My 1990 build thread

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FurByCA

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Welcome to my nightmare, haha ... well, money pit anyway. I will be happy to just drive it finally :wave:

I picked this up from a guy that had it stored in his driveway for 3 years. He told me it was probably a head gasket so I picked it up anyway and proceeded. I've built quite a few cars and it's never simple ...

Anyway, here we go ... these are a few shots before I actually bought it. Pretty CLEAN.





Taking her to my buddy's place to be worked on.





 
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Well, things never go as planned. Looks like the tip of the spark plug came off and was rattling around in the cylinder, causing the gasket to fail and dinging the piston. Another piston was cracked near the edge.








With all the problems, I decided to get new pistons and rings along with everything else I've already bought as well as have my mechanic friend pull the engine.



Got the heads back from the machine shop after a week, they were backed up ... new parts going in ...


And now my latest PROBLEM! The head cracked (the edge area that secures it down) as he was getting it torqued down. Damn.


Any ideas??
 
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FurByCA said:
Any ideas??
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I'm not being a smart ass here, but even with a complete overhaul a 3.0 motor will never win a race.

From the pictures the original motor appears to have been rode hard, and put up wet. With all the problems you have with it sometimes it's just better to bite the bullet.

The body looks great, and does deserve to be brought back from the dead. Haven't seen the interior. More pics?

If your mech friend has connections - be on the lookout for a 3.4 motor, and just do an engine swap. If you already have too much invested - shouldn't be too hard to find another 3.0 to scavenge parts off of.

In the long run you'll be much happier with an engine swap.

Keep us posted! Your 4Runner looks great, and can't wait to follow the build!

:keyboard:
 
RiFF RaFF said:
I'm not being a smart ass here, but even with a complete overhaul a 3.0 motor will never win a race.

From the pictures the original motor appears to have been rode hard, and put up wet. With all the problems you have with it sometimes it's just better to bite the bullet.

The body looks great, and does deserve to be brought back from the dead. Haven't seen the interior. More pics?

If your mech friend has connections - be on the lookout for a 3.4 motor, and just do an engine swap. If you already have too much invested - shouldn't be too hard to find another 3.0 to scavenge parts off of.

In the long run you'll be much happier with an engine swap.

Keep us posted! Your 4Runner looks great, and can't wait to follow the build!

:keyboard:
Click to expand...

I've been thinking of that 3.4L swap more and more lately but I'm trying to do this thing on somewhat of a budget. I'm not looking to win any races haha, just want to mob around in the dirt and mud on the weekends. I've driven a 3.0 and my God are they slow, so I kind of know what to expect out of it ... not a whole lot haha

The interior is IMMACULATE. One of the other reasons I bought it, it still smells like new and was very well kept.
 
And yes, the car was left after the head gasket blew to sit in the driveway ... for 3 years :noidea: :laser:
 
A little update ... I've been able to spend more time getting some work done on her.

New pistons


The transmission really WAS replaced as the previous owner told me, that's good.


And we threw the engine back in this afternoon!


Tomorrow morning we will be dropping the gas tank to clean it out, working on some of the engine reassembly and going from there.
 
Hyde802 said:
Looking good! What did you end up doing about the cracked head?
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It only cracked on the corner so I still have it. I bought a replacement and we put that on so ... I hope it holds up. If not I always have the original that I can repair and put back on.

I should be getting a moving permit for it within the week - fingers crossed.
 
a little update ... yes, it's been with my friend for a YEAR now.

In the home stretch last night, all the grounds were good, checked the starter, put the battery in ... moment of truth? Cranked but no start.

Cranked and cranked, heard what sounded like metal on metal for a second, cranked and cranked a bit more and then NOTHING.

Loud clicking sound coming from the front of the engine. Took one of the heads off to see if anything was spinning? Nothing.

Spun the crank a quarter turn and back ... nothing. Sounded like a bad starter but worse.

About ready to order another engine.

I have a 5VZ with a spun rod but I've been reading and that's not quite a direct swap. Seems like a PITA so I think I'm going to just buy a rebuilt 3VZ ... thoughts?
 
If you was closer, I would sell you a 3.0 that ran (although not very well) for CHEAP lol.

I cant see putting money into one tho. Thats why I started the 4.3 swap lol.
 
bump530 said:
If you was closer, I would sell you a 3.0 that ran (although not very well) for CHEAP lol.

I cant see putting money into one tho. Thats why I started the 4.3 swap lol.
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Only paid 850 for the car, put a couple hundred into the engine for parts so far ... not a huge deal, I'm more bummed about the time frame.

I have a 3.4L from my 98 but with a spun rod, I would be back to where I started with this one.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/176958-5vz-engine-spun-rod-complete-part-out.html

BUT, another 1300 for a rebuilt engine? I'm considering it just to get it back ASAP
 
FurByCA said:
Only paid 850 for the car, put a couple hundred into the engine for parts so far ... not a huge deal, I'm more bummed about the time frame.

I have a 3.4L from my 98 but with a spun rod, I would be back to where I started with this one.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/176958-5vz-engine-spun-rod-complete-part-out.html

BUT, another 1300 for a rebuilt engine? I'm considering it just to get it back ASAP
Click to expand...

I think I would motor swap, although that is more time down. Luckily my 4runner is not a DD, so it can be down. Its been down for almost a year since the 3.0 started running bad enough for me to park it.
 
bump530 said:
I think I would motor swap, although that is more time down. Luckily my 4runner is not a DD, so it can be down. Its been down for almost a year since the 3.0 started running bad enough for me to park it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, mines not a daily either so I don't mind but still. I actually bought a 98 to drive until he finished this one haha ... now that this one is almost done, I decided to sell the 98 Limited. Now that it's not done again, it makes me want to keep the other one but oh well. New engine, no excuses - should be done in about a week ... I hope.
 
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