I need an advice, my my truck head gasket is leaking, and the mechanic charges me a grand to replace seals, the engine has 203k and still runs good, but sooner or later I am going to buy a new engine, my mechanic says a Jasper installed and everything is going to be around 4k,are these prices right?, is there a website where I can find new or rebuild engines cheap

I wouldn't spend $4k on a 3.0 but that's me.I would put the money to a 3.4 conversion and get more power. www.car-parts.com has some rebuilt or remans on it.

Expect to pay about $2500 for a used/rebuilt 3.0, and the rest of the quote is installation costs. If you don't have aproblem dropping $4k, and are willing to pay more, you should consider doing a 3.4 Tacoma engine swap. If you don't want to spend more than $k, you shoudl consider rebuilding the 3.0 you have. I would consider boring the block .020, or .040 over, and install some headers, with the rebuild. This should liven up the 3.0 and help it breath better. With the head/block true. a new head gasket and NEW headbolts, it should run you another 200k, and shouldn't be anymore(maybe less) than the $4k your mechanic quoted you. You can get a master rebuild kit from enginebuilders.com for under $400(includes larger pistons), headers will run you about $700(headers/rest of exhaust), plus block/head work, misc. items like knock sensor/wire, a pulley or two, water pump, etc.

I really apreciate all the reps , I wish I know more about auto repair, and maybe do the tacoma swap myself, I am afraid if I sugest it to my mechanic he is going to charge me a whole lot more for adjustments he has to make, if has to anyways

the truck had records for renewed time belt, belt tentioner, belt pullies, crank seal, cam seals also complete waterpump, so, do you think if i just take care of the leak replacing the head gaskets, I should be able to use the truck for few more K miles?,I was hoping to replace the engine next winter as I am not driving it in the chicago's salty roads, and it sucks, you would think thats why you want a 4x4, for the snow, but they throw some much rock salt on the roads that the the body rottens up quick


I am going to post a picture of the truck,

ands thanks for the advices <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" />

do not buy a jasper engine,,,you will be sorry

Yes, if your mech is just a basic parts exchanger then he is going to charge you a lot, on the other hand if he is into building engines and fabricating, he might not charge you all that much.

Once you do the 3.4 swap, and if it is done correctly(not-Frankenstein Monstered), servicing it would be the same as on the 3.4 Taco or 4-Runner, so any Toyota mechaninic/tech should be able to serivice it w/o problems.

As far as replacing the items you listed, it depends on when they were last replaced, the timing belt is recommended to be replaced every 80k, the water pump used to be every 100k, but now only when it starts to leak. The pullies are probably fine, wont know until the engine is pulled down. If everything else is fine, you could just replace the HG's, you will still need new headbolts(they cannot be re-used), re-using them is one major cause of recurring HG failure. The headbolts on the 3.0 are known as torque-to-yeild bots, they actually stretch durring th einstallation process. Once they are torqued to their desinged specs, you can't ever get a true torque value on them again, so you MUST buy new ones, buy studs, or buy non-TTY headbolts. I believe enginebuilders.com carries non-TTY headbolts for the 3.0. You will also need to buy a new knock sensor and knock sensor wire, the wire gets brittle from the heat, and cannot withstand being disconnected/reconnected.

Figure on paying your mech $1500-2k just to replace the HG's and the nec. items to replace the HG's. If you don't mind paying twice for the the work(sometimes it has to be done), go ahead w/the HG replacement, otherwise II would wait until you can do an entire rebuild, or swap.

For info on the 3.4 swap, check out Off-Road Solutions.

Can you pull an engine and put it back in. If so pull it and take it to the shop that rebuilds them. I pulled one and took it to Monarch Motors in OH who actually does the machine work and the guy bored it .02 over, added new pistons, new oil pump, water pump, timing belt and checked the head all for around $1400.00 then you just put it back in and fire it up. You can rent an engine puller at the local rental tool place. It is farly easy, just number all the electrical plugs with masking tape (1 through 10 or so)when you pull them off. Then when you reinstal it is bullet proof. Just a suggestion.