Got bad news from the repair shop, the 4Runner's got a sick engine. He thinks I've either thrown a rod, or something else major. Quote for a reman. engine put in (parts, labor, etc.) looking at $5000. Looking for other options, is it worth doing a rebuild? Selling is not an option, but $5K isn't either. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Any thougths out there?

 

Get one from a salvage yard.

 

Ive seen alot of 3.4s in the yards for below 2000bucks. The conversion is beingcoming popular so if you want to try it, there is information around.

 

I was going to suggest that but I thought a bodylift was needed to clear it. I had a line on a limited drivetrain Engin, Trans, and Tcase for $1500. Someone beat me to it though.

 

How many miles on engine? What details can you give as to how the engine acted and why they think thrown rod or other major problem?

 

Engine's got 195,000 miles on it. Noise was a very loud clanging/clicking noise from idle through acceleration, concentrated on the passenger side down near the headers. While driving I didn't notice a loss of power, just the noise, definetly louder with the flowmaster exhaust. I get the feeling that the repair shop doesn't really know exactly what it is, just guessing it's a rod, until they get in and open it up. The noise has that $$$ type of sound. Except for the noise, the engine seemed to function alright, except for the lask of oil, tech said he put in 5 quarts and still the noise was there. I'm wondering if it is a thrown rod, is it possible to pull the engine, rebuild/remachine it and be running again? I'd be interested in going to a 3.4L but i think it would be just too much cash. How hard is it to pull and rebuild an engine?

 

If you have never pulled an engine and rebuilt it on your own you will have a world of hurt ahead of you, especially if you don't have all of the right tools. Find a salvage yard for a used 3.0, and if possible find a place that performs compression tests etc. before they pull the engine. If you do that buy a full engine gasket kit, and either do it yourself or pay someone to install the full engine gasket kit. You could get further into it by re-ringing it and throw in new bearings, and you will have an engine that will last a really long time, as long as you keep up on the service.

 

On the subject of salvage yards, anyone know a good one for toyota engines in Seattle? Is it possible to rebuild an engine IF indeed it's a thrown rod? I have access to a co-worker who is pretty good with engines, and I'll probably have him pull it, and take a look. Looks like either way I'll be building up an engine, to put back in. Labor is what just kills me, I can justify he cost of the engine, but the 1700-2K for labor, is hard to take. For 5K I'd hope to get a built up V6 that would have some power. Hard to see the 4Runner sitting in the driveway looking good, but sounding so awful. Going to give her a nice coat of wax, so atleast she looks good.

 

3.4 swap, 3.4 swap!!! You can be a hero man! Do the swap, do a detailed write up w/ pics and post it on the forum. List all parts needed and cost. Sorry to make light of your Runner woes, there are alot of guys here considering this swap though. As someone else mentioned, 3.4's are becoming affordable, while 3.0's are getting harder and harder to find. Think about this... they havent planted a 3.0 in a 4x4 in what?? 8 yrs? OK, at JUST 10k a yr. that engine could have 80k on it!
You may get lucky and find a 3.4 w/ 30k for a decent price. What is the sence of scouring the junk yards for a engine in need of a rebuild?
Sorry, that came off sounding a little strong..... good luck w/ what ever you decide. Keep us posted.

 

grandfeltcher,
Give these guys a call.

All Toyota Auto Recycling
(800)829-9766 or (360)829-9760

They are located in Buckley. I live down the road from them so if you need any pictures etc. let me know

Good luck.

 

How much extra work would be involved in swapping out the 3.0 for a 3.4? I assume I'd need new transmission, along with many other additional parts.

Toddski....have you dealt with All Toyota? If so, were they reasonable price wise. I've dealt with Nix99 on a few occassions and they seemed to be priced on the high side.

One benefit to doing the 3.4 I would think is the availability of a supercharger down the road.

 

grandfeltcher....
I go up there every once in a while. I'll spend too much if i stay there

I was up there a couple of months ago getting an alternator.
They had a Toyota alternator for $75. Shucks wanted $150.
While i was there they had just brought in an '87 4runner.
I started to pick several things off it. Took it up to the counter and asked how much for the clips. He said no charge

Not to sure on major items like a motor. Give them a call.

 

I too have dealt with All Toyota.
That is where I bought my winter rims I run, and Jim (mytruck) got his Aisin hubs from.

They are pretty nice folk's to work with.
The owner has a cool Toy too.
He took two of the old extended cabs and tacked them together.

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/tando/temp/dcab1.jpg

http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/tando/temp/dcab2.jpg

It's been SAS'd also.

 

Check Junkyarddog.com It's a great Junk Yard resource (and free). If you are willing to spend a dollar, sign up with CoPartFinder.com Copart is a company specializing in auctioning salvaged/wrecked vehicles. You punch in your zip code and the Make/Model your looking for and they'll give you the location of all the cars that match you query complete with pics of the exterior and interior of the vehicle and the phone number and location of the yard. Good Luck!!!

 

On the subject of swapping out the 3.0 in favor of using a 3.4, anyone aware of a conversion kit out there for this, other than the one being developed by Off-Road Solutions? Wondering if anyone has had success with it, or aware of modifications needed to get it done? Will the 4.7L fit in a 2nd Gen 4Runner?

 

I wish. I have yet to see any info on a 2nd genner swapping in the 3.4. I've heard lots about it but never seen a write-up.

Good luck,

Warren

 

3.4! Do it.

 

Hey! A 3.4 swap would be cool. If my engine blew I would definitely look into that. Plus you could get a S/C for it.

Somebody here posted this link a while ago. It's about somebody that has done the swap from a 22R to a supercharged 3.4 in his '86. :eek:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/projects/basham_4runner/

That guy had to relocate the engine mounts, but from what I understand, you don't have to do that if you had the 3.0 in there before the swap.

Here's a link Corey posted a bit ago.

http://www.offroadsolutions.com/

I think they have the wiring harness and that kinda stuff there.


Well, have fun.
DH6twinotter

 

After doing some checking around, I'm leaning towards doing a 3.4 swap. Just need to find that low mileage cheap 3.4 out there. I talked to offroad solutions, and they told me they were looking to have a conversion kit for sale here in the upcoming months. No word on price, but it would include everything. Any low mileage, wrecked Tacoma 5-speeds out there looking to be parted out?