newbie to this forum!!!Got a 96 4runner for free

[mrbrymr2]

Hi T4R members!

My buddy gave me his 96 4runner for FREE. He's the 1st owner and he puts in 333000 miles and never had any major engine breakdown until last week when I received a call from him about the car shaking and coming out with white smoke from the tail pipe. He took the car to the mechanic and the diagnosis was blown head gasket and its going to cost him about 1500 bucks. OK, long story short he gave me the 4runner for free and he ended up buying a brand new rav4. My question is should I fix the cylinder head or replace the engine with low mileage engine like those surplus engine from japan, either or its going to cost about the same. Any advice would be helpful....

 

[4Running Daily]

I'll give ya $500 for it right as it sits right now.

 

[shootmymime]

Hi T4R members!

My buddy gave me his 96 4runner for FREE. He's the 1st owner and he puts in 333000 miles and never had any major engine breakdown until last week when I received a call from him about the car shaking and coming out with white smoke from the tail pipe. He took the car to the mechanic and the diagnosis was blown head gasket and its going to cost him about 1500 bucks. OK, long story short he gave me the 4runner for free and he ended up buying a brand new rav4. My question is should I fix the cylinder head or replace the engine with low mileage engine like those surplus engine from japan, either or its going to cost about the same. Any advice would be helpful....

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if your going to keep it. i would look into replacing because 96 have a common problem with HG failure from use and over time. our 96 bought new, we have done 3 hg and it has 325K miles almost like yours.

but my 00 has never had a hg fail at 205K.

so if you keep it expect the hg to fail again or the other side to go.

sweet score tho man!!!

while your in there check when the TB and water pump were done last.

 

[mrbrymr2]

I'll give ya $500 for it right as it sits right now.

Sorry dude but I plan on keeping the car!

 

[gamefreakgc]

Put in a better used engine. I know these 5VZ-FE's last a long time, but 330k miles is pushing it! Sooner or later something else is going to fail on you. Plus a used engine with less miles on average will be more efficient (more HP/torque and better gas mileage than an engine with heavy mileage)

 

[JayRolla]

96, 240k mileage with no water in the oil. Original HG. These motors as a whole have HG issues, but older did have it more.

 

[mrbrymr2]

if your going to keep it. i would look into replacing because 96 have a common problem with HG failure from use and over time. our 96 bought new, we have done 3 hg and it has 325K miles almost like yours.

but my 00 has never had a hg fail at 205K.

so if you keep it expect the hg to fail again or the other side to go.

sweet score tho man!!!

while your in there check when the TB and water pump were done last.

by the way it's a 4 cylinder 4x4. My buddy just had a major maintenance done on the car not long ago. But will definitely check/replace parts if necessary. thanks for advice...

 

[mrbrymr2]

Put in a better used engine. I know these 5VZ-FE's last a long time, but 330k miles is pushing it! Sooner or later something else is going to fail on you. Plus a used engine with less miles on average will be more efficient (more HP/torque and better gas mileage than an engine with heavy mileage)

It's a 4x4 4 cylinder with 3RZ engine. Thanks for your advice!

 

[gamefreakgc]

It's a 4x4 4 cylinder with 3RZ engine. Thanks for your advice!

Yeah sorry must have missed that part.

If you are dropping in a new (to you) engine, you might want to consider fixing up the new one since the engine is already out depending on how many miles it has. I'm talking about checking the injectors, throttle body/plenum cleaning, removing excess oil deposits, replacing the valve cover gasket, etc. Nothing crazy but it's just so much easier to do when not mounted. Just a suggestion though, it really would depend on the state the new one is in.

 

[mrbrymr2]

Yeah sorry must have missed that part.

If you are dropping in a new (to you) engine, you might want to consider fixing up the new one since the engine is already out depending on how many miles it has. I'm talking about checking the injectors, throttle body/plenum cleaning, removing excess oil deposits, replacing the valve cover gasket, etc. Nothing crazy but it's just so much easier to do when not mounted. Just a suggestion though, it really would depend on the state the new one is in.

This is something new to me and I'm sure toyota engine is just like other engines out there. but will definitely look into replacing parts, as of now I'm still shopping around for an engine. I appreciate your feedback...thanks..

 

[StreetCreeper]

Hi T4R members!

My buddy gave me his 96 4runner for FREE. He's the 1st owner and he puts in 333000 miles and never had any major engine breakdown until last week when I received a call from him about the car shaking and coming out with white smoke from the tail pipe. He took the car to the mechanic and the diagnosis was blown head gasket and its going to cost him about 1500 bucks. OK, long story short he gave me the 4runner for free and he ended up buying a brand new rav4. My question is should I fix the cylinder head or replace the engine with low mileage engine like those surplus engine from japan, either or its going to cost about the same. Any advice would be helpful....

Welcome to the Free 4runner Club! Thanks to my inlaws, I too recived a free 4runner. In my case, a 1997 4runner limited.

Just means we are free to sink more money into them since we got them free. Good times!

 

[3rzrunner]

Welcome to the 4banger club as well, your going to love the 4cyl once its running.
Is yours a 5speed?

Also dont spend to long on here otherwise the 'modbug' is gunna bite bad....
Hahaha I'm sure many of you guys can relate......

 

[T4R2014]

Hi T4R members!

My buddy gave me his 96 4runner for FREE. He's the 1st owner and he puts in 333000 miles and never had any major engine breakdown until last week when I received a call from him about the car shaking and coming out with white smoke from the tail pipe. He took the car to the mechanic and the diagnosis was blown head gasket and its going to cost him about 1500 bucks. OK, long story short he gave me the 4runner for free and he ended up buying a brand new rav4. My question is should I fix the cylinder head or replace the engine with low mileage engine like those surplus engine from japan, either or its going to cost about the same. Any advice would be helpful....

OP, you have a rare color. Cardinal Red. Only available for the 1996 model year. I would replace the engine if the cost is the same and rebuild the old one over time.

if your going to keep it. i would look into replacing because 96 have a common problem with HG failure from use and over time. our 96 bought new, we have done 3 hg and it has 325K miles almost like yours.

Sounds more like you got unlucky.

 

[zgensler31]

Find theses two threads.....
1uzfe swap 99 should be near the top as he's doing it right now. And search for singtoe's 2uzfe swap

 

[02SE]

Sounds more like you got unlucky.

I would lean more towards improper replacement.

 

[shootmymime]

I would lean more towards improper replacement.

Sounds more like you got unlucky.

all done by the dealer- fail.

 

[T4R2014]

I would lean more towards improper replacement.

At least on the first failure. The others are definitely due to the dealer.

 

[02SE]

At least on the first failure. The others are definitely due to the dealer.

Yep.

When I worked in a Dealer shop, there were more than a few 'parts changers' on staff. They were able to unbolt and bolt on new parts, but advise them to replace TTY head bolts, or ask them if the RA of the Head(s) and block were appropriate, and they'd look at you as if you were speaking some foreign language..

 

[T4R2014]

Yep.

When I worked in a Dealer shop, there were more than a few 'parts changers' on staff. They were able to unbolt and bolt on new parts, but advise them to replace TTY head bolts, or ask them if the RA of the Head(s) and block were appropriate, and they'd look at you as if you were speaking some foreign language..

It is too common it seems. My BMW had the engine block replaced in the late 90's due to the nikasil recall. The recall did not involve replacing the heads. Looking at the PO's service records I found that it kept having cooling system issues after which the dealer never seemed to fully resolve. The head gasket eventually blew. She chose to have it repaired at an independent shop. It seems that the shop took care of the issues because it is running great 15 years later with regular maintenance.

 

[mrbrymr2]

Welcome to the 4banger club as well, your going to love the 4cyl once its running.
Is yours a 5speed?

Also dont spend to long on here otherwise the 'modbug' is gunna bite bad....
Hahaha I'm sure many of you guys can relate......

It's auto...