1998 Tacoma 3.4 V6 to 3.4 v6 swap Questions

Ok, This is my first thread so bare with me please.
I have a 98 Tacoma 4x4 with a 3.4 v6 that has a blown head gasket ( at least) I am going to swap with the same motor.
The questions are
1. Has anyone ordered a motor from any of the companies on Ebay that sell them?
2. If , I purchase a used engine and install it in my truck ,( provided all connections are right and its a good motor ), will I be able to turn the key and start the engine?
3. What is the most difficult part of this job ? Any and all suggestions are welcome !
Thanks in advance.

 

I really appreciate your reply !!, As I am reading everything I can find, I am seeing lots of people having to re pin wiring harnesses. If I get a 3.4 v6 5vzfe motor from 97 to 2000 will I have re wiring work? I am just trying to make it easy as possible. I will check with car-part.com Thanks!

 

EH not quite. 95.5-96's used a distributator. 97+'s used the solid state ignition. So OP so long as its a 97+ you should be good. And like stated, just use your current harness etc.


But if its just a blow head gasket. May as well just replace those rather than a full swap. (unless there is more that has taken a shit)

 

Thanks for your response !. The motor over heated , ( hole in the radiator) I let it coll down , replaced radiator , filled it back up. The motor cranks up and runs pretty good but tons of white smoke and water pouring out of the tail pipe. It runs at normal temp. I purchased a bottle of "Bars leaks" and put that according to the instructions and now a little less smoke and a little less water but now the oil is getting water in it. So I am gathering information to do an engine replacement. Thanks again.

 

Is normally agree but the flat rate time to do the head gaskets IIRC is somewhere around 14 hours. An engine swap is about half that. I've done both and I believe the engine swap is easier

 

ah gotcha, If it was my truck and i had a second vehicle for a weekend id do a headgasket replacement to see if that fixed the issue and went from there.

 

I am going to plan on a motor swap. Thanks for your input.

 

The only reason I'd caution against doing the swap is you simply don't know what you're getting when you put in a motor. I put in a 3.0 in my old 4Runner and it made it approximately 2 weeks before I was picking up my connecting rods from the side of the road. No warranty, no guarantee just out $400.

It's kinda redundant but I'd do the motor swap, and when you get a chance put the old motor on the bench and go through it, then if you need to you can swap it back in.

 

Thank you !

 

Ok , I am Back I had a sick family member to take care of. I have everything disconnected and removed from my engine. I am down to getting to the transmission bolts. Is there a way to get to them without removing the exhaust cross over? Thanks in advance