I've been looking For a new 1GR-FE Engine for my 2005 4Runner. Can someone please tell me which is better to do. Purchase a new Rebuilt engine. Or buy a salvaged factory engine with 50K miles on it. I'm leaning toward the factory engine. As far as the price, its about the same..within a few hundred. Well......hmmmmm.......maybe not The salvaged engine would be less expensive because it would not require a core to be traded out. My existing engine blew and has 4 holes in the block where the rods came through. So I would have to pay additional for the core. Which has been quoted to me from anywhere from 250. to 500.00
Thanks, Mike

 

I would personally go for the better deal in general. If you are comparing the two. make sure you know exactly what you get with each purchase. To be so close in price I believe your probably getting a Long block for the rebuild and a complete engine with most accessories for the used engine. As long as they stand behind it, I would go for the used engine.
Being a 2005, have you considered choosing a better motor?
If your mechanically inclined you could go to the 1uz-fe and get a little more horsepower and torque with a duel vvti v8 (gs400 only 2000-2002)
The newer 4runners ran the same transmission but upgraded to duel vvti after 2010. Again, better power and torque.

At bare minimum if you decide to go with either I would suggest installing the doug thorley long tube headers and a cat back exhaust at this point. It will be 10 times easier and most issues with motors seem to originate from things like exhaust leaks etc.

again... the answer to the original question would be used unless you literally get exactly the same amount of stuff and negotiate the price down using the available rebuilt motor price.