A blown Toyota motor

My step father who lives in Texas has been driving his 1997 4x4 Toyota Ext Cab, SR5 V-6 Auto pick up since day one. I would say he was not overkill in the maintenance of the truck, but drove it 195,000 miles before the radiator blew and then the motor. He loves the truck, and its in pretty good shape minus the motor now. He is about to retire and just bought a boat which his truck would be perfect for getting it to and from and in and out of the water. I told him to rebuild the truck's motor, and go thru the truck and get it all dialed in. He was thinking of a used drop in motor, but it did not seem to make sense for what I think you can rebuild his original motor for. Anyone rebuilt one of these motors, and or have an idea of the costs to do a complete rebuild? Any Members in the Galveston area who knows a good mechanic that could help him out? Thanks for the help or any suggestions you may have.

 

check out jberrys build. he did a swap of a used motor

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...ion-resurrection-redemption-tacoma-story.html

 

A rebuild kit is like $700. Then labor costs...

 

Did the motor blow right after the radiator? or was it 2 seprate things?

 

A mechanic at a local machine shop said he would rebuild it for $1500 plus parts...does this sound fair?

 

Find a newer, less mileage motor out of a junk yard and swap it out

 

back to back... I believe he was on the freeway when the radiator blew and by the time he got off the freeway he was done. Compression was all over the place, but at least he had compression and it did not freeze up on him.

 

$400 for a used motor and about $400 to install.

 

oh ok. man that sucks

 

Doing a swap in my 03, (2.7) Got a motor with 30K on it for 1800 and im doing it myself. I Just think its the better way, since there was no core charge im gonna rebuild my old one and keep it for a back up.

 

Sounds reasonable to me if he knows what he's doing.

 

Seems like a few of you are into swapping vs building out the original motor. He has been looking for a used motor, but has not found any under 100,000 miles, the cheapest so far had 140,000 and they wanted $1500. Cheapest rebuilt motor goes for $3900. The $700 for a rebuild kit mentioned above must be the internal parts only? The shop that told him $1500 in labor also gave him a fixed price of $2300 for the motor, and he could get any parts he wanted to? Now, $1800 for a 30K motor sounds like a good deal, especially being able to keep the core. I wish he was here, I just do not anyone in his area...

 

http://www.lceperformance.com/Master-Rebuild-Kit-5VZ-95-99-Taco-4Run-Tundra-p/1010013.htm

 

I'de have to look at the rest of the truck and decide weather its worth investing the money or parting it out, a used motor is a crap shoot, you don't know who or if it were maintained, if I were to keep the truck I would buy a rebuilt from a reputable builder and at least know what I have at that point.

 

Exactly my point with the used motor. His truck is straight, the paint has oxidized, but its never been in an accident, no rust issues, probably hardly ever used the 4x4, but it did have 195,000 (on road) miles on it. Tranny could be next. He said good used trucks like his are going for 7-8k?
I think he should either find a good mechanic to rebuild his truck, or swap a new motor in. I believe if he spends the money to rebuild the motor, and then goes thru the truck and repairs anything that should or needs to be done he will have a very clean truck mechanically, and I feel it would be hard to buy a used one in better shape for the same money spent? What do you guys think?

 

How hard would it be to put a big block in a 4x4 97

 

I vote for a gm 4.3, would be a great little engine in a 1st gen.

 

The motor I got had carfax. So I guess it all depends where you get it.

 

Thanks for the reminder. I forgot to consider these guys for parts... maybe I can get him to step up to a SC while he is at it!

 

Good idea- I think like buying a vehicle these days that would be the way to go, get a "carfax motor". I am concerned with buying a used motor for anything, but with only 30K, the motor you found would be hard to pass up.