I just bought a 92 3.0 5spd t4r PLEASE HELP

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beastly4runner

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Im new here and i figured i would give it a try. i just bought a real clean 92 4runner with a 3.0 on real agressive 31x10.5s. it had which sounded like a rod knock and i bought it with the intention to swap out the motor. i drove it 49 miles home with that knock and it was fine. i took it off road(still unregistered) and the police showed up on the trial but wouldnt dare go through it but instead kept the spot lght on me, i beat it up reversing quite fast hitting some good size bumps. i waited for them to leave and called some people to look out for me, on the drive back home down the road i was kinda of speeding because i was scared shifting every 3500rpm.i went to step on the brakes and i had almost no pressure at all having to swerve from hitting a car, i keep driving having to engine brake slightly at only one light, but as i continue down the road, i heard a loud bang and a barrel of smoke following me, it felt like i was only running on a couple cylinders. i made it home and it just shut off, sounding like something stopped all cylinder movement. it doesnt even wanna turn over any more but the starter is engaging but not turning over the engine. What should i do? Change the motor, get a 4cy, take off the topend and see whats going on in there? im new to t4r, im used to old chevy trucks. please help or give advice, or even if you have a cheap motor for sale seeing as im an unemployed fulltime college student
 
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I would suggest you take the 3.0 out and put a 3.4 from a 3rd gen. No need to put a bunch of money into the 3.0 for a so-so engine. If there isn't much damage then you could fix the 3.0 though. There are tons of write up on this site and on yotatech.com. It is a better swap than the 22re swap and you will get a lot more power. You can keep your existing transmission the 3.4 bolts right in. Good luck.
 
I decided to go outside and try turning it over and it runs! But barrels smoke outta the exhaust. Think its a valve seal... or..? I would rather go the cheapest route and maybe possibly fix the 3.0 because I don't have the money for a 3.4 and the ecu and wiring harness.. I'm new to yota motors and need to get a haynes manual hah
 
It sounds like it might be the head gaskets. They are notorious to blow on these engines. You will save a lot of money if you can do it yourself. The white smoke out of the tailpipe is almost a sure sign of the head gaskets blowing. Is your 4runner overheating?
 
That story is, AWESOME!!! I wonder how much $$$ the ticket would have been for? Next time you tell that story you should add 10 pound bag of coke and a dead clown in the back seat!

I agree either fix it on the cheap or UPGRADE. I always suggest a small block.
 
well i didnt have a ten pound bag of coke... maybe something green but thats besides the point...

i have a chevy 4.3 that there is no problems with it( and has all its power still when rated against a 305) just sitting in 90 chevy 1500.
does anyone know what i would need to make to it fit? im not sure whats model tranny i have but its obviously the one that bolts up to the 3.slow.
 
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SCRunner12 said:
It sounds like it might be the head gaskets. They are notorious to blow on these engines. You will save a lot of money if you can do it yourself. The white smoke out of the tailpipe is almost a sure sign of the head gaskets blowing. Is your 4runner overheating?
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its not overheating. well atleast i didnt let it run long enough to, but that exhaust just barrels out smoke, and another weird thing... the knock is gone? i dont understand but this thing still runs and moves despite the blown brake line. and like i said i said.. i have a chevy 4.3 that i wouldnt mind putting in there for fun. i mean im not going bogging with the things, maybe a little mud but i live in buffalo and the snows almost here
 
it was white smoke. i was running it earlier and now it wont run. it turns over with ease but almost like its getting no spark.. am i better off buying the adapter for a chevy 4.3?
 
yeah the white smoke is coolant steam - which means you have coolant in your cylinder(s) - which means blown head gasket. if it seems like you arent getting any spark, then your cylinder(s) may have a bunch of coolant in them. (you may actually have a spark, but it wont ignite if there is a bunch of coolant in there.) check your coolant, is the level low? or does it look kind of like peanut butter colored? same with your oil, if it is a peanut butter color, then you've got coolant in your oil.
im new to 4runners so i cant tell you for sure, but head gaskets are rarely easy, and from what ive read on this forum, these v6s are a PITA. you'll probably have to price head gasket kits (assuming you want to try to do the labor yourself) and the adaptor for the other motor and make a call based on how much you want to spend, and how much work you want to put into this. hope that helps.
 
you drained the coolant? you still could have coolant in your cylinders. pull out your spark plugs and check out the color of the electrodes. also, see if you can look into the cylinders with a flashlight.
 
its running again, i let it sit for a few days turned it over and it started right up. anyone think those instant head gasket repair stuff works?
 
beastly4runner said:
its running again, i let it sit for a few days turned it over and it started right up. anyone think those instant head gasket repair stuff works?
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mine had a very tiny leak. nothing like smoke coming out or anything. i used the sealer and it worked for me. idk about you though, it seems a little worse than mine haha
 
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