Blown Engine, Worth putting in a new one?

T

twcarroll

New member
I have a 2002 4 Runner with the v6. Apparently I have damaged the engine beyond repair and it has a hole in the engine block.

Is it worth putting a used engine or new one in the car, or should I say goodbye to my old friend?
 
Register to hide this ad
twcarroll said:
I have a 2002 4 Runner with the v6. Apparently I have damaged the engine beyond repair and it has a hole in the engine block.

Is it worth putting a used engine or new one in the car, or should I say goodbye to my old friend?
Click to expand...

Nah you should just give me the truck so I can uh....dispose of it for you. Jk...

I would try to find a low milage original replacement engine....unless you damaged a bunch of other things too. All just depends on the condition of everything else.
 
Our vehicles are old enough that if you absolutely had to a reman block isn't that bad price wise but like stated above the engines seem easy enough to source used. They are always on my local CL for sale.

I guess it really depends on how much you love your vehicle.
 
They'll pull your engine and install a new one for $1950 including price of the engine?

If you're not mechanically inclined, I think that sounds like a pretty good deal... Some rebuilt 5vz's on my local craigslist are like $1800...

Keep in mind, a junk yard is a junk yard and a "mechanic" that works at a junk yard works at a junk yard...

Can get your engine pulled, "new" one installed, and a 5 year 60k mile warranty for $3200.
 
How many miles on the truck? It would suck to spend that coin on a rig with 300k to have something fail afterwards. In my neck of the woods, a used v6 is available for way less, if you install. That'd be the route I'd take. 2cents. Good luck.
 
I see you are from New York so the first question to ask is how bad is the frame and/or body rusted out?

I have seen a lot of east cost vehicles that are just beat to hell.

If the frame and body are in good shape and you like the truck, I'd go for it.

Just remember a used engine is always a crap shoot. A re-manufactured engine is always the safe bet and almost always have at least a 6 month warranty.
 
Depends.

What will you drive if you don't replace it?

If you have spent a lot on mods and upgrades or care it could be worth it.m

If you plan on getting another one can you find one that is better for less $$$ and in good shape?

I probably would as the other posters have said, if the rest is in good shape I would.
 
Supermoney said:
JDM Engine Depot in NJ has them for $899, with between 45-60k miles.

5VZ-FE 3.4L 96-03 4Runner / 95-99 T100 / 95-03 Toyota Tacoma 99-03 Tundra (V6 Only) Engine JDM 5VZFE

I think you can find someone to put it in for $500-600.
Click to expand...

This has been covered many times over the years, but just to reiterate it here: JDM engines are a crap-shoot.

The claimed mileage may or may not be accurate, and the condition of the engine is always a mystery.

Japanese people are just like people anywhere: Some maintain their vehicles, and some completely neglect them.

You might get a great engine, or a piece of junk.

I would recommend pulling the valve covers, oil pan, and spark plugs, on any prospective engine you are thinking of buying, so you can at least give a cursory inspection prior to buying.

20+ years ago when I was working on consumer cars regularly, the magic engine mileage number the JDM importers claimed, was 30k miles.
 
My buddy put a rod threw his 3.4 last week. We bought a motor for $550 from a junkyard, and pulled his motor that evening. The next day, he was up and running with his new motor. Easy as pie.
 
02SE said:
This has been covered many times over the years, but just to reiterate it here: JDM engines are a crap-shoot.

The claimed mileage may or may not be accurate, and the condition of the engine is always a mystery.

Japanese people are just like people anywhere: Some maintain their vehicles, and some completely neglect them.

You might get a great engine, or a piece of junk.

I would recommend pulling the valve covers, oil pan, and spark plugs, on any prospective engine you are thinking of buying, so you can at least give a cursory inspection prior to buying.

20+ years ago when I was working on consumer cars regularly, the magic engine mileage number the JDM importers claimed, was 30k miles.
Click to expand...


Meh I would be more anal if it was a 2JZGTE or a 4G63 from them, but a simple NA 5VZ....nothing can really go wrong in 60k miles on these engines, they are pretty reliable. And if you have any issue they will give you a new motor (within their warranty time frame). Happened to my buddies K20.
 
Check CL. Here they sell you a completely rebuilt 5VZ for $2250 and for another $600 will install it and give you a 1 year warranty. I am sure you could find something similar in your location. For that kind of money I would do it just because I love these trucks. That and I could slap the TRD S/C on it.
 
Last edited:
Do a local search on LKQ. They have sales guys all over the country. Have them look up that engine in your area. You can get a 12 month 12,000 mile warranty including parts and labor when you buy from them. Just fyi my friend.

Blue
 
Avoid rebuilds like batshit. If they cannot prove that the rebuild used OEM parts then you are buying a pile. In fact, they probably wouldn't be able to sell at those prices if they used OEM rebuild parts.

I just bought a 4Runner with a cracked head. I'm going to be installing a JDM engine. I'm well aware that they are a gamble, but my friend sells them and can hook me up with compression numbers and all that good stuff. It will be my winter/trail 4Runner for the most part so I'm not being too picky.
 
Yeah, a used engine with 100k miles is better than a rebuild or remanufactured engine that's "brand new". Half the time these engines quit or blew a head gasket and someone tries to make money by "fixing" the problem and then selling it for way too much.
 
Supermoney said:
Meh I would be more anal if it was a 2JZGTE or a 4G63 from them, but a simple NA 5VZ....nothing can really go wrong in 60k miles on these engines, they are pretty reliable. And if you have any issue they will give you a new motor (within their warranty time frame). Happened to my buddies K20.
Click to expand...

Well, good luck with thinking that nothing can go wrong with a 5VZ-FE. I used to work on consumer cars as an ASE Master Tech. I saw way too many neglected engines with serious problems under 25k miles, because they had never had an oil change. Or even had oil added. Toyota's included.

Never underestimate what an owner's total maintenance neglect can achieve.
 
Put it this way
You could probably get maybe $1k for your truck with a bad engine
plus the $2k it will cost for a motor.

That is $3k to spend on another vehicle, do you think you can get something as good for the same price? I doubt it...


Chances are that if you even have to ask this question you probably have no sentimental attachment to it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 245 (members: 1, guests: 244)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,311
Messages
3,554,082
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top