94 4Runner Blown Head

[Sabah]

Hello and thanks in advance for your advise.
I've just purchased a 94 4runner (V6-3.0 EFI & 4WD) with a blown head. It has 99.4K miles on it and visually the engine looks pretty good.
Also I saw some what looks like sludge on the inside of the cap, (see pic), however there was none to be seen on the inside parts of the engine, (at least from the sm. opening of the cap).
Browsing through this forum I noticed that other people have had similar issues with same yr. model.
Any advise on how to go about addressing the issue? Should I have it fixed, (head resurfaced) or go for a used engine switch?
Or should I look into a remanufactured engine and if so, does anyone have a lead?
Also I have heard from people that there are used engines shipped from Japan that have 30-40K on them, does anyone know anything about that?
Thanks everyone, it was serendipitous to find this site!
Sabah

PS sorry, tried to upload an image but had trouble).

 

[khaug]

Most likely, the "blown head" is actually a blown cylinder head gasket, which the 3.0 V6 is notorious for.

Toyota provided a very extended warranty on this problem, and your first step should be to check with your local Toyota dealer to see if your vehicle is still covered. You may be eligible for a free repair.

Good luck.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Definitely check with the dealer as khaug recommended. There was a recall on the head gaskets for those engines and if the work was never done you could luck out.

If it is not eligible though, be prepared to shell out about $2k to get the work done. It is one hell of a job.

I would either look into a rebuilt engine or possibly a swap for a 3.4 out of a newer truck. Yotatech is an excellent resource for this problem...

As a matter of fact, there is a thread going right now with lots of pics of a guy doing the work himself if you want to see what it entails.

http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=88538

I would not bother with a used 3.0 engine unless you like spending several thousands of dollars a year on swaps.

 

[gonzo]

i have heard of those slightly used japanese engines. a local mechanic was suggesting that i throw one in my truck after i drowned the engine. might not be a bad idea, if you can get your hands on one.

as previously stated, the guys at yotatech would be much better suited to answer your question.