Hello,

This is my first time here and I thought what better place to go for help in my delema and ask for guidance and suggestions

Ok, I have a 4 wheel drive 1991 v6 extenda cab truck that needs a 3.0 motor.
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My problem is I don't know which way to lean in either getting a new motor (rebuilt) which will run so they say around 1,200.00 to 1,800.00 and then 1,000.00 to install it. My truck has been sitting for about 3 1/2 years and I know the longer it sits, the more I may have problems. Plus I need a muffler too and whatever else they find is wrong being I was told being that my truck has sat for such a long time.

I really want to get my truck on the road as I have had it for so long and it has always been a champ for a truck and I just love my truck. Just before the motor went on it, I had 4 brand new tires installed on it, brand new radiator, new clutch, waterpump, thermostat, timing belt, and belt guides. I attached a couple of pictures so you could see what it looks like. It's beautiful inside and out. It has the step up, fog light and grill on front and the razor rims. A pretty sharp looking truck with no rust. I always took good care of my truck and it's a 1 owner truck too. Everyone always was offering to buy it from me but no way was I going to give it up.

I've been reading that the 3.0 motor was recalled by Toyota for many years and just wasn't a good motor. And then I've also been reading that a lot of guys suggest putting a 3.4 motor in instead. I called a mechanic in town and they say it would be much more costly to do as I need a new wiring harness, etc....(I know nothing about trucks). I'm going to stick with a 3.0 engine I decided.

I just wish I had a man to take make the decision and advise me of either it was best to either sink the money into my truck or as some have advised I should sell, or junk it and just buy another vehichle.

I figure if I got a rebuilt engine for say 1800.00 plus 1,000 to install, 300 for a muffler and then maybe 700.00 for extra things they are going to find that have to be fixed or replaced I could (maybe get my truck back on the road for a total give or take of 3,800.00. Does that sound realistic?????? So I'm thinking even rounded off 4,000.00 will give me my nice truck back as I'll have pretty much all things new.....If I try and find a used vehicle for whatever the price is, I'm could be buying someone elses problems with the possibility I could get taken on a vehicle like what happened when I bought 4 brand new (supposedly new tires on Craigslist) when they weren't as they were all dryrot. So I went and borrowed the money to buy 4 new tires from a dealer.

I sure would appreciate any and all suggestions for help here. I don't even know who to go to who could do an honest job for me with my truck. My thought right now is to have it towed to a mechanic in town and let them get it up on the rack and evaluate my truck. I live in Blue Ridge, Georgia and if anyone knows this area or an honest dependable mechanic I would so appreciate your help.

Thankyou.

Trappeur

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You could invest the money back into a 3.0 (3VZ). It depends on how long you want to keep the truck. In my opinion, the 3vz is a decent motor, but suffered from some design flaws which caused a lot of the head related issues that they are known for. But the 3.4 (5VZ-FE) had those head problems resolved since Yamaha was involved in the design of the heads. So the 5vz is a 24-valve that doesn't suffer from head related issues. I can't even say I know of any real problems with the 5vz, that aren't maintenance related (timing belt, water pump oil, coolant, etc.). If these things are neglected, ANY engine will have problems.

So if it were me, and I were planning on keeping the truck for a good long time, I would do a 3.4 (5VZ) swap. It's a bolt in swap, and Offroad Solutions offers a harness ($570) to make it nearly entirely plug-n-play. Toysonlyswaps has some conversion products also. You can find the 3.4 in wrecked vehicles for $500-1500, depending on mileage and condition. I bought an '88 V6 Runner for $700 with a blown 3.0, and I bought a complete 3.4 (wiring, computer, etc) for $800. With new clutch kit ($300), exhaust crossover ($350-ish), and miscellaneous parts, I should be running for $2000-$2500. Which is less than what you're planning, since I am doing my own labor and wiring, but I will have a stronger, longer lasting engine. Now I just have to get started doing my swap...


On the other hand, you can find 3vz engines all day long for dirt cheap. I've even seen running 3vz trucks that are interior trashed and body rusted, sell for 300-500. As far as rebuilding one, it's doable, but it's kinda like polishing a turd...

 

Hello Rocbloc,

Your are so kind to acknowledge my post and express your suggestions.
I have a lot to figure out and get price quotes.....You have expanded my thoughts.

Thanks so much for your input.

Trappeur

 

x2 on the 3.4, love mine...

heard there are 3.4's with 750k miles plus.

toy only swaps has complete kits.

ors has instructions/kits too http://www.offroadsolutions.com/tech...onversion-kit/

i saw a wrecked 4x4 tacoma on craigs for 2200.

do some research on the swap and find someone in your area that can help or do the installation. you'll be glad you did. good luck on the project.

 

Thankyou Donomite for your suggestion.

Can anyone tell me what companies have the best prices for the 3.0 and 3.4 engines that I could order from? Jasper Engines I called to get a price and they quoted me for a newly manufactured engine 5,000.00 which included 999.00 for a core charge...

 

Hi, i was in your same boat. I had a 1995 toyota pickup with a blown 3.0 that sat for 5 years. I was about to do the 3.4 swap when I came across a 1991 4runner on craigslist with an S&J remanufactured engine with 4k miles on the engine. I picked up the runner for $1500, the guy gave me the receipt for the engine, he paid $2200 for it. The body on the runner was a little beat up but didnt care as I swapped the engine into my pickup. Got it running in August and has been running good since then. I have used many parts off the 4runner and saved tons of cash. The guy had just put a new cd player, clutch, cv axles, etc. on the runner. I'll use as much as i can off of it then sell it to a scrap yard. If you can check craigslist for good deals. Also I had bad rust in my gas tank from it sitting so long I had to replace the fuel pump and I finally had to remove the tank and scrape/flush it out.

Good luck with what you decide.

 

search craigslist, e-bay for a half cut from japan and salvage car sites for the best deals.

 

Thankyou for all the suggestions, but I really want to get a motor that I can get a 3 year guarantee on for it with a labor guarantee too. It will be my luck if I were to get one from a junk yard or craigs list and the motor goes on it. I just don't want to buy someone elses problems and put them into my truck if you know what I mean as this truck is going to be with me many years. If I have so many new parts on it, why put the biggest dollar part in it and hope that it lasts. So I'll just have to keep checking out sites for the best deal I can get on a remanufactured engine. I've been waiting since last week for 3 mechanic shops to call me back with quotes to do the job with a 3.0 and a 3.4 engine of which they said they would let me know that day what costs would be. These mechanics were recommended to me and I then gave them over the weekend and Monday to get back to me. I called them all on Tuesday and still no return phone calls! I guess they really don't need the business that I can't even get a return phone call and today is Thursday. Talk about frustration!

 

Denny's auto machine is who rebuilt mine, he's in Williamsport,md, Google him. He'll most likely have a 3.0 in his shop ready to ship, 3 year warranty. My truck runs like new.