261k Miles. Put in JDM Motor?

[Robb235]

Just curious what you all would do. I've got 261,XXX miles on my '99. The engine has yet to give me problems, but with that mileage, I question how much longer it will last. I love my '99 and want to hold on to it for while, even though my wife thinks I should get something newer (still paying on her 2012 Civic).

So, how many of you all would preemptively install a JDM motor, or at least have one on the bench ready to go? I just can't help but think that with such high mileage, a rod is bound to let go, or a head gasket blow, or something else where it'll just be cheaper to throw in a new engine. Especially since I want to boost my rig for a little more oomph going through the hills.

 

[KidVermicious]

I wouldn't even consider it. I know lots of guys would rather buy a used low-mile motor and drop it in and will recommend that as a fix for almost anything, but for me the only time I'd consider a used motor is if the truck goes down hard and I need it back up right now. If you've got the time and the inclination, get a longblock from the wrecker or somebody parting out a truck and go through it yourself. You'll save money and gain skills, and you'll need both of those if you're plotting on some boost.

 

[BrianSD_42]

So, how many of you all would preemptively install a JDM motor,

This is akin to preemptively getting a heart transplant at 70.

Sure are old but wtf kind of logic is that.

 

[Quadsbc]

If your that worried about your motor, just have it rebuilt now.

 

[MrRoo]

If it's not broke don't fix it. These motors are solid. Unless you have money just burning a hole in your pocket and it's going to mentally anguish you. Stick with what you have. These short blocks are known to go 400,000+ if taken care of.

 

[Brique]

I think what you need to keep in mind is that you have is a third gen 4runner with the 5vz engine in it - arguably one of the most reliable vehicles with one of the most reliable engines ever made. You ain't driving a Chrysler, here.

Better idea, imo: take good care of the engine you've got and if you're really worried about it, be sure to set aside some money in a "repairs and tires" fund to cover the eventual death of your engine. Who knows, your engine could end up going forever, but a year and a half from now if your tranny goes, you'll be really glad you had the $2500 saved up for what you thought was going to be an engine rebuild.

Think of what you guys are spending every month on that honda payment. You could easily have several thousand saved up pretty quickly to keep your truck running forever instead of getting "something newer" and throwing the payment away every month.

That's my logic, anyway. Love my '01 at 200k, just put a new timing belt kit and radiator on it and the damn thing runs like it's four years old.

 

[JayRolla]

Mileage is no more than a number. Your motor reliability it's not based on miles. Like stated why swap if out works.

 

[my92t4r]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T47zEyXSGx8

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Buy your spare engine. Fill the cylinders up with oil. Wrap it in Saran Wrap and because you have it you'll never use it.

To me after 300,000 miles a preemptive head gasket replacement makes more cents. And while heads are off adjust the valves.

 

[Kenworth]

If your power is down consider a good tune up maybe a injector rebuild ect

 

[JohnMc]

As already mentioned, if anything, set the money aside in a rainy day fund. You're likely not going to need it. The engine could fail, but odds are low, it could have failed at 100K miles form something random, it could have failed at 200K, it might very well last to 400K.

On a higher mileage motor, aside from various manufacturing and design defects (which are, by all evidence, very exceedingly rare on the 5VZ) the condition is more a matter of how it has been maintained and used over its whole lifespan. A severely abused and neglected motor could be worn out and on its last legs at 150K, a gently used and well maintained one might be in great shape at 600K miles.

I also own a couple of Volvos, and every once in a while, a person here or there hits the million mile mark on their car*, with the original motors still going (usually) - no major rebuilds along the way. The common theme is that it's usually older guys (well, partly that's because they have to drive it a lot of years to hit 1,000,000 miles) who don't skimp on maintenance at all. Also, longer trips helps, it's really more the number of cold starts along the way that wear an engine out, more so than the total number of miles driven. Once a motor is warmed up and humming along nicely, practically no wear takes place inside. It's all in that first 5 seconds of running, where the oil has seeped out of the bearings and off the cylinder walls, everything is fairly dry until the oil pump gets a chance to get the oil moving around, and they cylinder bores warm up enough to keep the corrosive combustion byproducts evaporated off the walls.

* World record holder for a civilian driver (presumably some professional truck drivers may have him beat?) is Irv Gordon in his 1967 Volvo 1800S. He bought it new, and recently turned over 3 million miles. It had a top end rebuild (cylinder head) at ~780,000 miles, then just routine maintenance until around 2.9 million miles, when it finally got a complete rebuild. Still using the original block, crank, rods, head though.

 

[MONTYMTB]

...even though my wife thinks I should get something newer...

Think about how much this would cost you compared to how much it would take to maintain what you already know is a solid vehicle.

Monthly payment.
Higher insurance.
Higher taxes/tags/fees.
Higher repair bills if needed.

You could replace/repair the engine in your 4Runner - if it even becomes necessary - for a lot less than what the above would probably cost you.
How many miles a year do you put on it? How long have you owned it? If you've had it for a while, you're averaging around 17k miles a year. If it lasts another 100k, which is certainly possible if you take care of it, you would still have a reliable truck 5 or 6 years from now.
Maintain it, drive it, worry about that bridge if/when you come to it.

 

[Nunyabiz]

It is just as likely that at 261xxx that it could last another 260xxx.

it is also just as likely that the rebuilt JDM may only last 260xxx

I would instead save however many $1000's that could cost and just put aside $50 a month for eventual replacement which might be another 15 years.

 

[MattJakobs]

We have a 99 with 270,xxx and a 01 with 196xxx on it. The 99 runs perfectly and we have to do put a JDM in the 01. With the install cost and everything that we're about to go through, I say run the 99 till it dies and then worry about it.

 

[bolt]

:dance: :thumb: