I am getting a '97 Tacoma with the 3.4. It blew out a spark plug so I assume the hole is stripped. I was thinking I could just helicoil or Timesert it, but I was told it cannot be done this way. I cannot think of why it could not be repaired with a helicoil. Could there be any reason it should not be fixed this way?

I am also thinking I could just put a new engine in it or install a rebuilt head. Someone has already started to take the engine apart. It looks like the heads have not been removed, but the manifolds and one valve cover has. It probably sat in the rain with only the hood covering it. The truck only has 130k on it and I would like to fix it to be a daily driver.

Should I replace or rebuild both the heads at the same time or would it be a problem to just install one new one and not remove the other?

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy a good used or rebuilt engine?

 

When you say it blew out a spark plug, do you mean that literally? The plug actually shot out somehow?

I would confirm the threads are stripped first (rather than assume), might save you some time and money...
LAl1n

 

The guy I am getting it from said he was driving it home and it started making a very loud noise. He found that the spark plug had came loose and was out of the hole. He said it shot out of the hole. That was the reason it was parked. I would definitely check to make sure it is fully stripped before going through all of that work.

The main problem now, regardless of the spark plug threads, is that it has been sitting with the manifolds off for over a year. I do not want to spend the time and money putting the engine back together only to find out it is bad from water, debris, or rats that have found their way into the cylinders. Is there some way to inspect for these things without pulling the head?

 

There are scopes that will let you look down into the cylinders and inspect through the spark plug holes.

I've heard of a plug blowing out of the 3.4 before and yes, you should be able to helicoil it to repair it.

 

I just had that happen to my motorcycle and I used a helicoil to repair it. You just have to worry about the metal shavings not going into the engine block.

 

"Should I replace or rebuild both the heads at the same time or would it be a problem to just install one new one and not remove the other?"

You may not need to rebuild/resurface the other head, but you should still remove it and at least replace the gasket.

 

Thanks for the information. If I cannot find a good low mileage engine, than it sounds like it would be a good idea to remove and inspect the heads and replace the head gaskets while I am this close.