Blown rod on 3.4 w/pics, where to buy an engine?

Jeezus guys, I havent ever seen a 5vz self-destruct without boost. They are normally pretty stout!

Good luck with the search, I would recommend a low mileage motor as opposed to a rebuild, I have seen many rebuilds go bad due to a bad rebuild, most of them just put the motor together with too much clearance in the bearings instead of the way toyota does it using certain sized bearings for each journal...my .02

 

Agreed. I thought about going the rebuilt route but chances are it wouldn't hold up like a motor Toyota built

 

I think most people will agree that throwing a rod in a low mileage factory engine under normal use is very rare.

If you bought your truck new and been the only driver and you are certain that it was always properly maintained, the engine never over revved (redlined), or a cylinder never became flooded by coolant loss or other means causing a bent rod, then it sounds like you had bad luck.

I have a friend who is an otherwise good driver was going down a long grade with his stereo blasting. He forgot to upshift and the engine revs got very high before he realized his mistake. Two weeks later he put a rod through his case. Point is shit happens and can happen fast and it only takes one time.

 

Or a Jasper rebuilt.
They are more "fixed" than "rebuilt" and it's quite common for them to shit the bed just out of warranty.
I don't know if Jasper even handles Toyota engines, but they have a very bad name on Chevy forums.

Not easy in California.
Replacement engine must be from the same year or newer, and all emissions equipment must be transferred with the engine. Then it's time for a trip to a smog ref, and IF he is happy with the conversion, the vehicle is re-certified and is then held to the smog requirements of the vehicle that the swapped engine came out of.

 

Now would be a good time for a Buick V6 transplant.

 

Im going to put my 2 cents here.

The 5vz-fe is a LOW rpm engine. From what im seeing from the op and the second guy they looked like they where OVER rev. the engine. Toyota designed it for low rpms to get nice torque out of the engine not hp. Same design in my 03 tundra v-8 2u design. Low rpms.

If you keep the 5vz under 3500 not be more real shift at 3000 your chances of this happening are about none in this engine.

Could the casting in the rod be bad? answer is YES. I will say this 5vz that was made in japan you wouldnt see this problem do to the Q/c that toyota of japan does.

IMO the engines where over rev. causing the failure or poor main. from the prev. people that owned it.

 

You can get just as good a quality engine rebuilt at a private shop as you will from Toyota rebuilds. It all hinges on finding a good, reputable company. That being said, that engine is NOT rebuildable. Period. Since you mentioned that it will be just a work type truck, with no plans on hard core stuff, I would definitely go back with an original equipment engine. From the look, I will agree that it looks like an over-rev. Not just the photos, but you mentioned the transmission had issues. I picture the PO having problems with the transmission, and rather than fix it, he just kept the skinny pedal down and finally the engine gave up. There is no signs of sludge to indicate poor maintenance. Of course the other question would be, did he do his own oil change and forget to put oil in it? I would look at the crank where the rod gave out to see if it is burnt/scorched, or just clean, but broken off.
Regardless of the cause, I would look at a total replacement. There is a chance that metal from this could have found it's way into the area of the valve covers, and caused some damage before it all let go.

 

Diesel would be awesome! I need to replace my engine, so have been looking around here on TW for what to do next. remanufactured engine...

 

I am about to search for a 5vz remanufactured engine here in SoCal. Who/where would you recommend I get one?