Flooded 4runner

[Mistry201]

Ok so i took out my 1994 toyota 4runner sr5 limited 3vze v6 on the weekend and attempted a water crossing and got caught out at the end by a ditch.
classic story i know.

anyway as soon as the engine cut out we got straight onto snatch trapping it out of the water. once we had it high and dry we took all the spark plugs out and tried turning it over with the starter motor, it turned over about 4-5 times before stopping dead in its tracks. it didnt make a big noise or anything when it stopped, just stopped. we tried the starter motor again and could hear it engaging but nothing happened, so then we tried manually turning it back with the belts and we made it move a bit so we decided to use the starter motor again and then it turned over about another 1-2 times before stopping, then we couldnt get any movement out of the belts at all.

so then we left the engine and put it on the back of a trailer and hauled it back home.

today we had a look at the engine and tried manually cranking it over with the spark plugs out. it didnt move an inch either way.

so we've decided that its probably bent a piston or something similar.

we looked into taking the rocker covers off to assess the damage but its deffinitely a massive job.

basically this is where we're at at the moment.

just really looking for any advice or suggestions on how to assess the damage more.'

any ideas on what might have happened to make it stop moving like that, other than bent pistons or shafts.

also just a side note im from cairns in australia just incase theres any aussies on here.

also any ideas on what the best option would be for getting it on the road again if the engines completely shot?
in terms of like reconditioned engines or used engines, anyone have an idea of an average price for something like that?

thanks heaps in advance. cheers.

 

[Bad_Vision]

its locked up its rebuild time.
a piston rod can break silent and jam into the crank without a sound. and if you have ALL the plugs out and you still cant turn it by hand then your lower end has seized. most likely you got water in the crankcase and metal on metal with water will melt the rod bearings and its all over then.

FIRST thing you need to do is just pull the engine out and put it on a stand the reason i say that is because it will be the best way to see what you did. if the cylinder walls are within spec and not damaged you could just do a rotating assembly repair.

Crankshaft if its out of spec or snapped you could have it reground also but then your rod bearings will have to account for the amount it was ground this can be difficult to get parts for.

if the block is good you can throw new pistons and rings in easy with no machine work witch is fine on the 3.0 its a good block casting high in nickel.

here is a link to cheap rebuild kits i have used them before they are good.
EK950, EK950M, EK950AM

i guarantee the problem is in the lower end if the plugs are out the only thing to stop the assembly is the crank and pistons.

 

[Mistry201]

Update

Ok so thought I'd post an update on how she's going.

Got her to a mechanic and he had a look with one of those inspection cameras.
Basically he's told me one of the pistons has like fused to the block and that two of the pistons are sitting at the same level so there's definitely bend rods.
Because I live in cairns getting a replacement 3vze will cost me $2500 alone just for the engine which is crazy money.
So I've been talking to a good mechanic up here who does a lot of conversions and what not and have decided that I'm going to put a 3.8 Holden commodore vt engine in.
The mechanic said he's going to get the conversion kit from marks 4wd. And ive heard good things about them.
Basically im looking at 2800 with the engine included. But that's without labor.
Have been thinking about what else I would like to have done whilst she's out of action and I've come up with a pretty long list.
Raised diff breathers
Extended break lines
1 inch body lift. (already have a 2 inch suspension lift)
Fitted snorkel.
Upgraded radiator.
Possibly a set of pacemaker extractors or something similar which will fit.
That's about all im looking at getting done at the moment.
With parts and labor I think I'll be looking at around 5000-5500 aud.
Anyway I'll see how I go. Cheers.
*

 

[Bad_Vision]

dude just buy a used rusted out junker that runs and swap the engine out.
you dont need to buy or rebuild a new engine.
i just picked up a 91 pickup with a 3.0 that runs and drives for 500$ the frame is smoked but im using the engine.

your looking at spending $5000 here are some better options with that kind of cash
chevy 4.3 swap $1500
toyota supra 7mge $2400
toyota supra 7mgte turbo $3000
chevy 350 fuel injected ls1 $4000

all of these options are more power and easier to get parts. the 4.3 chevy swap can be done in your garage in a weekend if you buy all the parts and that will save you a ton of money doing it yourself.

if you post were about you live im sure someone on here would help you install. hell i would donate my time to do it but im in michigan.

 

[TN_GIJOE]

I would assume he is probably in australia from his mention of holden...and cairns

 

[Mistry201]

Thanks

Cheers for the insight bad vision but as I mentioned in my first post. I'm actually located in cairns Australia so even a wrecked used 3vze engine will set me back atleast $2500 here in Australia as 4runners stopped being sold here in '97. And all those other conversions you mentioned would cost through the roof here in aus as it just seems to be that way with engines in aus. Everything's so bloody expensive. I've had a look at just about every conversion there is available for the 2nd gen 4runner and the 3.8l v6 Holden vt engine is the cheapest option available to me. Cheers anyway*

 

[fourwd1]

Isn't the VT front wheel drive?
How about the 3.5L V6 from a Jackaroo? Seems like that might be easier.

 

[Mistry201]

Jackaroo

Nah mate I can't think of any commodores that were ever released as front wheel drive.
And the commodore v6 is easier than a jackaroo because I can buy the whole conversion kit with the wiring loom and everything from a company that custom fabs everything here in aus.

If there are any Aussies on here that have done engine conversions on 4runners before then I'd love to hear from you.