3rz Taco vs. 80 series Land Cruiser: Long Term

Don't limit yourself to an east coast truck either. I wouldn't hesitate to buy something from out west and drive it back.

 

It's very mild here for the most part. We might see road salt 3 times a year at the most, but far from a sustained salt bath like up north.

Yeah that can be tricky though; you have to count on a seller to wait on you to get out there while there might be a line of buyers practically at his driveway if it's a good deal.

Also I'd be hesitant to buy any Tacoma without inspecting the frame with a fine tooth comb first, even an Arizona truck.

 

Can anyone speak to the 3rz-fe's expected longevity if decently-maintained?

On The cruiser forums they talk about a rebuild and/or head gasket every 300,000 km: is there any similar interval for the 3rz?

 

The cruiser rebuild they're talking about is the availability of pistons and rings for an overbore situation with an estimate of 300k between. But the reality is there are engines with 600k and no bottom end related compression issues. The head-gasket is a one and done deal unless you've overheated it. The big hullabaloo about the 300k deal is that Toyota offered those service parts to guarantee you reach the FZ engine's 1mil mi longevity expectation.

My 3RZ had to have its head replaced due to cracking at 190k and I flogged it until passing it along at 265k. I think if you always do the 50k valve adjustments you're probably okay, I'd be leery purchasing one I don't have history on though

 

Yeah I think it'd definitely be worth it to do a leakdown/compression test as part of a PPI, even if I have to pay a shop for it.

Would you say the 5VZ stands up better to casual/neglected maintenance, seeing as it doesn't have the valve issues and is non-interference, etc.? I'm thinking that might be a better bet for a used truck..

 

I think the 5VZ, at least from 98-04 is a super safe bet

 

Yeah I just heard they can develop HG leaks, so maybe a compression test or at least good inspection is important for those too.

 

It's mostly the 95-97 ones that have HG issues cause they use a composite gasket. But the 3RZ has more head and head gasket related issues by far compared to the 5VZ

 

Get both.

 

I would but I don't have the income for that right now unfortunately, and if I had to choose one it'd be the Taco.

They do seem to complement each other well though. you're not the only one who runs both.

 

Does anyone do top end rebuilds as "PM" on the 3rz then like they do on the 1fz over on Mud?

 

Before covid you could get a rebuilt head from Yota1 for under $500. Now they are $800. Best take it to a local machine shop and have it worked on. You can disassemble/reassemble with the correct tools to save some coin.

 

Yeah seems like a pretty easy job on the 3rz as long as the bottom end is good.

 

My 3rz has 330k and runs really, really good. I don't have a "for sure" history on it prior to 250k, but if 3rd hand stories can be believed, it is all original with a valve adjustment last done at 290k.

That said, I am a huge fan of the 5vz--I just think it is too much motor for a manual transmission tacoma. It was perfect in my 4x4 T100, and I've driven several 5vz/AT 4runners and thought that was a great combo.

 

Yeah I haven't heard many bad words about it, like the little engine that could.

 

People have been telling me $11.5 is crazy for a truck with 250k miles, but whenever I go to look at another one with lower miles/cheaper, it just seems ragged-out and I can feel rust starting to bubble up inside the frame. I just keep coming back to this one: when the guy showed it to me it purred like a kitten and honestly just looked like a new truck inside and out: I never would've guessed the mileage.

Is $11.5k really a crazy price, or just the going rate for a first gen that isn't beat to hell?

 

Depends on where you live. That could buy a double cab with the same mileage. I've seen single cabs listed even higher so it's a weird market and best to just buy exactly what you want and don't settle cause of price alone. I couldn't care what anybody thinks about what I payed for a vehicle if it's what I wanted and it only matters to me what I'm paying.

 

I dunno what anything is worth where you live, I got my truck (4WD, V6, 5-speed, AC) with every maintenance record going back to purchase, perfect cab and bed, with topper, for 9k... downside was the frame needed help and when I got it that wasn't the case (or at least a hammer didn't reveal it). The market value has only gone up since then around here.

 

That’s the going rate. In 2020, when my truck got hit, I sent insurance comps and my insurance valued the truck at 11,700 with 255k on it. Similar truck to the one you’re looking at

 

Don’t be afraid of the 3rz. It’s an improvement over the 22re (the legend) and has no major issues as long as you adjust the valves