Engine Replacement Questions

My 2003 V6 3.4L Tacoma has 250k miles and a crack in the piston head. There’s some gouging in the cylinder but I don’t want to buy a new truck and I can’t see myself driving anything else. The engine rumbling is starting to get louder so it would appear that my only option to keep driving this truck is to replace the engine.I'm located in the north east in NH and MA.

1)How hard is it to replace the engine if I’ve never done it before? I’ve replaced the calipers, pads, rotors, and some fluids. Are there any tutorials out there?

2) If I replace the engine should I go with a rebuilt engine or something else? I’ve looked for used engines but the ones I found have been pretty beat up.Ideally whatever I put in would be the easiest possible install/drop in replacement.

3) Where/what sites should I use to look for such an engine and any estimates of how much I can expect to pay? I've read of people getting aftermarket/rebuilt motors with a warranty and that would be ideal but open to suggestions of what to get and where I should look. Thanks in advance.

 

It's a tall order for any newbie. Things like simply using the crane to install and remove it takes experience.

Stuff like rusted bolts are hard to navigate on the exhaust etc.

I would buy a low mileage motor from a wrecker personally. There really isn't a market for rebuilt Toyota motors like you'd see on a Chevy.

 

Any suggestions on the best way to find wreckers in my state? I'm new to this...

 

I bought an engine from a 70,000 4Runner that had been hit in the rear and totaled back in April from LKQ. You can see the donor vehicle and get the VIN to run a car fax. I got the service records through CarFax for mine. LKQ engines come with a warranty for replacement labor. Many shops in my area use LKQ engines when they need a used engine. I did the engine swap in my garage and driveway. Its a big job. I already had the engine hoist and engine stabilizer bar, floor jacks, impact tools. If you can find a shop to do the swap. do look into a find a low miles engine from a wrecked 3.4L 4Runner or Tacoma.

https://www.lkqonline.com


Some people use JDM engines as replacements.

 

I did a write up, kind of, on this. Search this forum, "JDM Motor" and use Glamisman as the Posted by Member name. Hope it helps.

 

car-part.com will help find used engines in your area from junkyards/wreckers. These come with varying degrees of warranty/labor to pull the engine from the donor vehicle. Some will include the VIN from the donor as well for history lookup

 

Check Bow Auto Parts, Bow NH. Their website is pretty good and huge inventory. It’s not a you pull junkyard, they pull and manage all the parts. I have had great luck with them.

 

https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/254341057458

~50,000 Mile JDM 5VZ-FE Engine for $1,400 shipped to your door.

 

have it bored, there is enough meat on a 5vzfe to bore.... to fix scored cylinders

 

Finding and deciding on the engine pretty much research.

Removing and installing is not something you want to do alone .

Taking the hood off alone is not fun

Sure it can be done much easier with experienced helpers

All electronics removed from your engine and installed on the new.

Manual Trans time for new clutch Kit and hydraulics ??

New England rusted and rounded hardware . Old brittle plastic connectors can be a pain

If your paying to get this swapped and get a bad engine the engine people are not going to warrant labor !!

 

From someone who has replaced my fair share of engines, pulling and reinstalling the engine is not fun alone. having a second pair of eyes watching wires and fragile pieces while lifting/dropping the engine is super helpful. Plus the hardest part is going to be the mating of the engine and trans. I've always done it alone and it takes as much time as prepping and removing the engine. It's a lot of back and forth with the engine hoist and trans jack. Tilting and rocking and cursing.

 

Mating the transmission to the engine remains one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done on my truck. I even had the proper fully adjustable transmission jack. It took me hours to get it on there.

 

Just finished removing and reinstalling my engine today. Been working on it an hour or two over the course of 3 weeks. It's been enjoyable for the most part. I work on it when the weather is nice and the light is good. Plus I've done it 4 or 5 or 6 times before so I know every bolt and connector that needs to come off. If you are real handy, then you can do it. It will just take a while and you'll get frustrated but it obviously can be done- people do it. I go to the wrecking yard and get my engines. I bring a sawzall and cut wiring harness, exhaust downpipe and the entire front out of the wreck, and usually cut the fenders off. Keep in mind it's usually a front wreck. Never had an issue with a junkyard 5vz and they're only $189 for a longblock here, minus accessories.

 

Personally I’d take it to a custom fabrication swap and have a v8 installed. It will hurt more up front but pay you back in smiles per gallon.

 

Label EVERYTHING.
Have lots of little buckets for bolts in each specific spot so you don't forget where they go. If you can, replace the bolts in the proper locations.
just my $0.02

 

Definitely a good idea. I've never labeled for any of my swaps but I've got good puzzle memory. I just take pictures of each side of the engine as a backup.

 

A little off topic but every engine i swapped The Transmission was also removed .

Installing the engine first putting the transmission in was easy compared to trying to line up a engine swinging in the air at least to me.

 

Here's a thread on a recent engine replacement from another member. I did my swap working alone.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-smalls-do-i-need-to-swap-a-new-longblock.616861/

Engine Swap Discussion Thread

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-smalls-do-i-need-to-swap-a-new-longblock.616861/