my motor hydrolocked today, removed the plugs and tried to crank but nothing happened. ive never done any rebuild work but have always wanted to, ive done a lot of work tho with cars but never removed or torn into an engine. is it do able to rebuild it if i take my time? are there any good write ups? ive been searching for the past hour and haven't found too much.

engnbldr master kit is $300, i would probably buy new rods too and hope the crank is good. id really like to rebuild it myself but dont want to mess something this major up.

anyone want to chime in? im not doing a 3.4 swap either, i love the 3.0 and it has never given me problems until now, plus i plan to keep the runner as close to stock as possible

 

Is the motor seized up? What makes you think it's hydrolocked? If it won't turn over with the plugs out, there's more to this than hydrolock....

 

Yup whent wheeling, went through a puddle that was too big and seiZed up, I messed up by trying to crank it a couple times before pulling the plugs

 

Do a 3.4 swap. better power to weight ratio.

 

If it stilll won't turn over, I suspect rod damage.

 

Tomorrow I'm going to try to crank it over by hand, to rule out the starter being the issue. I'm already preparing for the worst haha

 

First thing is to turn the engine over by hand and make sure it's not seized. There are too many potential electrical issues with water that could zap the starter from kicking in. Be sure to disconnect the battery first!

 

For what it's worth, I'm with you in not doing the 3.4 swap. Yes, it makes more power and has less of the annoyances in getting to stuff under the hood. The 3 has gotten a bad rep based partly on fact, but mostly on fiction.

The biggest reason not to do a 3.4 swap is that the engine is too old. It's already discontinued too. If you're set on a 3.4 for anything other than a cool points project (nothing wrong with that, either) just buy something that has a 3.4 in it already.

I agree that it sounds like you have rod problems. interested to hear how the hand crank goes.

 

Pulled the plugs and starter too to check out the flywheel teeth and everything looked ok. Tried to turn it over by hand and it wouldn't budge at all, something is def thrashed inside. I'm saving up to look for a replacement motor, found one with 180k and has recently had the top end rebuilt but I don't have the cash for it, hopefully it's still available in a month or so lol I'm just studying the fsm prepping to do this swap. I'm kinda looking forward to it, I've always wanted to rebuild a motor for my el camino but I guess this is my opportunity hahaa

 

I can't resist. Your options: curse the day you were born by trying to open the engine and fix it in the truck. Find another 3.slow and put it in and then curse the day your momma birthed you when it blows a head gasket after 100 miles. Pull the motor what you got and rebuild it on the bench. Pull the motor and turn the block into a coffee table. Find motor with blown HG or other top end prollem. Buy it cheap. Take your motor out, swap bottoms and tops, put it all back in.

OR, sell that whole thing and concentrate on the El Camino!

 

I <3 the 3.0!!! Lol the negativity to it is ridiculous! In 2 years and 30kmiles mine has never given me any problems until this one but it's completely my fault..... If it was a regular 4runner I would sell it but it's a 2 door and I love it to death, I would regret selling it because it's the first car I bought completely with my money. Plus I'd get maybe $1,000-$1500 for it with a blown motor..... What other car can I buy with that kind of money??? Just about nothing reliable or as cool as my runner....

My el camino is my baby but I can't drive it everyday, too scared of getting it stolen or getting the paint chipped. Plus that is 12mpg on a good day hahaa I drive at least 35 miles a day....

 

Oh and my mechanic is coming over tomorrow to check it out, my dad called him because they don't believe me when I say I blew up the motor lol I've done my hw and I know something is thrashed inside, if he finds the problem is something else (which I don't think he will even tho he's an awesome mechanic) I will Glady eat my words haha but I'm already saving up for a rebuild