned rebuild is easier/cheaper than an unplanned rebuild.
True, I dont know the condition of the cylinder walls either.

My friend rebuilt his 3vz for about $1000 so I think its going to end up costing me around that too.
Old 12-18-2009, 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Tubbyfatty
True, I dont know the condition of the cylinder walls either.

My friend rebuilt his 3vz for about $1000 so I think its going to end up costing me around that too.

just saw this the other day on c/l, its a couple hours south from you but its a whole truck,

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/cto/1514531595.html
Old 12-19-2009, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by OrRunner
just saw this the other day on c/l, its a couple hours south from you but its a whole truck,

http://roseburg.craigslist.org/cto/1514531595.html
As tempting as that is, I dont have the space for another truck and only saving 300 and i dont know exactly what it looks like on the inside, i might as well just rebuild my current motor.

Thanks for thinkin about this thread tho.
Old 12-22-2009, 11:26 PM
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Look for a 3.4! Kidding...sorta. I did the top end only on mine about a week after I got it in '07, but it also wasn't because of a blown head gasket. I did a tune up and the previous owner(s) hadn't done anything but oil changes for awhile, and #5 spark plug broke off flush with the head. I used the FelPro set from Napa, and never had a problem any more than any other gasket would have, considering I blew the head gasket 20,000 miles later due to overheating, and not at the #6 cylinder like everyone else. Do you know how long you drove it with the gasket blown? If it wasn't too long, you may have not done any damage to the crank bearings. Were it me, I'd get the top end removed, look at the cylinder walls, then remove the oil pan, which can be done without removing the front 3rd if you lift the motor up just a bit. When you got the pan off, pull a rod cap and check out the bearings. Decide from there.
Old 12-23-2009, 08:50 AM
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I drove it about 12 miles before the temp gauged moved out of the normal range. It started to get hot about 2 miles from home so i stopped and waited 30 min before i drove it the 1-2 more miles.

When I drained the oil there was still the normal amount of oil, it just had alot of coolant in it, toyota red that is.

Thanks for the tip, im going to pull the top end in a few days and see whats up.
Old 12-23-2009, 12:11 PM
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there is never enough time to do it right the first time, but always time to do it again.

Originally Posted by Tubbyfatty
Thanks for the tip, im going to pull the top end in a few days and see whats up.


plan for a full rebuild w/200k+
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