Buying a Tacoma with a replaced engine?

I mentioned this in another thread but I'm looking at a 96 5VZ Taco which apparently had the engine replaced 2.5 years ago by the original owner. He told the current (second) owner that he had a mechanic put in a new engine, but there's no record of it on the Carfax. In fact around that time the only records I see are routine maintenance, although there is a 5 month gap.

The owner now said the original owner wasn't mechanically inclined so maybe he was mistaken and the whole engine wasn't actually replaced? Only 6k miles or so have been put on since then.

Is there any way to tell if the engine is in fact original or a replacement? Again he has no proof or receipts so I'm a bit puzzled. I have no idea if it's from a junkyard, a used JDM engine, or some remanned motor thrown together on the cheap at a parts store.

Is this a cause for concern? He sent me a cold start vid and it seemed strong. The truck is in very good cosmetic condition otherwise, and the frame is spotless.

 

Just drive it.

Check it out when you finally see it in person.

Let it idle, let it warm up, drive it at highway speeds, drive it in the city, run all accessories, check fluids, etc.

Take a scan tool and check for codes in case any are stored.

You know, the usual.

 

I'm just wondering if there's a way to tell where the engine is from when I'm inspecting it, to if there's a specific picture I should ask for.

 

Nope.

And like you said, it could be -

Miscommunication between original owner and now owner

Could just be a reman'd head on original block

Could be a new long block

Could be a rebuild

Really a multitude of things. I understand your due diligence in the many threads you've posted and the repeated questions, but many of these can be answered only once you're there inspecting the truck.

If you're really that worried, take it to a nearby shop and have it put up on a rack for inspection. Get a compression test done while you're at it. After that, if all checks out, who cares where the engine came from?

 

couple thoughts

Not all mechanics report to carfax, even if they do it might not show up in the records. CarFax is not reliable. I've bought vehicles that were in (sometimes multiple) unreported collisions that had a clean car fax

95-96 were known for headgasket issues so if it's a higher mileage truck they may have just swapped the whole thing out for a newer, lower mileage motor if the head gaskets went. FWIW that's what I did

If it runs well and checks out, run it like @Kwikvette says

Edit: you can also call the mechanic directly and ask for record of the engine work. I've done this in the past. Some places might require the vehicle owner to do it for you though

 

Have a pre purchase inspection done that includes a compression and leak down test. If you want to be more particular, send off an oil sample to Blackstone for potential other wear indicators.

BTW, Carfax can give hits if something appears, but it should not be depended on as a flawless source.

 

Sometimes people can be so clueless not trying to be dishonest .

I had sellers in the past refer to having the engine rebuilt when it was as little as valve cover gaskets changed.

Another one was rebuilt engine what was not mentioned it was 90,000 miles ago.

All you can do is check things out the best you can.

 

My frame was replaced and I have the documentation from the Toyota Dealership showing everything that was done and this does not appear on the Carfax for my truck. FYI.

 

I know of no shops in my area that deal with Carfax.

Just more paperwork no one wants to do.

 

I looked at the Toyota service portal also and didn't see any records.

 

It could've been a new starter motor for all I know and the guy thought the whole engine was replaced.

 

I'm not sure a PPI will be possible since we're meeting on a Saturday but I could maybe bring a comp test kit from Autozone. I had the thought of doing an oil analysis also. Btw, I did on my LC and it showed no abnormal wear metals or antifreeze on all the factory internals (AFAIK anyway).

My concern is that even if compression and leak down are fine, and the oil analysis is good, it still could be a remanned engine with cheap internals that won't last as long as OEM. I'd rather it be used JDM or even a junkyard motor than that. I'm not sure if there's any way of knowing that without tearing it down though.

 

Isn't there a VIN stamped into the block? That'd be one way to tell if the full engine was swapped, but wouldn't tell you if it was fully tore down and rebuilt (or just heads, or just head gasket or just timing belt, et al).

 

Even if you do the trade, I feel like this will always bother you.

I don't know what to say; in the back of your mind you'll always have some kind of doubt.

Not a bad thing really, it's just the way some people think and no one can do or say anything to you to change that.

I think you just need to finally see it in person because you're just giving yourself anxiety at this point.

 

Without proof from the current owner, I would assume the worst that nothing was replaced or serviced and price accordingly.

 

It's gonna be a straight trade for my Land Cruiser in any case. His truck is in better condition than mine cosmetically so I suppose that could make up for the uncertainty of the supposedly replaced engine.

It also has lockers and gears so that sweetens the deal a lot.

 

That's a good point, but I'll always find something to bother me in any vehicle honestly. With the 80 series I worry about the factory head-gasket, even with the clean oil analysis and no overheating or coolant loss etc. Then there's the smell from the engine bay, the vintage auto, etc.

I figure even in the worst case scenario and its a cheaply remanned motor in there, 5VZs are relatively cheap and plentiful so getting a used JDM engine with good compression wouldn't be the end of the world. I wouldn't say it's a dealbreaker for me, just dampens my enthusiasm a bit.

I think once I start shifting that sweet R151 and locking in 4lo on the J-shift those worries should hopefully evaporate. After driving 4 hours it'd have to be something pretty glaring to make me turn home without trading.

 

I'll look for this; does anyone know the location on the block where the VIN is stamped?

 

What's your plan for the roof where the clearcoat and paint are gone?

 

I thought most of those failed pretty early on from what I've researched. Apparently there was a special service campaign from Toyota or something.