Advice For Head gasket

I’m looking for some advice on what to do with my truck? I have some mechanical capacity to fix small things, but not a head gasket. I am traveling in Northern California, but I am from WA state. My Tacoma broke down yesterday, white smoke, grinding sound wont start, the works!

Tacoma 1995
3RZ-FE 2.7 L Engine Manual Trasmission 4x4
Blown Head gasket. Needs to be towed.
Otherwise in great shape. Only a little rust on the frame near the rear bumper mounting bolts. No body rust. The parking brake leavers are rusted and need to be hammered and greased.

This is a list of all parts replaced within the last two years:

Distributor
Spark Plugs and Wires
Rebuilt Starter
Radiator
Thermostat
Water Pump
Fuel Filter
Valve Cover and Gasket
Exhaust manifold
Muffler
EGR valve
Oil filter housing o-rings


Any advice is greatly appreciated. My truck is currently at a shop waiting for my decision. Thanks!

 

Heck, you can get an engine and have someone remove and reinstall the new engine for cheaper then 4k.

Shops probably hassling you since they know you're from out of state....

 

Yeah head gasket I think should be 1500-2k

 

Yeah easy target as you're in the middle of travel.

 

Ripoff

 

Thanks everyone. I feel like it’s a rip-off too. Any ideas in asking price before a fix?

 

I remember I've been quoted for head gasket job (same engine) for 1500 dollars. Being new to such "big" job and little naive I tackled the job with my son and basic shop tools. Got "all top gaskets set" from a dealer for 250 dollars. It took us 2 weeks after work (a couple hours a day) to learn, disassemble, clean all parts and put it all together.



Few scary moments (torquing head bolts), few "I need a longer breaker bar" moments (removing timing chain gears) and many "how was it before I removed it - let's check a photo" moments. Sometimes I had to improvise with tools on hand like this one for removing one of the exhaust bolts




But starting her for the first time was priceless. And by doing that job myself I ended up with all top end in like new shape. Just while you there make sure to replace fuel filter - very easy to do when everything is off.

 

Is it worth repair? Absolutely. This is the best year/model ever . If you are close to San Jose get it towed to @Timmah! and he will make a video how to replace a head gasket on 3RZ Tacoma .

By the way post your truck in the thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1995-5-tacomas-only-how-many-are-still-out-there.593038/

 

I'll be the first one to say it: One day you will wish you didn't do that .

Believe me I was in the same state of mind after head gasket blew up at 312k miles. I was about to say: F*** it, I'll sell it and get over it. I had other cars to drive.
Then my son made me change my mind (thanks for that) - if we fix it, it will be his car. We worked on the truck together - for me it was teaching him the value manual labor and satisfaction when it's completed.
After we fixed it he drove it for some time to school, but then he went overseas for master degree and wanted to let it go. So I just bought it back from him. I'm glad I did it. Everybody was pointing to a forehead when I said I'm going to bring this 22 years old truck overseas when I moved to Poland. And again I'm glad I did not listen to them.

On the positive note, there is some lucky guy who scored the best year Tacoma with just "minor" thing to fix. We will welcome him to TW.

 

The dude was 2 states from home and didn't know anyone near. It's why you don't cross country in an old beater.

 

Rent a pick up truck from Enterprise & a car trailer & tow or home. This will give you time to come up with a game plan.
Dont make a $4k mistake.

 

I didnt read the part about him selling it before I posted.
My bad.