Alrighty folks, here's a rather large and involved update, so bear with me..
I know I haven't posted much with my 4Runner in a while. She has been garage ridden for the past 7-ish months due to the motor blowing a head gasket
Unfortunately, this happened at a very inconveniencing time, as my wife and I were only a few months away from our first child's birth. All spare funds were on hold and being saved. Therefor, she's been sitting.
Skip to 6-7 months later, we have a healthy 4 month old baby girl and we couldn't be happier. However, the 4Runner had been on the back burner as I slowly bought parts, tools, and lastly, try to source a decent mileage engine to replace mine.
Now begins the engine journey that has been a nightmare (don't worry, there's a happy ending).
Engine 1
I bought a $1300 engine with around 112k on it from Central Auto in Denver, CO. First, let me start off by saying that Central Auto is a good reputable company and they worked with me every step of the way. Now, after taking a full day off work, renting a trailer and making the 4 hour round trip drive through Denver traffic to go get the engine, I get home with it and begin unwrapping and breaking it down. Immediately I find rust ALL OVER this thing. I began to get skeptical. I yanked the intake plenums and spark plugs. Low and behold, there's a shit ton of water in this engine. After back and forth for 3 or 4 days with Central Auto hoping they would come get this thing, they refused and here I was with quite literally a boat anchor. So, I take yet another day off from work, rent another trailer, and make the drive all over again. Thankfully a full refund was issued, but I was out nearly $150 between gas and trailer rent costs.
Engine 2
Weeks pass as I try to source another engine and I finally find another from a reputable junk yard, yet again in Denver, Jims Yota Yard. The $1100 engine had 122k on it and they agreed to bring it to me. SOLD! They bring it to me and I'm ecstatic. It's clean and looks to be in great shape. I get it unloaded and they take off. I get it up on the engine hoist and ready to work on, when I see a timing belt replacement sticker on the front cover. Why I didn't see this sooner I don't know. My stomach immediately drops as I'm looking at 300,xxx mileage written on the sticker :nono: I immediately make the phone call. Long story short, another couple weeks pass as the source me another engine to bring to swap out the one they originally brought...
Engine 3
Now this brings us to current time. Over this past weekend they bring me the new engine. This one has 144k on it but not a deal breaker. Make an even swap, unload and load. Engine appears to look great, no timing belt service sticker this time haha. Compression feels good, nice and clean under valve covers and throughout, and to top it off it appears to have just had a timing belt service with all Toyota parts so no need to do it right now. I'm a happy camper.
Plans so far include: valve cover gasket job, new rear main seal, new plugs, new wires, new radiator, custom powdercoat valve covers and intake manifolds, new motor mounts, and overall grease and wiring cleanup in the engine bay.
The old engine is essentially ready to pull. I ran into a bit of a hiccup with the exhaust flange blots and stripped one. Now, I have to cut it off. Once it's off, I can pull the engine! Estimating full completion by the end of the month!
