Rebuild or Replace Engine - Guidance needed

Hello folks,

I’ve referenced this forum several times for guidance and preventive maintenance on my 2005 Tacoma 6 cyl 4x4. And always with a goid outcome.

So I’m back to ask for advice and more guidance as my truck is in need of a rebuild or head gasket repair.

The gist is this...I’ve owned my 2005 Tacoma since 2006 when I purchased the truck from a one owner/with 18,000 miles. This has been the most dependable and trouble free vehicle I’ve owned.

However, the miles are now at 304,000 all on original engine parts (except water pump/thermostat and idler pullies). The head gasket is obviously going bad as it does use coolant and it is misfiring at times when driving.

I have no rust on the body/frame and would like to keep the truck in service and on the road for continued use.

My questions to all of you Tacoma gurus -

1. Should I just have the motor completely rebuilt given the stand alone cost of a head gasket repair in addition to the age of the original engine?
2. Or would you recommend buying a low mileage (used) engine to replace the old engine?
3. Also, given the 2005 head gasket issues, would it be feasible to put a 2008 or newer engine in the 2005? To avoid the same head gasket problems found in the 2005 models?
4. Any other recommendations are greatly appreciated.

And thank you for any and all responses!

 

I would opt with No. 2

Motor swap with a younger 2nd-Gen. Any of the 1GR-FE Taco motors will work...and it would be better to get one no older than the '08

 

There's a good amount of mileage on the engine. I would probably put a good used engine in it. With warranty.
You can check https://lowmileageengines.com/. They were mentioned here on tacomaworld.com.
If you can find a quality engine builder and your block is rebuildable, that may also be a viable option. Good engine builders may not be easy to find.

 

I’d go fresh engine over rebuild. Had the same issue with my little brothers old Subie and researching the amount of work decided that one whole engine out and one whole engine back in was easier than a strip down and more probable to run reliably for longer.

It’s a numbers game. Punch your own numbers for your area/situation/how much work you can do vs. paying someone and take the jump toward where the factors lean.

Either is fine. Neither will be perfect or risk free.

 

Find a low mileage engine, don’t rebuild.
Since your old motor has been seeping coolant, there may be corrosion or erosion of the block/head mating surfaces. Plus 300k of wear on cams,chains, valve guides, pistons, rods, etc
If heads are resurfaced too much, cam timing may be off.
There are a lot of unknowns when you rebuild. Since it is not a rare engine, there should be plenty in the junkyards with low miles.

Especially if your paying someone to do it.

 

Is there anything like a crate engine available for these trucks? Getting an engine from a rebuilder like Marshall Engines is sometimes a good choice and can shorten down time.

 

just replaced mine at 250k and pulled my old motor apart before i built the new one and broke everything trying to get things to break free. Buy a motor and drop it in your self.

 

I would definitely go with a low mileage drop in. As others have said, there are a lot of Tacoma's on the road and stuff happens. My 2014 was hit hard from the rear and the insurance company wanted to total it. I had the truck was rebuilt on a new frame but a collision like mine would have put a perfect low mileage engine on the street. Get some help and find one for yourself!

 

Since when is the Washington Nationals 2019 World Series Champions political?

 

I understand the arguments for both sides.
Drop in a replacement is quick and easy and probably will serve you well.
I would rebuild current engine. Find a good reputable machine shop, go talk to them. I would go new pistons reground crank, all new timing gear. The big plus for me is other than machining, I can do all the work my self.

 

I would go with a rebuilt motor !!!!

You can re build it with performance parts better flowing cyl heads , higher lift cams . Plus boring the cyl's 0.030 to 0.040 increases engine size making more hp and tq . Just bolting a set of CNC ported heads is worth a 50hp gain

Even going with a stroker crank can also increase engine size

 

Why would you choose to buy a 2005 knowing fully well according to the experts here on TW that warned you about the known gasket issues? What do you have to say now after your gasket failed for not heeding their advice after 300K miles? Go with a fresh rebuild.

 

CNC ported heads on 6 cyl. = 50 HP. 50Hp from 6 cyl. = 8.3 hp pr. cyl. Can I find a 2.7 head: 4 cyl. X 8.3 hp pr. cyl. = 33.3 hp. If I could get 33 hp, bolt on, That would be a great improvement for my (to me) very under powered 2.7. Are they available & where?

 

Regear, add a header, and I recommend the Hurst/core shifter for the r155f wakes it up a lot.

 

LCE has cyl head / camshaft packages in (3) performance levels for the 3RZ 4cyl

 

He has the 2trfe. They sadly only offer pistons, made by cp however. I have a set in my engine .30 over sized been great for 13k km

 

And none of this exists for the 4.0

 

Just go with a low milage used engine out of a 08 or newer Tacoma. Keep in mind the 1GR-FE engines with the AIP have a different passenger side valve cover than the pre-AIP engines. I think they started doing that in 2010. You could swap your valve cover over from the old engine. But if you don't there is no harm in leaving the original. It will just have the extra mounting points for the AIP-Valve bodies. The only reason I wouldn't go rebuilt over low milage used, is that these engines are a bit difficult to rebuild if you don't know what you're doing. You could always go OEM rebuilt and order an engine from Toyota, but your looking at $5k or more.