Blown engine!

I have a 2002 tacoma with a 2.7L engine, with 238,000 miles. The head gasket blew Friday. Is replacing the engine my best bet? What about the transmission, will it last? Help!

 

Sorry to hear that, welcome to TW sorry that’s what brings you here. I’m not too sure, I think I’ve seen other recent threads on here about remanufactured vs fining an old used engine in decent shape. I would lean towards finding a good replacement engine with decent mileage to swap for yours. If there’s no internal damage a head gasket replacement could also be a good route. I don’t have a 2.7, but I’m sure someone will chime in who does.

 

What kind of mechanical skills do you have? No issues keeping the transmission unless you can find one hooked up to an engine for cheap and it’s the same as your current one if it’s not already experiencing issues.

 

Thanks, I keep hearing that it's not worth fixing, I need my truck!

 

I mean do what’s in your budget - if it’s a mint truck and you can fix it comfortably within your budget go for it.

If you can get a replacement engine out of a running low miles vehicle then go for it if it’s in your budget.

 

Rebuild or find a good head. New timing chain and water pump then drive that bitch

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

I agree, a lot of the calculation will be what your mechanical inclination is, your budget and of course your time and access to tools. If you have mechanic skills, finding a good head and going that route like @Steves104x4 suggested seems to be a good route for repairing.

 

a quick search shows that a used 3RZ-FE JDM motor is apx $2k. I am not saying to use a JDM, there are others, it is just the first thing that comes to mind.

 

I have the 2.7 in my 98 and I just recently went through this So here's a story for you...

For reference my mechanical background is power equipment technician 1 and 2 cyl air cooled stuff nothing this major lol but I thought it's only 2 more cyl how bad can it be...


My truck had 219k on it and cyl 3 had almost no compression. Took the head off and realized the head was cracked between the the 2 exhaust valves. I bought an aftermarket head assembly from APRauto out of CO. It's a chinesium casting but came complete with cams and valves already installed. I also realized the previous owner did a horrible head gasket job and permatexed the new gasket on, inadvertently filling the oil and coolant holes and starving the top end. Pulled the entire engine for a rebuild. Had to replace the front timing cover(with timing chain) and oil pump plus have all the cyl bored out larger. Between parts and machine shop costs (i did ALL the labor myself) im into rebuilding the engine with 3k. I figured since I went through all that effort I should rebuild the transmission as well bought the complete rebuild kit and tore into that myself. I wish I hadn't, the gears were fine, none of the bearings had any play and the synchros weren't chewed up. Plus with my inexperience I questioned my mechanical abilities when I got it all back together because 5th gear would pop back into N when a load was put onto it. Instead of tearing it back apart I took it to a transmission shop that said they would rebuild it and instead just bought a 3rd party rebuilt trans and swapped it into mine.. that was 2k to have someone else do what I could've done. I was pissed, but learned a lesson



Looking back I should've bought a low mileage import motor from Japan, they're less expensive than my engine rebuild cost and due to strict laws in Japan, they have less than 100k KILOMETERS on them. That way I could've just done a swap and been good to go. If your trans is shifting fine just slap a new clutch kit into it (have your flywheel resurfaced) and reinstall.





If you have very limited mechanical experience i know another member on here @Das it mang just paid (I think) 3k to have a professional do just a head gasket job, that included a new OEM head .. but he only has 142k on his 2.4L so it made perfect sense to only do the head work

 

At 238K, I would go with a reman engine, especially if you can get one <100K miles. Time, cost & complexity-wise, a swap is (IMO) easier than doing a head, especially if it's a "driveway & beer" job. If you're going to get it done by a pro, get his estimates, but I'd still lean toward a new-to-you engine even if it was a few dollars more.

 

124k* lol but yes 3k for oem hg, head and all the other goodies associated with changing em. If u don't have a hoist and the time/experience

 

Only 124k?!?! Shoulda taken it to Toyota and asked for warranty work

 

who told you its not worth fixing, some 3rd or 2nd gen clown?

 

Bought it from a dodge dealer too, done did me wrong haha. w.e tho at least i got 30k out of it before i had to replace

 

Reman engine for me woulda made the bill 500 dollars cheaper. but if youre already paying that much, 500 dollars is worth it for the safe train of thought. I bought once to cry once, all depends on ur situation

 

If you can do the work your self its a lot cheaper to replace a hg than buy a new motor. But if you dont have the skills then might just be about the same price to buy a lower mileage motor and swap it.

 

Even if you pay a shop $5k (random highish dollar amount. No idea what actual cost is) to do all the work that’s still way less than buying a full replacement truck.

Right?

 

But if your truck is a rusty pos and / or has a number of other high dollar (at the mechanic, not diy) maintenance issues due, use that $5k towards something worth it.

Remanned engine would be the absolute worst choice of the engine swap hierarchy here.

1. Low miles engine out of a running vehicle.

2. Low miles engine out of a well reviewed and rated salvage yard with warranty.

3. JDM long block from a well reviewed and rated seller.

4. Overpriced remanned from LCE, Yotashop or other Yota________ shop that's well reviewed and well rated with warranty

5. Less expensive remanned engine from remanned engine shop which puts cheap pistons, seals, bearings, etc. in their engines rebuilt by under-qualified staff.

 

https://youtu.be/YkQ9rvITAy4