So did you end up rebuilding the engine? Or you got a complete gasket kit I guess that you just mostly rebuilt the engine, without removing the crank and main bearings, rods, etc? I think that with the prices that I have been quoted that a rebuilt is a pretty good option for me. But since I still need to do the SAS, I could save the money and just rebuild my engine myself. I found engine rebuild kits with pistons for around $800-$1000. I still need to do some research as to how much the cylinder walls can be bored over. I wonder whether boring out the cylinders in the case of the 3.SLOW will yield any gains in torque at all. This would be a project to undertake since I haven't rebuilt an engine in a long time. I am planning on getting a Samurai to drive/wheel since it fits on the trails in WA better than my Toyota. This would be perfect so that I could have a wheeling rig while the toy would be my project. I have too much money in the toy to just get rid if it-custom bumpers/sliders, rear locker, etc. I don't think that I would get nearly the $$$ that I would like to if I sold it.


I had looked at buying a new/rebuilt/used engine. Used were running $1850, and new/rebuilt were $2350. I did find some used on the net, for around $600, but no garauntee they were in better shape than the one I had. I agree that the $17-2000 the dealer quoted me was expensive. The first time it was just as bad, but I had more money than time at the time. The second time around, I had more time and I wasn't willing to pay the dealer. Considering what the dealer wanted, and what I spent doing it my self, I got a far better deal than even buying new. The bottem end of the 3.0 is virtually indestructable(providing you keep the engine well maintained), so there wasn't really a need for me to buy a complete one. My total cost was about $1817, I spent another $200 on the exaust. Without the headers and the O2 sensor, the cost would have been around $1200. Here is part list and what I spent.
Complete heads rebuild,
new head bolts,
complete gasket kit $755.63
Injectors rebuilt $210.00
Downey Headers $343.72
Downey X-over pipes $170.59
Knock sensor $127.52
Timing belt $31.40
Water pump $82.29
Oxygen sensor $96.02 [/quote]