Buying a Tacoma with a replaced engine?

I'll just keep the patina I guess. Doesn't bother me too much as long as there's no rust starting.

 

My bud that I wheel with, he purchased a 2004 1st gen DCSB from the dealership as original owner.
3.4L Engine blew up 8 years ago and had it replaced at "Joe Plumbers" engine shop for $7K including engine - guaranteed no CarFax.

Moab 2021, returning back to PNW, after 1 week, another bud that I wheel with, his pre-owned 2002 Tacoma AC 3.4l engine blew and another "Joe Plumbers" engine shop replaced it - guaranteed no CarFax.

Point of replying to you:
These are trucks and there is ZERO need for provenance as it's not a 50's/60's Ferrari or a 1970's Mopar with a Hemi and 4speed.

Parts get replaced, Tires get replaced, Wipers get replaced, etc.
Buy it, be happy and go enjoy it.

 

I wonder what's the main cause of 5VZs failing? Leak at the headgaskets maybe, or failed oiling system?

I just thought they were good for 300k easy but I could be mistaken.

 

My post isn't to cause you any form of pause.
It is to show that anything can happened to original owners or 2nd/3rd/4th/etc owners.
One owner was rather hard on the truck.
The other was not.

 

The VIN is not stamped on the block. The block will likely have a serial number somewhere, but you'd have to do some sleuthing to figure out whether it was the original engine.

 

It sounds to me like you want a new Tacoma with brand new motor without question.

 

DUDE... it's a NINETY-SIX TOYOTA... not a LAMBO or an investment vehicle. Reasonable due diligence is to inspect it and drive like any other used vehicle. If it starts, doesn't leak oil or blow smoke, and it doesn't shake... it's a NINETY-SIX... USED truck.

If you want complete security buy something with a legitimate warranty.

 

You mean like a brand new '22 model? They are nice but it's out of my budget and I like the simplicity and light weight of the older models.

 

You're either raised by a single mom with no vehicle experience or someone looking for attention...

 

Sounds like the are many issues with the new 3rd gen Tacomas...

 

Get a few engine pics and you should be able to tell. Look for shoddy work too, missing connectors, wrong size bolts, etc. That model is easily the best looking Tacoma ever made. 97 SR5 package in gray........

 

???

No need for ad-hominen comments like these. So what if I was raised by a single mom (I wasn't btw) and didn't grow up working on vehicles?

There's no shame in the former and not all of us grew up wrenching.

 

Whatever... Take the advice of the people that have already posted telling you IT'S A USED TRUCK and quit milking people for attention.

 

They do, 300k or more.

 

"You can't think critically if you can't avoid immediate conclusions."

 

This is a vehicle forum, where people ask questions and start discussions. No one forced you to chime in.

I’d argue mine is a perfectly legitimate question as well. Sorry if you feel “milked” for attention.

 

Buying a used vehicle is a gamble, buying a used vehicle that's CPO & Carfax Certified blah blah blah is a gamble & for that matter so is buying a new vehicle. Even if it was a perfectly healthy all original engine today, tomorrow might be a different story. You never know.

Just exercise your due diligence & do a complete & thorough pre-purchase/trade inspection as well as a long test drive (not a quick 10 min drive around the block). Get the engine to temp, make sure cooling system etc. works. Make sure drive train, suspension & of course frame are good.

I'd just look for any red flags that may indicate any work was done half-ass. The possibility of it being a rebuilt/reman and/or a completely replaced junkyard motor honestly wouldn't deter me that much especially being in an older vehicle. No way that I know of to tell what the internals look like without tearing into it.

Try not to over think the situation & just listen to your gut. If you don't feel right about it, you don't have to do the deal.

 

Uh - not really.

 

Well buying an old used vehicle has risk. Accept the risk - check what you can and move on - or buy something with a warranty for your piece of mind. You cannot know what an old vehicle has been through and can’t be 100% sure of mechanical condition.

 

Also not a bad idea to look at RockAuto and see what parts are available and how much they cost. Being able to source the parts you need for what you can afford sounds like it might be important.