Used 3.4 engine swap out

Hello,
I'm looking to do a swap out on my 03 tacoma, with a used 3.4 v-6. I have my doubts about the engine I purchased. It looks rough but I was told it only had 89K on it.
Before I begin digging into this and swap out my bad engine for a questionable engine , does anyone have a recommendation for me about work I can do while the engine is on a stand.
Should I put on a new timing belt?
should I do any other kind of work ?
Thank you.
KG

 

Do everything you can while it's out to include the head gasket. Water pump, timing belt, valve cover gaskets and what that all entails. You don't know how long it sat so there are many things that could be wrong related to seals/rubber stuff. Does it look like it sat outside? I'd also do a compression test while it's out so you know it will turn over and produce proper numbers there.

 

I would do as much as I could to it while it's on a stand before it's in the truck and the jobs are much more difficult. Unless you have documentation proving the TB and gaskets, etc were already done recently. Timing belt is every ~90k so it should need one if it hasn't already.

 

Guess the 1st thing I would do is a compression check w/leak-down check before I start replacing anything. Oil in it? Could send a sample to Blackstone Labs for analysis too.

 

Kind of hard to do a compression test on the stand. Leakdown test might be easier and will tell you more.

 

Thanks,
How do I do a comp test if the engine is on the stand?? Turn it over by hand? Don't even know what a leakdown test is. EXBeasus guy, yes it definitely sat outside for a while.

 

Leak down test kits need compressed air. Any small air compressor will work. The testers are about $50 on eBay/Amazon.

You don't need to turn the engine over with the starter like you do with a compression tester.

You just need to turn each cylinder to TDC (intake and exhaust valves are closed.). Add the compressed air thru the spark plug of the cylinder you are testing.

The instructions with the tester will tell you what to listen for and tell you if you have an issue.

I'm not going into more detail, because the tester has clear instructions.

 

And so does the rest of the internet

 

Guess that depends on what kind of stand you have.

 

Hello again ,
I did a leak down test on the engine cylinders , 1, 3, 5 (on passenger side) did ok. about 20-30 % leakage each. I could hear some leaking coming out of the exhaust.
I believe those are ok. However on cylinders 2 , and 4, I could not get a sound seal to the spark plug hole , it gave 100% leakage, and the biggest concern I had was on # 6 , it held some pressure but I could definitely feel air coming out of # 4 while pressurizing # 6. I'm told this is likely due to a head gasket leak.

I'm not entirely sure that I'm doing the test correctly , mostly curious how I know I'm at TDC on the comp stroke, rather than the exhaust . Any thoughts or direction are welcome.
Thanks.

 

TDC compression you can try the balloon trick. Or screw in the hose from a compression tester, then hold your finger over the hose opening, you will feel air pressure trying to escape when on compression stroke.

It's easier with the valve covers off. So you can see the valve/spring in the fully closed position meaning TDC.

 

I did my leak down test like 3-4 times before I got it right. Stick something long in the hole to give you a visual for TDC on the given cylinder. Go around again if it don’t feel right. Or just get one of those gauges made for this application, or use some of the already given advice.

 

OK Guys, I have dove in head first into the 3.4 5vz job. I've removed the heads , and am in the process of lapping the valves. I made a mistake when removing the shims and got some of them mixed up. They still belong to the same Intake or exhaust line that they came from but I am not certain about which cylinders they came out of. Any suggestions on how to make sure they get back where I need them or instruction on how to gauge them properly would be helpful.

 

Whatever you do get a good leak down tester. I had a compression tester I was going to use for the hell of it when my spark plugs were out but threw it in the trash after finding super shitty threads and burs on all of the threads and in the quick connects of the gauge.