Well About a month ago i found out that me and my beautiful wife are expecting our Third child.
Little one.
So i Now have a 4 year old, a two year old, and third on the way. No way am i fitting three car seats into the vw or my Pickup.
I tossed around The Idea of a second gen runner, but thats a tight squeeze in the back. So The search was on for a FJ80
And i found one!
Its A bit rough, as you can see the bumper is bent and paint fading. Its A 1993 W/ the 4.5, disk brakes all the way around and full float rear.
All the windows work and sunroof does too!
Needs the seat gear the always falls off on the drivers seat, and the drivers seat also has some rough spots.
But the big issue is the motor, It runs but has a loud tick. I pulled the valve cover and found the lash is way off but but not the source of my tick.
So i pulled the pan. Found a handful of timming chain guide in the pan. After much reading and pricing Im a little bummed about the cost of everything on the 4.5
As well as the fact that you have to pull the head just to service the timming chain.
After pricing everything out, im looking at at least 2k to just repair this motor. Let along rebuild it top to bottom as i would want to do if i pulled it all apart
So Drum roll please, After the green light was given by the wife i am on the hunt for 5.3 Vortec and a 4l60E!
Priced a few out today and for between 2-3K I can get the 5.3 4l60e pcm smog crap and wiring harness.
I am doing as much research as i can and need to keep it CA smog legal. Talking to the guys at valley hybrids, they have done several and kept them Ca smog legal so im picking there brain as much as possible.
I will be using the AA Adapter to go from the 4l60e to my H2fa case. 1500 OUCH!
But seeing as the 4.5 gets 10-14 Mph and has low power, 2-3 grand to freshen it up sound terrible to me. So late model 5.3 16-20 MPH and 265HP Stock sound awsome!
Anyone that has done this please chime in as I could really use as much experience as possible!
So i Now have a 4 year old, a two year old, and third on the way. No way am i fitting three car seats into the vw or my Pickup.
I tossed around The Idea of a second gen runner, but thats a tight squeeze in the back. So The search was on for a FJ80
And i found one!
Its A bit rough, as you can see the bumper is bent and paint fading. Its A 1993 W/ the 4.5, disk brakes all the way around and full float rear.
All the windows work and sunroof does too!
Needs the seat gear the always falls off on the drivers seat, and the drivers seat also has some rough spots.
But the big issue is the motor, It runs but has a loud tick. I pulled the valve cover and found the lash is way off but but not the source of my tick.
So i pulled the pan. Found a handful of timming chain guide in the pan. After much reading and pricing Im a little bummed about the cost of everything on the 4.5
After pricing everything out, im looking at at least 2k to just repair this motor. Let along rebuild it top to bottom as i would want to do if i pulled it all apart
So Drum roll please, After the green light was given by the wife i am on the hunt for 5.3 Vortec and a 4l60E!
Priced a few out today and for between 2-3K I can get the 5.3 4l60e pcm smog crap and wiring harness.
I am doing as much research as i can and need to keep it CA smog legal. Talking to the guys at valley hybrids, they have done several and kept them Ca smog legal so im picking there brain as much as possible.
I will be using the AA Adapter to go from the 4l60e to my H2fa case. 1500 OUCH!
But seeing as the 4.5 gets 10-14 Mph and has low power, 2-3 grand to freshen it up sound terrible to me. So late model 5.3 16-20 MPH and 265HP Stock sound awsome!
Anyone that has done this please chime in as I could really use as much experience as possible!
Figured as much. 
