Getting myself a new engine, but all is not as it seems.......

davehaynes1

New member
So I'm getting a new engine dropped in my 4runner and I've had my quote through from the shop but the warranty is worrying me.
There is alot of stuff not covered and I can't really think of much stuff what will be covered.
Take a look and see what you think might be covered.......
 

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If you purchased a created engine and the shop does the installation then, to a certain extent, I can see where the shop may include a few disclaimers with respect to the condition of the engine but not with issues that may come up with the installation. If you provide the engine suggest check with the engine remanufacturer's warranty stipulations. Having said that, If the shop provides, and installs the engine then I would have a problem with the warranty; IMO, far too many disclaimers which may be an indicator the shop has some experience with customer complaints. If the internet offer's customer reviews of the shop owner's history I would start there.

Don't think I would give them my business with out further investigation. Suggest check with other shops in the area, ask for quotes, and comparing cost with the warranty. Anyhow, had an urge to chime in, interested with other member's take??
 
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Thasks for your reply.
They are supplying the engine..... It's a wreckers that specialise in hilux's and 4runner's. But yeah it seems like alot of disclaimers when they said that they have tested the engines working condition, to me it seems they are not very confident with their tests.
The only things i can think that will be covered are internals ,pistons, bottom end, liners, etc.... Which leave alot that could go wrong with no cover
I phoned the only other hilux wreckers in the area and they don't have any 3vze engines.
I have another garage that say they can get an engine and fit it for $2,600. But I really don't trust him. I went in last week and he said he could get an engine with 110k on the clock and it is a good engine, went back this week and his contact with that engine has sold it but he can get another one with just over 100k. Seems like he is just making it all up. But it also comes with a 3 month warranty, I'll be phoning him tomorrow to see what his warranty covers.
 
Appears confronted with making a decision based on lack of alternatives.

Just as an example, purchased a created engine from the State of Washington, came with a 7 year warranty and had it delivered to the shop. The engine remanufacturer disclaimers were minimal and primarily covered buyer's who installed themselves. Between the shop who installed the engine, and the engine remanufacturer warranty I felt well covered?
 
So I'm getting a new engine dropped in my 4runner and I've had my quote through from the shop but the warranty is worrying me.
There is alot of stuff not covered and I can't really think of much stuff what will be covered.
Take a look and see what you think might be covered.......
for that price, couldn't you get a 3.4 swapped in?
MUCH better engine.
 
Talk to your shop. That warranty looks like the warranty supplied by the builder, and it only covers internals because that's all they did. The peripherals like ps pump and water pump should be fine, but your shop that's doing the install should certainly be inspecting them and verifying proper operation. Ditto for the radiator, timing belt, etc.

I don't know about Australian prices, but $2750 over here will about cover a complete conversion to a 5VZE, which is definitely a better engine.
 
I was thinking the same thing! That just sounds expensive for a junk yard motor that has only been "tested".

I would do some research on toyota mod shops in your area, I'm sure you will find at least one or two places that can do a swap with something better, newer and stronger.

If you can't find anyone from researching the internet, try hitting up some of your local offroading clubs that have members who own toyotas. Offroad toyota guys always know where to get cool stuff!!!:eyebrows:
 
$2750 is $1950 usd...... Maybe this changes your mind on the deal?
I will get on an of road forum and see if anybody knows anywhere though, may uncover a gem :)
Thanks guys
 
Well, slightly, but a quick search without really looking for a good deal came up with this on ebay:

Toyota 3VZ Engine 3 0L Zero Miles 4Runner Pickups T 100 1988 1995 | eBay

I'm sure I could find one cheaper used, but at least this one would be fresh and come with a 2 year warranty too.

I still think you should search around a bit more if you can afford having the 4 runner down for a bit longer. Of course, if its a daily driver, then ya gotta do what ya gotta do!
 
So I've managed to source about 7 engines after phoning around alot of wreckers in the area.....
Ranging from $2300 - $2700 fitted.
Some have given me the milage some am to have made it up as it sounds too good.
But as you know an engine with 200,000 that has been looked after is better than one with 120,000 that has been run into the ground so I'm not focusing too much on the number they give me.
Does anybody have any experience and tips on picking a good engine out of the bunch.
I know it's a long shot but hey, worth a shot.
Thanks guys
 
Not an expert, but if I were going to buy a used motor, I'd want to hear it run and I'd want cylinder compression numbers. I've had bad luck buying used motors and wouldn't wanna get burned again.

Actually, I'll probably not buy a used motor again, at least not without planning to rebuild it before I put it in.
 
Seems you're hooked on getting a junk yard motor, so I guess you should just move forward with that.

I'm assuming you didn't even bother to check for any offroad forums in your area either. I found several posts about people having 3vze engines they wanna sell in the Toyota 4WD Surf Owners club IN AUSTRALIA, and while I have no clue where you're at in AUS, its quite simple to just start posting over there in your region that you're looking for a clean and running 3vze engine.

The problem with all of those junk yard motors you've found, you cannot do a compression check on any of them, and I would never, EVER buy a motor without, at the very least, checking the compression on them. It wouldn't be so bad if you were having it rebuilt before installing it, but you're wanting to just swap the motors out and expect it to continue on for another 100,000 miles.

So, let's see, you spend a grand to swap the motors out, then find out a week later that the junk yard engine has rod knock, or a blown head gasket, or a myriad of other common things that can go wrong with the 3vze engine, who gets to pay for the shop to swap out another engine?

And you never did say what was wrong with your original engine. I'm assuming you don't have the skills or tools or time to do a rebuild yourself on the existing engine, and just want to swap it over to be back on the road quickly, but you've already spent at least a week or two dealing with this, when you could have just taken it to a reputable shop and had the engine completely rebuilt with quality parts for half the cost you're looking at to swap engines over!

Unless you've grenaded that engine to the point where its just not rebuildable (I highly doubt that, since they are steel blocks!), spend the money on getting the original engine rebuilt for less than swapping it out with another engine that only has a minimal warranty. At least you'll KNOW everything is brand new and should last 10+ years if taken care of and not abused.
 
Is spoken to around 10 garages in the area and they all have said will be a minimum of 2,500 to do the head gasket. If there are other problems, cracked head, bad valves could turn into a $4/5 k job.
Spoke to about 10 wreckers and prices range from 2,350 - 2,700 for an engine fitted.
 

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