5vzfe

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AmericanKing

AmericanKing

Joined
Jul 31, 2021
Threads
16
Messages
241
Location
Los Lunas, NM USA
Unfortunately I'm in search of a 5vzfe for my 99 4r. I've owned the truck since October. Previous owner said the heads gaskets/ heads were rebuilt in 2020 @193k miles. Truck has 198k miles now. Heads looked new/cleaned compared to the rest of the engine. When looking at the truck everything looked fine no milkshake in engine oil or buildup on oil cap. No white smoke to this day. Drove truck home from Ruidoso to Los Lunas 200 miles no overheating issues. Once I got home I wanted to start a base line changed the engine oil and found metal flakes in the oil! looked like glitter :crybaby:. I noticed a lost of coolant with no coolant leaks. At that point I borescope the cylinders. My finding were cylinder 3, 5 and 6 have signs of water seeping into the cylinders. From what I've read the 5vzfe are common for cracked heads or poor work by the previous shop :confused:.

Well I'm looking for a engine now. Rebuilding the engine myself is out of my skills. Empire Engines ain't taking any work till march and it'll take another 3 or 4 months to get the engine back. Does anyone have a source for an engine no higher than 150k miles 1999-2002 with MLS (multi layer steal) gasket. Is anyone willing to tackle this job if so I would like to be apart of the build. I'm motivated to learn. I was hoping to have this truck built by this spring for adventures with the family but the engine problem as set me back. Any insight will be great. Thanks!!
 
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Just out of curiosity did you check compression?
 
Check the U-Pull on Broadway. They just got in a Tacoma two days ago that probably has the 3.4. They also had a 4Runner that had one, but I can't tell you if the engine is still there. Finding an engine under 150K will be a challenge.
 
Isn't there an outfit in Los Lunas or Belen who deals strictly with Toyota engines? He rebuilds them or sells them as it, from what my memory tells me.
 
Mauser said:
Just out of curiosity did you check compression?
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No compression test was performed. I felt the evidence of water in the cylinder was enough.
 
pappy said:
Check the U-Pull on Broadway. They just got in a Tacoma two days ago that probably has the 3.4. They also had a 4Runner that had one, but I can't tell you if the engine is still there. Finding an engine under 150K will be a challenge.
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I’ll go check out the Tacomas this weekend. The 4runner engine is gone was out there on day two of it being on the lot. I found one engine on car-parts.com in Dallas. It’s a 2001 with 101k miles for $1200. Core charge and shipping brings it to $1750. Might go this route.
 
alia176 said:
Isn't there an outfit in Los Lunas or Belen who deals strictly with Toyota engines? He rebuilds them or sells them as it, from what my memory tells me.
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If there is I would like to know who or what shop it is. Can you recall the name?
 
AmericanKing said:
If there is I would like to know who or what shop it is. Can you recall the name?
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All I recall was that he advertised on Facebook marketplace so try there & see if you get lucky. His ad said all kinds of Toyota engines and engine work done.
 
AmericanKing said:
No compression test was performed. I felt the evidence of water in the cylinder was enough.
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Water in the cylinder can be a simple as a head gasket leak, which I think is easy to work with. Of course, until you remove the head you will not know if there is a cooling jacket leak.

Most of us 80 owners have experience this exact kind of head gasket leak and we all simply replace the head gasket and shave the head. In my case, the previous 80 needed the deck to be shaved as well. Still, I think this is way less expensive and it is a known quantity versus purchasing an used engine, even with a warranty of some sort. That's just my opinion of course.

Since you have a V6, I would think solving this problem would be even easier, but having never done this work on this particular engine, this is a WAG on my part.

This thread might be worth a read: Toyota-4Runner.org - https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/36168-blown-head-gasket-possibly.html?highlight=head+gasket+leak

@lurch what say you?
 
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Another option is to go to the U-Pull and just pull the heads. Send them off to get worked, and install those.
 
alia176 said:
Water in the cylinder can be a simple as a head gasket leak, which I think is easy to work with. Of course, until you remove the head you will not know if there is a cooling jacket leak.

Most of us 80 owners have experience this exact kind of head gasket leak and we all simply replace the head gasket and shave the head. In my case, the previous 80 needed the deck to be shaved as well. Still, I think this is way less expensive and it is a known quantity versus purchasing an used engine, even with a warranty of some sort. That's just my opinion of course.

Since you have a V6, I would think solving this problem would be even easier, but having never done this work on this particular engine, this is a WAG on my part.

This thread might be worth a read: Toyota-4Runner.org - https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/36168-blown-head-gasket-possibly.html?highlight=head+gasket+leak

@lurch what say you?
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Yeah your right it would be less expensive going that route. I'll do the compression test this weekend for the hell of it and report back my findings. Rebuilding this engine myself it out of the question. The metal I found in the engine oil is another red flag which is why I'm favoring a engine swap. Ill take a look into that thread.
 
pappy said:
Another option is to go to the U-Pull and just pull the heads. Send them off to get worked, and install those.
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5 j's on Broadway currently have them in stock. What machine shop do you recommend.
 
@LX450JC do you still have the Craigslist engine guy's cell?
 
@LX450JC @Dumpolina
Is this the gentlemen you’re referring too?

DC797C5E-50FB-44ED-95D5-B10B0B3E2AA2.png
 
I belileve that's the same guy I saw on FB a while back.

There's a thread in the sticky section that details out who this club have used for engine work. Bud Long motorsports is one of them and there might be others.

Metal particles in the oil is no bueno :bang:
 
I will not give budlong any more money.
I have not used the Craigslist guy but with his prices I may gamble with him on a 3.0.
I have one other guy I’ll PM you
 
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