Hey guys,

So I bought myself a 95 4runner SR5 almost a month ago. The first couple of days were awesome, I love it. But I started getting a bunch of issues with the truck, I just had a new transmission installed last week.

A few days after that, noticed the engine kept sputtering when I was idling at a light or something. Sounded like it was going to stall out, but would never actually die. It would save itself but continue to chug until I gave it gas.

Brought it into a shop a few days ago and they thought it was a bad spark plug making the engine misfire. After opening it up they told me it needed a valve job or a new engine. I was quoted about $1700 for the valve job and $4000 for a new engine. I've been told by a couple people now that $4000 is an insane amount for a new engine.

I don't really have a specific question here, sorry for that. I'm just in shock here. I've driven the truck no more than 100 miles since I bought it and this whole thing has blown me away.

How much should an engine + installation actually cost me? Am I better off looking for used engines online, if so what do I look for?

Any help/advice is very much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

To add, I've been trying to read about engine swaps and the "5VZ-FE" engine seems to be a popular choice for 4runners.

How hard/expensive would it be to throw one of those into my 95 4runner?

 

It just depends on:

How mechanically inclined you are?
How cheap you can find a donor vehicle.

I've got less than a grand in mine, but that's not the norm.

:wabbit2:

 

I can certainly learn how to do it, problem is I have zero tools and very little experience working on a car. :/

 

You learn how to change your oil. You don't learn on an engine swap.

:wabbit2:

 

Agreed.

How do I go about this? I feel like a regular mechanic is going to bleed my pockets dry for something like this. Best bet is to find myself an engine for cheap and save some money that way I guess?

 

You won't find a "regular" mechanic who will have a clue about doing a 3.4 swap.
There is a whole forum section on a lot of the "how tos" but it's not like an oil change.

:wabbit2:

 

So I've been trying to call around about engine swaps. I currently have the 3VZ-FE, the 3.0slow engine(I'm assuming). Seems like the 3.4L 5VZ-FE is the popular choice of swap.

Is that compatible with my 95? I had a shop tell me they did swaps but not conversions. What is a conversion?

 

Swap is same engine swapped in to replace existing.

Conversion is converting to different engine that didn't come in your vehicle.

:wabbit2:

 

I see, the conversion requires more electrical work I'm assuming? I saw a lot of threads that had big sections with the car computer and wiring etc.

 

check out the 3.4 swap section on yotatech. and these guys http://toyonlyswaps.com/

 

I'm kinda on the fence here. My options are to get a 3.0 swap, get the 3.4 conversion/swap or just to try and part out what I have and find something else.

What do you guys suggest I do? Money is a big factor, but I don't mind shelling out money if it's going to be worth it.

I'm leaning towards the 3.4, but it's a lot of money for me. But at the same time I feel like it would be worth it if the truck lasted a good many years without major issues.

 

I'm in Tuscaloosa, AL and have done quite a few 3.4 swaps.
Email me if you're interested.

:wabbit2:

 

Hate to say it but i think the OP is better off finding a good running lower mileage 3.0 to swap in OR... rebuild your old one! An engine conversion will require a good deal of work & extra part$; not to mention the associated headaches that come with it if you have no experience.