Rebuild, used or new engine.

Hello,

I know this question has been asked before but figured I would ask now due the supply chain problems related to Covid so here it goes...

I found out today my 98 Tacoma has a failing cylinder and needs a new engine. My odometer reads 403k. Here's the pro's and cons of the truck.

Pro - new tires less than 10k miles.
Payed registration last week $150.
Viper alarm- both glass shater and one for the camper shell.
Camper shell - good condition- new struts with aftermarket tint on back panels on sides which I prefer to keep tools out of sight.

Cons - (other than the obvious)

The radiator has a crack and needs to be replaced.

Oil pan issues. Stripped once, tapped and stripped again. I put JB weld on it last time to stop the leak and I not a big fan of doing that again.

Power steering not the best a somewhat of a leak.

Saggy leaf springs. It sits real low, no big deal.

I looked online for a 1st gen 5spd extra cab 2x4 non pre runner and there's nothing available so the question is, is it worth it to rebuild the engine, get a used one installed, get a new one installed or walk away?

 

If you can do the work yourself, it might be worth it, but can you give us more details on your truck? 4WD? V-6? What condition is the frame and paint in? Interior?

If you are pulling the engine, a radiator is not that much more work. A replacement engine would get rid of your oil pan issue and a new power steering pump/rack will never be easier than it will be with the engine out.

The real question is do you want to do all that work and have a 23 year old truck or do you want something newer?

 

What do you mean by a failing cylinder? Could it be just a head issue?

Sounds like you're looking for a 2rz, which I don't think are all that hard to find used, not that I've looked.

 

Welcome to TacomaWorld
If you're talking about a 5 lug a used engine or walk.
Or maybe a bicycle.

 

You can do anything you want....depends on condition of truck...
is it worth the cost of sticking in another engine.....

there's jdm used options.......https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/official-jdm-3rz-swap.708336/

There's buy pieces and put together yourself/your mechanic ......
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/where-to-buy-new-engine-2-7.733932/page-3#post-26160584

Or complete rebuilt...https://www.ebay.com/itm/255020274511

 

Or you can walk away.....sell it right here...right now

there are those who would eagerly buy it....no problino.....

 

I would take some time and read thru some of the stories of taco engine exchange adventures in these past forums....
there's many of them I assure you......a whole list of what not to do's....

 

The compression test had cyc # 1 at 90 psi and Leak down test at 98%.

Yes, I'm looking for the 2rz.

 

I might post it on here if I decide to sell.

 

I can't do the work myself, 98 Non pre runner 2 wd, 2.4 , manual transmission ext cab.

 

Mine with all parts/local mech somewhere around $4K
that's for a 2rz.....for 3rz it can run up to grand more...
however because of 4-runners there are far more salvage 3rz available....

24mo. block / 36mo. heads warranty ..... reman short block/new heads

rest of truck only had 150k on it ...... so it was super good investment for me...
not only that...I'm an oil change nut...I'll get at least half million out of it.....oil at wally world is about half of auto stores .....dirt cheap...

 

This is the only thing comparable out there right now and the price seems high.

https://sacramento.craigslist.org/ctd/d/sacramento-1999-toyota-tacoma-2wd-sr5/7383117682.html

I paid $7k for mine 6.5 years ago with only 90k miles.

 

That's a good deal.....we live in different era now......

that's not too far off from what I got invested in mine.....
In tacoma world you dont do anything until you can check the frame...
especially east/west coast or SALTY north.....
open hood and check where the upper control arms bolt into back side of coil bucket and sure they are not ripping out......
coil bucket broken ripped the upper control arm bolt | Tacoma World

That was posted 7 days ago....bet its already gone....
I see other toyotas in the back ground in that lot...

 

I totally agree. Check out the frame and coil bucket before dumping your money, time and effort into the truck.

 

Only you can make the call I can only speak for myself putting far more money into older vehicles then was cost effective far to often.

Paying to have this done even harder if you could source a running used engine swap yourself might not be to hard to swallow.

Put the needed funds into doing a total refresh of this truck or put the money towards another one.

As I need 4 wheel drive to get out even after a hard rain a 2wd does me no good.

Best of Luck a hard call to make.

 

Look for a low miles used engine and replace the rack and radiator. It’s nice doing steering stuff when the engines out.

 

Just out of curiosity, what do you think I could get for my truck as is? I'm trying to find something comparable but not finding it.

I filled out the online form for pick n pull minus the camper and it was just under $700.

 

Maybe $1-2k privately but it depends on condition and location.

 

Build the bottom end strong, turbo that bitch and you won’t be disappointed

 

My 3.4 replacement engine came from Modern Imports here in St. Louis. 105k mile 2001 4Runner engine for $650. After selling the stuff off of it that I didn't need (like automatic transmission wiring harness), I had about $300 in it.

There are a quite a few spare engines out there for a 2rz. Look here: https://www.car-part.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi