Advice on Broken Tacoma

I have a 2003 4 door tacoma that unfortunately died on me. It needs a new engine. Got a quote for 14k to install a new one, but theyre basically impossible to find right now.
I had to bite the bullet and just buy a new vehicle, but im not sure what to do with my tacoma. I was thinking of just putting it on Craigslist and seeing what I can get for it, or contact a salvage yard.
Any advice would be appreciated- thank you

 

Partout gets you the most money.

 

Sell both and get a 2nd gen- its really hard to find clean 1st gens anymore. If your 1st gen is clean someone handy will buy it for an engine swap

 

@Taco critter or @Empty_Lord may have the best advice. Sell it as is for parts truck or somebody that wants a project.
But 14k for a new engine seems to be an astronomical price.

 

Any pics? Critter needs a new project.


Keep it and v8 swap is my vote

 

Put in a salvage yard engine. I see 6 for sale in your state, 3 of them with under 125k miles: https://www.car-part.com/

(Can't link search results directly, so I printed to PDF attached.)

 

Died, yet you provide no details?

New engine quote, yet not possible because they're not in stock? Not to mention easily more than double all those I've seen quoted here in the forums.

I take it the panic has caused some frustration and that's why there's little sense made with what you're saying.

Used engines are plentiful all over the United States for these trucks and based on your double cab build, you just need a 3RZ or 5VZ.

You can salvage most of the parts from your current truck and move them over to the replacement engine, saving you a ton of money.

Maybe getting some friends to help as it'd be a weekend job at most.

A used motor can be anywhere from free to $500 or so.

 

Critter has a big enough project raising the the new edition he named "Tacoma".

 

He'd just buy it and resell it soon after anyway

 

4 or 6 cyl and how many miles on it?

The 5vz's are sorta of plentiful, but the 3rz's a lot of the builders are short on cores....

last few years business has been good for 1st gen replacements......little too good....


this is the year that some have been pulling their hair out over the electronic throttle body......
when the pedal sensor goes bad.....you have to buy the whole $450 TB......
cant buy the sensor by itself.....

 

You even considered a 3rd Gen once before; you lost your 'Cool Card' long ago

 

Too bad it goes unused 5 days a week

 

Looks like one of those "get off my lawn!" chairs

 

My truck broke down and I had it towed to a mechanic. They said I had a blown cylinder and no pressure in another. I am not a mechanic, but they said i needed a new engine. They said labor and parts to put a new engine would be 14,000$. Considering most mechanics are charging 90-200$ an hour, I figured this to be a believable price. I am not a mechanic.
I live in colorado. People bust nuts over old Toyotas in this state. So when the mechanic told me nothing was available, i took his word for it. A couple months before the truck died, I needed to replace my rear diff but was unable to do so because no one could find a new or used one. So when I was told an engine was unavailable, i took his word for it.
This is not a “panic” post. I am just stating what happened to get advice.

 

Sounds good. Meet me in denver, CO. 38th and Federal to take a look.

 

They were giving you the fuck off price.


What’s the definition of dead? Like bullet holes dead or bad compression or run dry dead?

Honestly curious if it can be saved.

Hey now, that’s dirty! We thought you were in CT. Like Connecticut. NO DEAL

 

His Mrs would see $$$$ and demand it be sold ASAP!!

 

Spread the word someone in that regional forum will see it goes to a good home. Pay somewhat more then scrap!

It seems the CT is no longer valid address !!

We were all thinking you are right up the road making this a practical rescue .

I even have a3.4 I bought running on the engine stand I would have made Mr. Critter a Very Good deal

Never fails how fast things fall apart.

Good luck Op no matter what you decide.