Well I purchased my first 3.0 powered Yota this weekend for a decent price for a reason. I live by a very large Army base and they have their own version of Craigslist and I found this


Well the truck itself has 195k and the PO father-in-law gave him the truck because some unknown time ago he started doing the HG and I got it with the engine looking like this.


PO claimed his father in law was driving it engine got hot and possibly blew a HG. Now there is some oil on the top of the heads and the oil looks free of water. I have seen what the oil looks like when a HG blows and it is a mess if the hg blew even lets say 6 months wouldn't the oil still look milky? My main concern if the hg did let go and there has bee moisture in the cylinders what do they look like? So my real question is since I paid only $750 for the truck and I can get a rebuilt long block locally for $1200 should I just jerk out this engine and put in a fresh one. I am probably going to keep the truck for a bit and sell it maybe some time next year. Guy did give me a upper gasket kit and a Haynes truck has new tires, fairly clean interior, one quarter sized dent, and a newer radiator.

Thanks

 

Im always skeptical about what PO's tell me. It would suck to button that thing up and find out there's another problem with it. I would say 195k is about time for an overhaul

 

I agree with you even if I don't keep it who knows how much it might cost me if I just button it up as opposed to just putting in a rebuilt engine. At least with a fresh engine it should be easier to sell.

 

Why not tear it down and rebuild yourself, not all that tuff and doesn't sound like your needing it quickly? You would certainly get more than the 2,000 you'd be into the truck if you replace the engine with a longblock, looks very nice...

 

check out mike at sunwest.
http://www.sunwestautomotiveengines.com/
He can help.

 

you paid $750 for an excellent looking truck with a non-running engine. I would say you definitely have quite a cushion as far as how much you can spend before you exceed the overall value of it.

assuming and presuming the engine is shot because you never heard it run and can't very well take 2nd or 3rd hand information as testimony as to how it ran or as a provisional diagnosis, i would likely opt for a rebuild. ENGNBLDR.com has "master" rebuild kits for about $300 more or less. looks to me like in the picture you have 80% of the engine there and hopefully the other 20% elsewhere.....so I would think you have most if not all the necessary ingredients.

machine shop work, such as checking the heads and block I have no clue as to how much $$$ that costs, but I'm sure if you pull the engine, at some point you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it's necessary...knee jerk reaction by me would be to say to get the heads serviced and block serviced by a machine shop and the button it all back up with new pistons and the like.........but it's much easier for me to spend other peoples money too.

what i'm really saying is, pull the engine, do the rebuild. i have no clue as to your skill level, mine was a zero or a 1 when i started doing mine(22re) and has risen steadily since i started.

 

It is all there the rest is in the bed and I have used a ENGNBLDR.com kit to rebuild a 22re I had when I pull the heads off I'll make me decision from there. Thanks for the help

 

All the regulars know this is coming...soooooo, without further ado.

If you're capable of rebuilding an engine, you're probably capable of swapping in a 3.4.

http://www.andrewzook.com/content/view/22/37/

 

Ok. If he decides to swap the engine. Does he have to swap the tranny too.

 

Yes what you are thinking has been going through my mind also the idea of a 4.3 and a SAS..To make a engine swap happen my 84 runner will have to be sold to fund it. Thanks Rob great write and as far as my transmission the one in my truck will work just fine just need clutch, pressure plate, and pilot bearing from a 3.4l.

 

Rebuild the 3.0, you'll gain intimate knowledge of your vehicle you wouldn't otherwise get, and you can join the club around here that loves and appreciates the 3.0 for what it is...

 

It is the simplest of the engine swaps. Mechanically, it requires few additional parts and minimal fab skills. The 3.4 is way more fun to drive and blows away the 3.0 for power and reliability.

You mean Toyota's answer to a boat anchor?

 

You can send all those boat anchors my way...

 

Well tore into the engine and the back cylinder drivers side is where the gasket went. That cylinder has water/anti freeze in it and the tops of the pistons are caked with carbon. So now I need to decide if I am just gonna go ahead and rebuild it or venture into a 3.4 swap been doing a lot of reading on the swap.

 

as rob said.. this is the perfect cannidate for the 3.4 swap! when its done.. you will not regret it.. plus i'm almost local... if need be..
I would not bother with another 3.0. my swap was done costing 2200 for parts and supplies. I did all my own work.

 

The good thing also about the 3.4 is if I decide to sell it and if the buyer knows anything about Toyota' then he'll know he is getting a better truck. I haven't had much luck locating a 3.4 yet but still milling it through my mind on how much do I want to sink into this truck. I already have an 84 4runner and was thinking of selling it to fund this project. The good thing is I am in no big hurry if I need it out of the garage that bad I'll push it out and push it back in. Was looking at this setup also http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/pts/1708789853.html

 

If you're in no huge rush, then do the 3.4. You're most of the way to getting the 3.0 out. If you have a 5 speed, the engine bolts right up to it using almost all the same parts. You have to swap some stuff, which really isn't tough. Hell, my biggest repair prior to doing the swap was a head gasket and timing chain on a Sunfire. The swap was a huge leap, but I've never regretted doing it.

 

Well the 3.0 is ready to come out it is just bolted to motor mounts. My brother-in-law as the hydro ram for the family cherry picker my father-in-law bought a new one and once I get that I can pull it. I would almost rather put in a complete engine as opposed to figuring out where the box of bolts go that I was given.

 

Quick check of craigslist in your area comes up with this:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/pts/1703859707.html

 

I actually did see that and e-mailed it to myself but haven't called been milking a hangover today..