Newbie questions on 96 4runner sr5

[wiengineer]

Hello all,

I have the opportunity to buy my buddies 1996 toyota 4runner sr5 and just have a few questions before i decide on anything. First off, it has 206000 on the body and supposedly 30000 on a rebuilt 3.4(no paperwork) but it recently blew a headgasket. Its a 5speed manual 4x4, the body is soso(rockers are rotten) and the interior is in decent shape, I was told didn't overheat when the gasket went. He told me $300 for it and im pretty positive i'll be buying it, but what am i getting myself into with a headgasket job? What other parts should be replaced along with the headgaskets? i was planning on getting toyota headgaskets alone with a generic top end gasket kit, having the heads sent in to be checked over, new waterpump, timing belt, tune up. What else should i look into? I will be attemping all the wrenching work myself. Thanks everyone!

 

[nissanh]

Correct me if I am wrong... Head gasket will not blow without a reason. It got over heated and as a result it blew the head gasket.

Get the heads a valve job, it is worth. This gives perfect compression leading to good gas mileage. It will also get new valve stems, so no worries about oil leaks.

While the heads are out, make sure to apply a small oil film motor oil into the cylinders to avoid it getting corroded due to the exposure to the atmosphere.

Water pump : OEM or AISIN. No other brands.
Include 2X cam seals and 1X crank seal (Toyota only)
Thermostat (OEM)
Idler bearing
Timing belt belt tentioner
Hydraulic tentioner
Dual ground spark plugs (Denso or NGK) only. USe only the DUAL ground type.

You can buy all these online (ebay) for about $300 I think

 

[masphx]

Are u sure it is a 96 and not a 95? 2nd and 3rd gens look similar. Either way $300 is a good deal. You could just part it out if the engine is done and still make profit.

 

[downpour11]

Are u sure it is a 96 and not a 95? 2nd and 3rd gens look similar. Either way $300 is a good deal. You could just part it out if the engine is done and still make profit.

pretty positive it's a 96 hence the rebuilt 3.4

 

[wiengineer]

Should be a 96, as far as i understand the earlier ones had 3.0's. I've been doing some research and came across an issue of cracking heads. Are these engines prone to that or more prone to people abusing them which leads to cracking heads? The way i look at it, for $300 it is a good learning experience for me. At 20 years old, i havent done any major repairs on any of my vehicles, so if i pull it apart and the heads are junk i'll more than likely part it out and make a few bucks to pay for college. If the heads are good, make the repairs and hopefully have a decent vehicle to play around with. Another thing i noticed when looking it over, on the rear axle, right on the pumpkin, there seems to be some sort of expoxy or something? I'm used to chevy pickups where you can just replace a cover if its bad but i didn't see one on this style rear axle. Didn't seem to be leaking at all but i didn't really crawl under it since it's raining outside. Are there any common problems with the rear axle on these 4runners? thanks again everyone.