2.7 rebuild, reman or motor from junk yard?

My 97 Tacoma with 262,000 has a blown head gasket or cracked head, and needs a timing chain. Am I better off to rebuild what I have or get a motor from a junk yard, I found one close by with low miles for a good price, but it's from a 2000 model. Are there any issues to watch out for if I use the newer motor.

I have been also looking at remanufactured motors, there appears to be a lot of scams on these.

Please advise.

 

just get a new head from junk yard that specializes in motors. are you from so cal? i could recommend you a few good places i used to get honda motors from. they also have alot of toyota motors too.

 

I wouldn't buy one out of a junker unless you can see it run, also check for oil pressure, smoking and knocking while its running.

I dont think I would swap motors for that though, unless you have beat on the current engine hard.

 

if its a good junk yard that specializes in motors, you should be good to go. i used to get honda motors from junk yards all the time with no issues. cool thing is that its not like your getting an american car engine which is more of a gamble then a toyota engine. most likely a toyota engine wont be blown. if you are in so cal go to YLM or LPD. those shops are located in irwindale/monrovia. they have good and plentyful motors all day long.

 

I would go with the junk yard engine. Don't know if there are any differences between years that would affect installation.
Just curious how much for the junk yard motor and how many miles.

 

A head gasket isn't a rebuild - that's just a gasket kit. I'd have the head rebuilt when it's out, though (cleaned, resurfaced, new seals). I'd throw a new top end gasket kit on it and keep going, but that's me.

Why do you say the head may be cracked?

 

When my 2.7 went out last year I bought a short block from an engine builder, and a brand new head from another company. After I put it together, I was looking at a total cost of less than $2000. Consider that as an option while you search around.

The key here is to look at how much each option is, and go from there. Sometimes you can find a good deal on a new or reman unit that is worth the small amount more. You just have to hunt around.

 

Point. Also consider whether you're doing your own labor or paying someone else, and how much downtime you can deal with.

Here's what I would do myself, unless the head was damaged, the motor was using oil, etc-
Head gasket kit ~$100 (I would probably go OEM, so it might be a bit more)
Head machine work / cleaning: $100-200, valve job and new seals (you can assemble/disassemble and lap valves yourself to save some money)
Fluids (coolant/oil) - $30/gal for Toyota coolant (if the 2.7 takes Toyota red, I'd have to check..but likely a gallon plus a gallon of distilled water at ~$0.99).

For another ~$200 you could replace the timing chain components, but that'd require pulling the oil pan and front diff.

So, I guess it all comes down to how much you want to spend and how long you want it to last. I'd be pretty tempted to drop the motor and rebuild it, but I enjoy that stuff and I have a spare vehicle.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I am located in central Virginia, there is a junk yard close by that has one out of a 2000 model with 9,000 miles for $2,000. My motor has been abused and neglected, that's why I was gonna do a complete rebuild. Its either has a cracked head or blown head gasket I'm assuming due to coolant in the oil, dirty spark plugs in 2 of the cylinders and rough running. I found a guy in Maryland that has done some rebuilds on these motors that gets pretty good reviews.


Down time is not a big deal, because I have another vehicle. I want to do it right, but don't want to spend a fortune if that makes any sense.

 

quit being a pansy and put an LS1 in it already

 

Did I read that correctly that he has an engine with only 9k miles? In a 2000 model? or was it a typo and supposed to have said 90k?

 

yes, the 9,000 is correct per the guy at the junk yard. Sounds to good to be true.

 

$2000 seems kinda high for a 13 year old motor, unless thats the installed price, but I have never price out any newer toyota 4 cylinders

 

I wouldn't trust it to have only 9k unless you see it in the car and read the odometer yourself, some junkyards seem to have some sketchy people working there.

 

I'm with you on that one, from what I understand, it's already been pulled and on a rack in their warehouse.

 

Rebuilt the 2.7l in my 97 4runner in 2009. 4runner was bought with blown headgasket. PO had run it so long that part of the radiator had been worn away by the antifreeze being pushed into the overflow tank. Engine was locked up and needed a total rebuild. 4runner was in great shape and only had 130k on it so figured it was worth rebuilding, even though it is not a "cheap" motor to rebuild.

Cost about $1250 in parts and machining. New head was $500 from Clearwater Cylinder Head Exchange, Complete Engine kit(with oversized pistons) was about $350 thru an Ebay vendor(can't remember which one right now). Machine shop services to clean block, bore cylinders, purchase and install cam bearings, polish crankshaft was around $400. I did all the tear down & assembly so I can't tell you what a shop would want for that.

Have no complaints about the engine kit, still on the road 60k miles later and doesn't use any fluids

 

I personally would avoid that engine in the junk yard. If it IS 9k miles, then it has probably been sitting up in the warehouse and weather for some 13 years. Nah, not worth the risk.

 

I would buy a junkyard motor if I was going to go through it and inspect and replace everything needed on it. Wouldn't just install it based on miles hoping nothing goes wrong. Re-manufactured motors are some times just junkyard motors cleaned up so you have to be careful there too.

 

Their is a rebuilder in Hagerstown MD, Denny's Auto Machine, I have found some good reviews on them. I may give them a call and see what they have to say. I am a little afraid of the junkyard motors, for the prices they are asking.

 

Good luck, and let us know what you find out. If you want my personal and professional opinion, consider JIS engines. I can't remember where they are located, but I have bought two of their Toyota engines for two different vehicles. Both have been fine since install.