1991 4Runner with blown head gasket

I have a 1991 4Runner that I just picked up and Im wondering if I should replace the head gasket or just get a whole new engine. It has the 3.4 swap in it with only 70k miles on the engine. It started up and ran fine when I would drive it and it never over heated. I decided to take the throttle body off and clean it, when I put it back on it would not start and run properly. We figured out there was coolant going in places it shouldn’t. What should I do?

 

My friend just bought a '70k on the engine' swapped (1998) truck about a month ago. The last I heard he was doing the rear main seal now, after having the heads machined and loads of other work done.

I couldn't answer you question, but my friend went in thinking it was just a head gasket and it turned into a gigantic time sink and money pit. To me, known working 3.4's that I see for sale in the $1300-1600 range seems reasonable. I see known and proven 3.4 engines sold locally often enough.

I have a hard time trusting the claimed miles on these swaps when the engine is pushing 25 years old

 

You likely stuck the hoses back on the ISV in the incorrect spots...there are 2 coolant lines and one air line...if you put a coolant line where the air line goes, it'll fill up with coolant.