Head gasket or buy a new motor?

21502 western Maryland. I've been trying to do the same! Thanks!

 

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/ptd/d/toyota-5vz-fe-34l-v6-jdm/6770471732.html in CLIFTON, NJ $1079

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/ptd/d/jdm-toyota-4runner-tacoma-5vz/6766508226.html Same place $945

ST PARIS, OH https://dayton.craigslist.org/pts/d/runner-frames-clean/6757679892.html Might ask for just the head or the whole 5vz.

 

I'd estimate about 90% of Tacoma owners have similar cracks in their heads and don't know about them. Get it pressure tested, if it holds slap it back on, if not you need a new head. Cost and labor wise you'll be in the same ball park for replacing the whole engine vs redoing all the seals/gaskets and purchasing a new head but the latter will be a fresher engine.

Edit: On second thought if the machine work on the cylinder requires pulling the engine I see no reason not to just replace it. And it's probably the other way around foe the sequence of events. The coolant leak caused the head to over heat and crack.

 

I have a junkyard throwing power to 2 4runners today to get me mileage and see if they start and idle. If i can get one of these for as cheap as they say, I'll be going this route. If not, I'll probably be getting pressure tested and seeing where i stand after that.

Thanks everyone for your input, it is greatly appreciated.

 

Have you checked here .... https://www.lceperformance.com/Cylinder-Heads-Performance-s/1401.htm

They've got assembled and bare cyl heads !!!

 

Yeah $1200 for a bare head that will still leave me with $500+ in head gaskets and head studs. Then, After that nearly $2k dollar repair, I'd still be left with an old head that could potentially be about to do the same thing and a block that has had water in all the journals, rods, main bearings, crank, oil pump, and any other oiled accessories.. In my opinion that just opens all kinds of windows for future failures.

At this point I'm leaning to a whole used engine of some sort. Just taking my time and exploring my options so i can find something rather inexpensive and without 250k miles.

 

That's what we're here for.
Well, most of us.

 

I'm out your way just about every weekend. I have a cabin in WV near Paw Paw.