3VZ-E How difficult an engine to rebuild?

[LeftCoast]

I happened upon a 93 4x4 runner, body/interior in VG shape, with the 3VZ-E V-6. New owner was told it needed a head gasket (any way to tell if only the gasket?) and was going to fix it, but decided he wasn't up for the task. I am.

I'm currently rebuilding a 22r-e, so the way I see it, there are really only two options. I could put the new 4 banger in the 4Runner and take my time learning to rebuild the v-6 (What's involved with that swap? I have the 22r 4x4 pu "donor"), or should I just rebuild the v-6 and be done with it?

Thanks in advance.

 

[4rnr]

If the owner had a nice truck and didnt get it fixed him self I bet he spun a bearing, very easy to do after hg blow. I say tie it to the end of a rope and hang it off the front your boat. then get a 3.4 it bolts up (more or less) easier than a 22re any way. Stick or auto? If its a stick then absolutely get a 3.4. If its an auto then you can either rebuild or do the 3.4 swap (a bit more difficult than stick) but if its and auto you wont want a 22re way to slow escpecially if your going to modify it.

 

[KLF]

I've pulled apart a few 3VZ's. They are a good running engine, but I *hate* working on them. Just a lot of poor design decisions, probably based on getting it to fit in a small engine bay.

Don't even bother trying to swap the 22RE in, too much work. Engine mounts are different, tranny is different, wiring is different, etc. If the 3.0 V6 is trashed, I would just go with a 3.4L swap, much better engine and the swap isn't that hard. There's quite a few write-ups out there, and there's a place in CO (offroadsolutions.com I think) that sells a kit to take care of the wiring.

 

[cruiserbent]

rebuild the 3.0,its no different that anything else,rod,pistons,crank.i just got done with one.http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=100298&highlight=littlerunner+is+down.if you can do a 22re you can do a 3.0,its really a pretty solid engine,this one got 303,000 miles before it burned a valve