Alabama thread!

or just watch the videos if you can't go...but they can do a lot stock.

 

Yea. See.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E9Sjrvt68WY

 

To be honest it sounds quite strange. I would be hard pressed at this point to diagnose that online with everything you have now said you have done and tested. Sounds like time to bring it to the shop.

I knew I wasn't your favorite guy Matt, but dang you have a video of every truck that weekend going through the trails and mud holes EXCEPT my truck. SHESH!

 

I was thinking about taking it to the dealership but at this point I have a feeling they are just going to tell me I need a new engine. Which is something I have already been considering since I know where i can get a 3.4L out of a 4runner with 136k miles for 600$. I was just hoping that maybe there was something stupid simple that I had looked over.

 

I thought we had video of your truck going through the first part but I guess it got cut off. I wasn't doing much videoing that trip because I had my truck there

If you do get a new motor, let me know. I'll be more than happy to take that one off your hands. I always wanted to rebuild a motor and see if I can do it!

 

I've got one for you, it's a mazda BP-ZE with thrown rod bearings, hanging on a hoist in my garage.

I'm finding out that regardless of whether you can do the rebuild, the real question is whether it's cost-effective to get new components made or existing components machined. In my case until I want an engine built for turbo, good parts far exceed the cost of a complete, running junkyard engine.

 

getting components made vs machined? do you mean machined as in like turned down and reused?

 

Right, like for my engine issue, machining my crank and block to fit new oversized rod bearings within whatever thousands tolerance vs replacement with new components.

 

I see. Just do an LS swap and be done with it.

 

or just sell it and buy an offroad rig.

 

Hah, I have a good condition motor out of a '95 that is guaranteed to run.

v8 swaps have been investigated, at the end of the day i'd spend three times the value of the car in parts though.

Offroad rig will come. Why would I pick between toys if I can have both? I definitely want to do more track days, that was fun.

 

If you can get one for $600 I would jump on it. That is a GREAT deal. Those V6 3400s are hard to come by.

Your block will not need to be machined, just the crank. Oversized bearings are oversized on the crank side, not the block side. So no need for THAT much work. Just send in your crank to get it machined down about .010" and put in the corresponding bearings. Good to go!

 

Oh ok, that does make sense. Oh! Edit. I just remembered why I said the block too - I'm not sure if the rod bearings didn't hack up the crank or block with it when they went, getting them both machined was worst case if I managed to cause further damage than just the bearings themselves, which I read is quite possible?

Well, we'll see. I'm figuring on plunking my "new" engine in and getting the car running, then I can take my time figuring out what to do with the existing one while in no rush.

Any suggestions on good improvements for the money to beef it up a bit for a turbo? I did want to see what options there were to help with longevity for about 12psi of boost, which would be about 265whp in a 2300lb car...

 

The biggest issue I can see at this point is just spinning mass force. That is why the superstrong GM powerplants are 4-bolt main bearing cap blocks. When you have that kind of HP with the higher RPMS, you can shred things fast. I don't know much about those engines to be honest. I am sure that you will find a lot of knowledgeable people on a forum for those specific cars that would know more than me.

 

Yeah, the guy in Danville that parts them out also does engine builds (and races miatas professionally), so I figured I'd give him a shout. A stock engine should be good for 12psi without much trouble, I just thought I'd try to take the opportunity to improve it.

 

where can i get a heavy duty front bumper with winch,brushguard etc, in the southeast? North Alabama particularly. seems like all these custom bumper manufacturers are out west. I need a new front a rear bumper. something along the lines of an ARB im open to most anything but tube bumpers. gen 1 2002 tacoma. anybody got a used one for sale?

 

Wab Fab offload or Off Road connection could build something. Gonna be spendy though.

 

Search Craigslist.

 

I agree. LS swap. More horsepower is always the answer.

 

He stated above that he would have twice what the car is worth, in parts after gf gets everything. That's just the motor, not including trans, and beefing up the drivetrain.