Hey,

I have the chance to grab 1991 4runner 22re 5spd with 150,000 miles on it for around $1800.

But, the headgasket is blown.

So I was thinking I could either just get the head gasket replaced or get the engine rebuilt. What would be a rough cost on either of these, either just for parts, or having a shop to everything?

Do you think this is a good idea?

Will this beast keep running fine for a while?

 

See my post in your other thread

 

Its an easy fix, it takes maybe a weekend to do. Maybe a little more for someone who hasn't wrenched on anything before. Replace the timing chain while you're at it.

150K on a 22RE 4Runner is almost as good as new IMO. The diffs and axles will probably be fine, the frame, if taken care of will be fine, the body might have a little superficial rust, and the engine and transmission will be good as new.

 

I see good RUNNING trucks for half that all day long.....waaaaay too much money for an immovable object

 

D-Boy's rite,,,walk away..if there's one thing wrong w/it...there's 10 things wrong w/it !!!

 

so you have you driven it?

 

Not around here. You may see good non-running trucks for that, or you may see clapped out running rustbuckets for that, but not both good and running for $1800, much less $900.

Got links for those $900 trucks?

I would not say 150K is like brand new for a 22RE. It might be. Might not. HGs on 22REs are not as fragile as 3.slos, but if the coolant is neglected or they have been overheated a bit (easy to do - the radiators often develop pinhole leaks in the top around then, so they lose pressure, which means the coolant will boil at a lower temperature, which means the cooling system will not work as well) the HG can blow. I bought a 4Runner, running and quite cherry, one owner, with 147K on it. The owner had kept up with maintenance religiously EXCEPT coolant, and when the radiator got a pinhole leak he thought Stop-Leak was a good idea.

When the HG failed, the teardown revealed two things: the hone marks were still visible - the motor was in pristine condition mechanically - and the block deck had been corroded around #3 cylinder as well as the fire ring of the HG coming apart. The Stop-Leak had partially clogged some of the passages in the HG as well, worsening the problem.

The PO had done the timing chain via the method that does not change the headgasket at the same time. You might easily guess what I think of that method. With a fresh HG and regular coolant flushes, the block deck would have been preserved instead of eaten away slowly.

A complete overhaul was mandatory. Sad, really. Can be done yourself for about $600 or so, and then it really WILL be like new.

Used vehicles are always a gamble. More fun than Vegas though.

 

Umm, 50/50 chance that it's shot. Many head gasket leaks go into the crank case. Often owners discover this after pumping an oil/water mix into their motors until the thing overheats... This is not good for the motor.

If it was an external leak and didn't overheat it may be a simple fix.

I wouldn't count on it until you know for sure - assume it needs a rebuild/reman motor.