So I decided to go ahead and replace the entire engine in my T4R. (Bolt backed out of the main drive pulley and destroyed the crank at 217,000 miles.) I could just replace the crank, but if I'm going to go that far into it...I'm just going to opt out, and replace the whole engine. Found a 3.4 with 30,000 miles for $1200. So the shop will be pulling the old engine out, swapping the supercharger over to the new engine, then installing it back in. Can you guys think of anything else that should be paid attention to while it's out?
Swapping in a new engine...what else should I pay attention to?
- Thread starter jsukey
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
I wouldnt trust an engine from the early 00's with a claim of 34k on it unless you saw the vehicle it came out of and could verify the odometer. even then...keeping an entire car at a junkyard that long intact is almost unheard of...
basically, I'd do the timing belt, water pump, thermostat...might even just pull the pan and do the oil pump, pan gasket while its out and everything is easy to access.
basically, I'd do the timing belt, water pump, thermostat...might even just pull the pan and do the oil pump, pan gasket while its out and everything is easy to access.
5vzT4R
New member
Timing belt and water pump for sure. Might as well change all the belts while its out. If it has only 30k miles. I would be alil concerned about the oil sitting that long and oil sludge.. If it was me I would consider pulling the valve covers and checking it out to make sure its clean. But I would do that with any engine swap. Maybe that's just me though..
5vzT4R
New member
Well in that case you sound like you got it covered. But still doesn't hurt to check for sludge. And I would check/replace the belts and water pump still.
that still doesnt mean much. its been proven time and again that unless you get the whole front clip, half the time the mileage isnt correct. There's so many threads on honda-tech about it, its not funny.
regardless, you can do what you want but I would still at least inspect the timing belt itself before you toss it in. at the least, even if it still has low mileage, its likely been sitting in a warehouse that isnt climate controlled so there could be cracking on the belt.
RussToy
New member
Hey Buddy, just like 5vzT4R stated....you have purchased a used engine. Weather it has 36,000 miles on it or 236,000 miles on it...the big question is how did the PO theat the engine?
Before I spent the time and money installing any engine, why not take a few minites and pull the valve covers. This is just cheap insurance that the engine is nice and clean....and not full of sludge. If its clean, then you know that you "should" have a good motor...go a head with the install. JDM is a reputable company. They wouldn't stay in business vey long if they sold POS' engine...especially after saying it only has 36,000 miles on it!
Now if its full of sludge..that's a whole different issue! Call JDM back and ask for a different engine!
This is just MHO...my .02..take it for what it's worth...
Good luck...I hope all turns out good for you Buddy!!
Last edited:
Listen to everyone about the timing belt and water pump. The belt can age and may stretch easily or snap. It's cheap insurance. The water pump is usually a "just because you're there" type of thing because they're cheap.
As mentioned before, check out the heads for sludge and run some cleaner through the engine after it's installed. I ran a can of seafoam through my engine after I installed mine to clean any junk out that was sitting in the engine.
A few other things that will be beneficial to change while it's out are the valve cover gaskets, rear main seal, intake gaskets, fuel injector orings, and a VERY VERY good cleaning of the outside surfaces of the engine to be put in. The last part is important so any leaks can be easily identified as to where they're coming from if there are any leaks.
As mentioned before, check out the heads for sludge and run some cleaner through the engine after it's installed. I ran a can of seafoam through my engine after I installed mine to clean any junk out that was sitting in the engine.
A few other things that will be beneficial to change while it's out are the valve cover gaskets, rear main seal, intake gaskets, fuel injector orings, and a VERY VERY good cleaning of the outside surfaces of the engine to be put in. The last part is important so any leaks can be easily identified as to where they're coming from if there are any leaks.
Bumper2Bumper Auto
New member
I agree that the water pump and timing belt should be replaced as a precaution on ANY used 3.4 Toyota. As for the mileage, the OP mentioned some good information. JDM is a good company that I have dealt with several times over the past. They import their engines from Japan, where they actually have a law requiring that an engine be replaced after around 36k miles regardless of how it is performing. Strange, yes, but it has been that way for over 30 years that I know of. I have bought these engines for Nissans and Toyotas for that length of time.
That being said, yes, it is very possible to get an engine with that low of mileage. But also, good advice from everyone about inspecting it. I would throw this bit in: Regardless of how clean the engine is, replace the rear main seal. Last thing you want is to install an engine and have THAT seal leaking.
That being said, yes, it is very possible to get an engine with that low of mileage. But also, good advice from everyone about inspecting it. I would throw this bit in: Regardless of how clean the engine is, replace the rear main seal. Last thing you want is to install an engine and have THAT seal leaking.
BrianSD_42
New member
Sorry but this can't be true in the broader sense. I see you did not specify.
Do mean in a specific industry like taxi service?
I have a hard time believing it is true "for Japan"
no, the law isnt like that.
there are lots of older cars running around in japan with their original engines.
what it centers around is the vehicle tax. after a car reaches a couple years in age or certain mileage it starts to ramp up exponentially in taxes. This is to deter people from keeping older cars with less stringent emission controls as compared to buying a newer car with tighter emission controls.
basically its what california would LOVE to do. As a result a lot of cars are bought and then primarily sold to recyclers. there are LOTS of used car dealerships in japan though with all years of skylines, ferios, ctr's, etc, etc on them.
its just plain cheaper to buy a new car every couple of years vs paying the ever increasing taxes on the older ones. this doesnt stop a lot of people from being "car poor" over there though. they just love their vintage AE86 or what-not.
nothing wrong with the drivetrains and other markets gobble them up which is how you get them. though, by now, to still be able to get an engine from 00-02 with that mileage means it must have sat in the back of a container or warehouse for QUITE a while.
engines sitting get all kinds of issues from sitting such as dried belts, dried valve stem seals, dried gaskets, hell could even end up with moisture in the cylinders if the throttle body or exhaust isnt closed off...there's always that one valve or more thats open due to the cam position...
there are lots of older cars running around in japan with their original engines.
what it centers around is the vehicle tax. after a car reaches a couple years in age or certain mileage it starts to ramp up exponentially in taxes. This is to deter people from keeping older cars with less stringent emission controls as compared to buying a newer car with tighter emission controls.
basically its what california would LOVE to do. As a result a lot of cars are bought and then primarily sold to recyclers. there are LOTS of used car dealerships in japan though with all years of skylines, ferios, ctr's, etc, etc on them.
its just plain cheaper to buy a new car every couple of years vs paying the ever increasing taxes on the older ones. this doesnt stop a lot of people from being "car poor" over there though. they just love their vintage AE86 or what-not.
nothing wrong with the drivetrains and other markets gobble them up which is how you get them. though, by now, to still be able to get an engine from 00-02 with that mileage means it must have sat in the back of a container or warehouse for QUITE a while.
engines sitting get all kinds of issues from sitting such as dried belts, dried valve stem seals, dried gaskets, hell could even end up with moisture in the cylinders if the throttle body or exhaust isnt closed off...there's always that one valve or more thats open due to the cam position...
Bumper2Bumper Auto
New member
This I guess goes back to the "old wives tale". I had heard back in the 90s that that was a law they had in Japan. I never really researched it back then, and since we would get engines all the time back then that were in beautiful condition, we never really questioned it. As the years went by and you could still import engines with around 30-36k miles on it, we just assumed what we were told was still true. Learn something new every day.
As for quality, I have installed dozens of these engines imported from Japan and have never had a single one with an issue.
Bumper2Bumper Auto
New member
Wow, a quick search shows this, which supports what you had said. Guess I will have to not always take what I heard 30 years ago and keep it as gospel. lol. Even the inporters are telling us the same myth!
