88 4Runner - Should I buy it?
 

Should I consider it? It has over 250K miles and needs a head gasket, the owner says (only thing wrong with it). $1200. Is it worth getting if it needs this kind of engine work? What else specific do I need to find out other than the standard used auto buying checks?

Thanks.

If its in good shape inside and out and doesn`t need anything more than a head gasket as far as major repairs go, then buy it, its worth it.

Thats a good price. I would take that in a heart beat. Here everything is rotted to hell, so a good chassis and body is worth that alone.

Well it all depends on what kind of engine it has. either the 22re or the v6. its very rare to see a v6 but ive seen them and i wouldnt even consider it imo. but if its the 22re i would say yes and 800-1000 is the going rate for an ifs blown head gasket yota. And with 250,000 miles its probably gonna need some drivetrain maintinence also.

:gijoe:

is a head gasket on 22re an easy job?

its not a chevy 350 easy but its doable your main concern is since its a head gasket it got hot so theres possible head warpage. if its not bad the machine shop can inspect it and mill it down for you. it generally takes 1 full day to fix it and about $180-250 in gaskets and head work. if youve messed with engines before its just like any other ione

relative to most engines it's an easy job. you can download the fsm, buy some tools, and fix this sort of situation for about 1/2 the price (probably way less, like 25%) than it would cost to pay someone to do it.

last year i picked up an 89 4runner with a blown head gasket. it turned out to be way more than that. to do the job well i ended up spending between 800 and 900 more in parts and head work, maybe even more.

heres a list of just some of the things i had to do after just the 'blown head gasket'

• timing chain, guides, sprockets, tensioner
• new timing cover
• water pump
• head bolts
• toyota head ga$ket
• head resurfacing, valves cleaned and lapped
• new cam
• new tappets
• plugs, cap, rotor button, wires, pcv valve

you may not need to do any of this or you may need to do even more. in 2009, just to get a 22re back up and running i replaced one in a field with a cow standing next to me in about 10 hours and $200 in gaskets/parts/fluids/coffee/beer. the engine is still running fine and it's a fel-pro gasket! ymmv. just saying you won't know how much more youll be spending until you get down into it so its sort of a gamble. imo expect to spend way more and have the vehicle down for quite a while to do things the right way. then once you get it running you might find out the brakes pull to one side, or the clutch and/or bearings are on their way out, or or or :D

I wouldn't do it.