Ok I have 203,000 miles on my 3.slow and its got very little time to live. New noises show up daily and it scares me. I want your opinions on do I get a rebuilt 3.slow, rebuilt 4.3 Chevy Vortec, or a newer 2nd Gen like a 1995 to replace my 1991. I have lots of goodies on my 2nd gen and that is why I stick it out with a 2nd gen. If I get a newer 2nd gen I will swap EVERYTHING to the new one.

 

My vote is for "buying a 1995" for the following reasons:
-If you just rebuild the engine, the rest of the rig still has 203,000 miles on it and what will go out next?
-I hate Chevy engines and fail to see the "hype" with them

 

Ditto. I would only use a Chevy engine in mine if it was going to be a mostly or trail only rig.

 

I want a 1995 Limited Edition with power everything, sunroof, chrome bumpers, pref. silver in color, leather seating, adjustable lumbar, roof rails, and im sure there is so much more! I am so tired of my 91. I just put $996 into timing/front end parts. the rotors are warped,engines tired,power nothing,automatic trans, and I love blue but it shows how dirty it is every day. I hate to go to the trouble of finding a dealer with what I want because of this. I want all of my toys like, susp lift.,tires,light bar,lund products,head lights,ventshields,custom skid plate, and personalized plates. All of that would have to be swaped and I dont know a single dealer willing to let me take the new runner down to Les Schwabs to have the lift and tires swapped. Everything else I can do but dealers are so rude and its gotta be on their terms. I will not allow their shop to swap anything due to lack of trust. Also the fact that most matters of me being upside down in what I owe on the thing. I figure my bank could work a deal for me to get a new rig but I wonder how getting rid of my rig would work out. I owe $7000 on it still. Yeah I know I am stupid to have gotten ripped on it because when I got it I got it for much more than 7. I was dumb!

 

no matter what, I would stick with toyota.

 

Stick with the 3.0 You got that many miles out of it so its proven itself. Why not stick with it.
I figure if you've got another 203k before you have to do this again, you'll have plenty of time to do any of the other repairs if it needs them.
She treats you like a king and now you're thinking about putting her out, thats rough!
My $.02

 

Hey now, her younger better looking in better shape sister is screaming my name. This queen has been good to me off and on but I want a princess that will go non stop for many years to come.

 

I'll agree with 02runner. If you replace the engine and some stuff, the truck will be good for another 10 years.
Besides, since you owe so much on it still... you'll take a real loss $$ if you get something else.
Also, the only way I see to buy a "new" truck is to get it outright, swap all the parts and then sell your old runner. No one is going to trade it and wait for you to swap parts.

Besides, that seems like alot of work swapping all that stuff!
Anyway it's a Toyota right? 200K is just breaking it in!

 

Get a new engine. I had to replace mine last week.
Found a 3.0 with less than 60k, new timing belt and waterpump. $450. Had a buddy put it in for less than $600. Including various towing bills and a new clutch, I've got a brand new used truck, for less than $2000. Kinda like a bought half it's lifespan back.
Gotta love the 'search' function of the internet!

Put the money into maintaing the truck you still owe a small amount on, which has all the toys you want, rather than on a new truck, which you would owe a LARGE amount on.
Debt is harsh on youth

 

Gosh trust me I know about debt! So many people I know go into debt and then bankruptcy to get out easy. I have to hold down two jobs to pay my bills and have about $100 left over after the month. I love my 4Runner and the pipe dream of getting a new one WITH goodies is far fetched. I have car hopped all thorugh my driving life. I get one drive it for a year then see another I want so get it. Tagging on the excess ammount I owed on them. Sucks. Live & learn huh!

 

I'd seriously consider a 3.4 swap. It will bolt to your tranny and motor mounts and all you need is a 1" body lift to clear the top of the engine. Much better engine than the 3.0. That said mine keeps chugging along

 

I understand the keep & rebuild/ get rid of the problem argument you have going. In this case, I have a 95 Limited with the extremely rare manual tranny and I love it. The 95 was the last year and I believe the bugs were mostly worked out of the model by the last year. There was no recall on my 3.0...I checked. So far it's at 191K with no engine problems, but I worry.

If you can swing it, buy the 95, transfer the goodies over, and sell the old girl. You'll love the power windows and the sunroof. Just don't expect the problems to disappear. Your new 95 will have the same engine but eventually you'll face the same quandry.

Me, I've been looking for something to replace the old Corolla with 251K. My 95 4Runner is the new vehicle. Trouble is, the Corolla won't die.

 

I will keep an eye on the drug siezure auctions I think. I dont know what my engines going to do. Hearing the noises its making scares me even though it doesnt run bad or overheat. does not leak a drop of anything but them dang noises are annoying. I know some of the noise I hear are exhaust heat shields but when im under the hood I hear a noise in the top end behind the timing cover. Cam? Im clueless.