I've been driving around with a bad head gasket for 10 months. It leaks coolant to the outside. It dribbles down the block and burns off before ever hitting the ground, I just gotta top off the reservoir every couple weeks. The engine has 200k on it now, and runs reliably, but not perfectly. Anyway, I've been looking at rebuilt engines in various places around the internet, but I don't know whether I trust them or not. I see them from $1000 to $1500, and more for "upgraded" engines.

The question is, has anyone here bought one of these, and care to offer a testimonial? Also, if anyone has alternative suggestions, I'm open to those too. I hope to keep this truck around for a while.

 

I'd start by posting some links of the sites you've looked at.

Erich

 

There are dozens of them...

For instance: http://www.22re.com/engines/engines_toyota.htm

 

don't buy from 22R.com or 22RE.com. i've never heard a good thing about the guy who sells on there

i think the most reputable builders are jasper, DOA and lc engineering

 

www.lcengineering.com

 

I've heard good things about http://www.engnbldr.com/.

 

Stay away from ATK. Got mine put in at the dealer and it sounded just like the old motor. I have had to replace majority of the gaskets due to them not sealing (except for head). I have heard good things about the Jasper motors in respect to their warrenty.

 

i had the same issue just recently, spent days on the internet. LC ENG is great but way expensive, don't buy from anyone you can't trust. it is a whole lot of work to put an inferior engine in your truck. engbldr.com has a great rep and i just recently took my block to him for a rebuild, it is a bit of a wait, 2 weeks. he uses all J & B Rock parts and components. i came in just under $1200, with a new cast head and a rv cam, long block assembled.

 

There's also these guys.

Everything from stock to racing apps.

 

why not go to a reputable machine shop in your area so you know what they put in. Most high quality shops aren't going to be more than $1500+ no shipping and if there is a problem you know where to go.
Nathan

 

no doubt, that is the best advise, keep it local, and for the same price, or damn near anyway.

 

Well I guess it's something to think about. Some of the stuff in these links is real nice, but shockingly expensive. I'm inclined to buy a low mileage imported MR2 clip for $2k and jam a 3SGTE in there...

Which reminds me, is the 22R/RE a US only engine? None of the importers I have looked at list the 22RE...

 

Some things to be on the look out for when shopping for an engine:

1.) Be sure it is completely remanufactured, not rebuilt. A rebuilt engine is typically an engine that is taken apart and only the parts that are obviously defective are replaced. A remanufactured engine should be completely torn down and reassembled using all new parts except for the block & head castings and possibly the crank, but only if they meet OEM specifications.

2.) Some companies will try to repair otherwise permanently damaged parts by welding. For example welding a crankshaft up so it can be turned or welding cracks in the head or blocks in attempts to repair them. This is almost always unsuccessful.

3.) Be sure that the latest style of timing guides are used. Toyota redesigned the timing guides from its original design. The first design caused the timing chain to rub a whole through the timing cover, the second design eliminates this problem.

We offer completely remanufactured engines that are remanufactured to OEM specifications using OEM parts. These are extremely popular engines and we have a lot of experience remanufacturing these engines. We sell at least 3 or 4 a week and that’s on a slow week.

I am not necessarily trying to sell you our engines but I thought it would be good for everyone to know some of the things that we see dealing with these engines on a daily basis.

Thanks
Stephanie
www.allautoengines.com
sales@allautoengines.com
(866)373-7977

 

you'll never get that thing moving with a little 3SGTE engine...no low end torque...

no such thing as a JDM 22R or 22RE. the reason is...they never used them in japan! they have heavy taxes on motors over 2l of displacement so they used the 21RU. sometimes it's sold as a JDM 22R -- beware! it's nearly a half liter less in displacement than a 22R!

the R series has always been used around the world. the last 22R engines were used in south africa until 1997

 

Yeah, I've done alot of asking around... While the 3SGTE moves my MR2 just fine, there's just too much drivetrain to eat up HP in the truck. I've read about the 7M swaps, but some smart Toyota types I know advise against those motors. I suppose for now, I may rebuild a 22RE and and do some minor upgrades so I can at least not piss people off who are entering the highway behind me.

 

Don't buy ATK, that is what was in my 4runner when I bought it and at 80k I was missing 3/4 of a compression ring. The cylinder walls were hour glassed and was already .040 over, so the block was trash. I would look in to a local machine shop, but make sure it has a good reputation. I am assembling my 22re today and the machine work is to perfection, so find a good shop.

 

Hate to revive such a dead thread but does anybody know how much it would cost from the dealer for a new long block?
I'm trying to bargain with a guy who posted his ad on craigslist, blown 22RE and on his ad he basically took his truck price from kbb.com and subtracted $1300 for a new longblock, and I'm looking to talk him down...