Crate engine or fix cracked head

Ok guys, I found out that I cracked the head on my 1995 tacoma My local shop quoted me $3110 to fix it.

$640 - cylinder head assy
$645 - cylinder head gasket set
$84 - cylinder head bolt set x2
$341 - timing component kit w/ water pump
$4 - oil filter
$18 - thermostat
$32 - spark plug x6
$26 - motor oil x5
$12 - antifreeze
$1295 - Labor

I am looking for suggestions about what to do. I am planning on keeping the truck for a long time. I do not know too much about crate engines but I think that is what I am leaning towards. I believe that same shop quoted $3500 to drop a new engine in. I could possibly use a friends shop who is a mechanic and would be willing to help my put in a new engine to avoid the high labor costs but that would require more time on my hands.

What is the average price of a new engine? turbo/supercharge option? any other input would be appreciated. Thanks guys!

(Click on my thread to see an updated pic, my signature picture is very outdated!!!)

 

That gasket set price seems high.....labor seems a little much too....the hardest part is getting everything out of the way to get to the heads

 

ive done HG on 3.4 not too bad,but time consuming.In that price list the head bolt kit seem low,i think iy was in the 100s.But the price for a remaned engine is not much more.If your friend has a shop and you can use it,i would have him check price on engine and drop it in with his help.

 

Are we talking about a 3.4? I don't remember, but wasn't the 3.0 installed in '95's?

I don't think I would spend that kind of money on a 3.0. The HG will just let go again.

 

Its a 3.4 with 180,xxx on it.

 

Heck, i would say replace that head yourself if you want to go cheaper, If you want to keep your motor.

If your wanting a younger motor, might as well drop a newer 5vz in there and roll on for another several 100's of thousands of miles.

either way, as long as you take your time and remember what you undo, you will be fine and keep alot of that cash in your pocket.

 

No 3.0 was ever offered in a first gen Tacoma thank god, just 2.4, 2.7 and 3.4 engines which were all great.

 

go to salvage yard and get a replacement head for the bad one and have both your heads reworked then install and your done, no need to go into the lower end over this issue unless your low on compression or burning oil.

you could do all this for well under $1000 im sure

you don't need new head bolts and head gaskets are not $600, they cost $43 each at rockauto.com

$ 650 - cylinder head assy (this was the only accurate price quoted)
$86 - cylinder head gasket set (parts prices from rockauto.com)
$150 - timing belt kit w/ water pump (parts prices from rockauto.com)
$10 - thermostat (parts prices from rockauto.com)
$0 - Labor (you can do this job yourself)

all this equals a grand total of $970 (not the $1,815 they quoted you on parts) and its up to you if you want to pay someone to do the job but the labor to install this stuff should be $600-$800 max. (not the $1,295 they quoted you)

the quote you got, they padded an extra $600 on for overcharge on head gaskets and another unnecessary charge for new head bolts you don't need and a $200 overcharge for the timing belt water pump kit so that neary $900 overcharge plus they doubled what the labor cost should be.

they are just trying to rip you off.

but I will say this, tell them you will bring them all the parts and let them install them and only pay them the $1295 for labor, if you feel you cant do the work yourself but I wouldn't pay then the prices they are quoting for parts but I suggest you look for a better more honest place to have it repaired.

do this and your good for another 200k miles out of that engine

 

http://youtu.be/586yY-5CcRY


If you're talking about doing a crate motor might as well go balls to the wall and do an LS3

check the video i posted! its a 1gen on a dyno with an LS3 or look up LS3 tacoma

 

Right on.

 

if you are set on just replacing the engine no matter what then please check with another member here who is in similar situation but they need a lower block in working order and see if you guys can work something out that helps you both. they are also in Oregon.

look here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1s...-vs-spark-plug-electrode-bouncing-around.html


by the way, you never mentioned HOW the head got cracked in the first place?

how did you crack it?
overheating?
removing installing stuck manifold bolts?
dropped it on the floor while working on it?

how did this happen because it matters if it may have caused block damage as well