JEGS ATK 3.4

I'm sure everyone has seen my posts on the failed 2 rebuilds on my engine. The company said they'd take it back for a 3rd time but if they can't figure it out in 2 tries I don't want to waste my time pulling it and putting it back in for a 3rd time to have it be junk again. So next question is has anyone put one of these ATK engines in? Again at $4,500 I'm sick of spending money on a old truck that I try to keep mechanically perfect as i can and keep getting shit parts in return. At this point there isn't many options for engines anymore. If not. Does anyone want a 02 double cab that everything is brand new mechanically besides the differentials and even the motor is brand new with a awesome #5 cylinder head gasket leak.

 

That's a major bummer to hear. I can tell you that any decent company should have no trouble rebuilding a 3.4 motor and heads unless they're cutting corners. I don't have knowledge of the Jegs motor, hopefully someone else does but I can throw several options out there. I know several people with solid rebuilds from yota1 performance. Unfortunately I hear they're backed up 6 months or more because of their reputation. You might want to do some diligent research and find a reputable local auto machine shop to take your motor and heads to. They don't necessarily have to specialize in Toyota motors. It's a little more work because you have to install the heads, timing,etc but at least you know it's done right.

 

I just read your original post. 90psi compression on a rebuild is way to low and they obviously didn't test for leaks or cracks in the heads or block. epic fail.

 

For sure then they argued with me when I said the compression should be atleast 180 psi. That was right before sending it back the 2nd time. I haven't did a compression test again because I'm pretty sure I'll have a come apart and end up putting a sledge hammer through the truck. Apparently I just have bad luck with everything I do with vehicles. My diesel has been the same story with transmissions. I'm ready to send them all to the junk yard. It would be cheaper.

 

You are correct. For reference, I have 15,000mi on my rebuild done by a local machine shop and I have between 210 and 215psi on all cylinders.

 

Sorry for your bad luck, I went the jdm route and could not be happier. I hope you get it fixed up correctly to your satisfaction brother.

 

Who did you go through for your JDM? Did you change the water pump and timing belt ect?

 

I got mine from www.jdmautopartsusa.com Garland,TX $2399 I picked it up no delivery fee, my nephew lives in Dallas. It was way clean I did put new parts in tbelt w/pump with oil cooler I used the Jdm motor as a long block and then used the parts and pieces from both on the install. Lotta work. It came out of a right hand drive vehicle in Japan. You have to use all your brackets and intake , add your oil cooler, swap oil pick up and pan lots more. But I did use a lot of parts from jdm injectors fuel rail, power steering pump. I put it on engine stand built it installing new and prior engine parts it was a skeleton when I removed old motor

 

Here's couple pics of process

 

That JDM motor looks like a pretty good option. And it comes with a lot of extra/ spare parts. Their warranty states "14. All engines are compression tested before being shipped. We do not ship engines with bad compression." @Moonrman , Just curious if they provide you with these compression numbers?

 

Also curious if they sent them to you

 

No I didn't get numbers I was gonna test but I just rolled with it cause it looked so good when I got it. I know it was low miles not one bit of sludge in it I had the valve covers and oil pan.off that one looked beautiful I did understand I was taking a chance getting one but I have installed jdm 22re motors in toyota pickups in the 90,s with great success

 

Where?

Why no warranty?

If I had a blown engine I'd be looking at:
1. rebuilding it myself
2. swapping in an engine myself

Wrenching is not stacking dimes welding. If the manual says torque to 40 ft lbs, then you torque to 40 ft lbs.

Not sure what you mean by "the company".

 

I weighed all the options, lkq, carpart.com, local junkyards for a motor it was all trash. Did not want a totally rebuilt 3.4 cause my motor building friends said hit and miss with the 3.4. The last option was JDM for me

 

I'm alot better welder than engine builder haha. It did have a warranty which is why it was sent twice and still has issues being the leaking headgasket and leaking water pump that was all written out in the 1st post. I don't want to waste my time sending it a 3rd time when the other 2 times didn't work. That is why I made this post asking how ATK engines are because I plan on swapping the engine myself. I'm trying to get 1st hand experience on the very few replacement engines out there so I don't throw away another $5,000.00 again on a truck that in reality shouldn't be worth even close to 10k but for some reason people pay ridiculous money for them now and because of this I have to pay double for a beater hunting truck compared to what I paid for the same truck in 2012 when the thing was 10 years old vs 22 years old so I'm pretty much stuck between a rock and a hard place as much as everything costs now on spending the money on another rebuild or engine hoping it works this time or cut my losses and let the truck rot away in my yard and hope someday vehicle prices drop to a normal point again.

 

Why not consider JARCO for the third try? Similar pricing.

https://jarcoinc.com/

 

I'll look into them

 

How do they work? Sorry my phone isn't liking the website. It won't let me click on anything.

 

They’re a supplier to Toyota dealerships for remans. Your chosen shop can buy from them. Supposedly they use oem parts in the rebuilds, or at least same suppliers (aisin bearings, for example). I’ve been very happy with mine (a 3.4).

I’m not sure they will sell direct to consumer. But for a shop, they send the motor by freight truck and you send your old one back to them, freight included in the bill.

 

That sounds way good I'll call them tomorrow and see if they are still doing 3.4's. Thanks for the info!