HELP - 04 Engine Replacement (1 Viewer)

[extacoma]

Hello everyone,

In short, I need to either rebuild or replace my 04 LC100 engine (currently sitting at ~153k).

What happened: While driving, check engine lit came on and ticking sound occurred whenever accelerating. I continue for approx 2-3 min, looking for somewhere safe to pull out and stop. Approaching a turnout down the road, I noticed that I complete began to lose power, and barely coasted into the turnout. There was white substance (honestly don't know if it was smoke or steam) coming from the hood, which I then popped on the side of the road. Immediately it became obvious this was due to this coolant hose coming undone at this T fitting.

I had it towed to a reputable shop "A+ Japanese Auto Repair in San Carlos", where they returned with the following diagnosis:
"Misfire codes on 2,4,8, did compression test 2,4 only has 30 psi and 8 has 120 psi. "Recommended long block timing belt kit, thermostat, exhaust gaskets, intake gasket, radiator with upper and lower hoses, starter, two knock sensors, drive belt, throttle body also leaking coolant, drive belt tensioner, cooling fan coolant bracket"

Their recommendations:
Option 1: Complete replacement, which would involve sourcing a low miles (~30k) block. They said due to their warranty they offer, they would not be willing to go with one which has more miles, even like 100k+. The estimate was ~10-15k which had me shocked. Based on my research in similar threads, most people suggest swapping the engine entirely, but I had nowhere seen all-in quotes even this high.
Option 2: Rebuild, which their quote was "upwards of 5k".

----

This is my first cruiser and modified vehicle, and in the 1 year & ~10k miles I've had it, I've realized that it isn't the truck I need, mainly because my new job requires in-office presence and I don't want to have a second car. I have been considering selling, but this obviously throws a wrench in things. I am looking to get some advice to essentially minimize my losses in the context of what I paid for it ($29.5k) and each of the three options that at least I foresee which are detailed below.

Option 1: Replace Engine

• What are your suggestions for finding a cheaper shop to source and engine and replace?
• What might be an initial all-in estimate for this job?

Option 2: Rebuild Engine

• Also with this option, are there any Bay Area folks who know of a shop reputable with 100 series which may be able to rebuild for less than the quoted $5k+?

Option 3: Sell to Mud Member

• What may be a ballpark estimate for selling as-is?

Apologies for all of the questions, I've tried to do my best to source as much info from the existing threads. Please let me know your thoughts on the above and it would be very much appreciated!

 

[Kamran Khan]

I had recently seen one on fb marketplace with a failed engine. Seller was asking 4000. I am not sure how much the seller sold it for. Seems like you have spent lot of money on modification. Maybe you need to call LKQ and source an engine first and then get a quote from a mechanic for engine swap.
Then do the math and whatever is option beneficial for you, go with that option.

 

[flintknapper]

Quality rebuilt long-blocks with warranty are indeed right around $5K.

Example: Lexus Toyota 2UZFE 4.7L V8 Remanufactured Engine - 1/98-11/04 - Powertrain Products - https://shop.powertrainproducts.net/product/1-98-11-04-2uzfe/

Then you swap your intake, throttle body, accessories, exhaust, etc....onto the rebuilt unit.

The labor to do that (especially in your area) is going to be several thousand dollars. There are also additional gaskets/seals needed and of course fluids.

I could see it going 8-10K all in....pretty easily.

A complete engine from a salvage yard would be less, but you never really know what you are getting.

 

[awesomeissquid]

Having gone through engine issues myself, it’s probably not worth it to rebuild your engine. I would recommend sourcing a known good used engine and just having that swapped in. Should be able to source a used engine for somewhere between $1k - $4k. At that point you could swap it directly in without touching anything else, but it probably makes sense to do some work since it will be cheaper and easier to do it while the engine is out of the vehicle. All depends on how much you want to spend.

 

[kevgentile]

Since you're not going to diy and require a shop to tackle this and if you want to keep the truck and want a very quick repair then source a used replacement.

If it were me I'd rebuild the engine in it due to the lower mileage. Do a leak down to confirm where the failure is at, rings, valves, etc.
Most likely it's the rings and the heads will be in good shape so you won't need to invest any money there.

We've done ring and bearing replacements with the engine in the car and never had a problem. If the cylinder walls are clean and just need a hone you can knock it out quickly.

 

[2001LC]

First what is value of your 100 series, to you. To me: A clean (no rust, no accident), has value! A beat-up (road hard put away wet), has little to no value!
What Toys are installed adds parts value, as is. Add labor & time value for build (Toys), if a running vehicle.

Just looking to write a check in the -+$8k range, to get in done. The remanufactured engine linked above, installed by a good shop. Sound like a winner.

Value In the market today: A clean, well built (Toys), 150K 04, with 7 year warrantee reman zero mile engine. Could fletch $30K to $40K on BAT.

Some food for though:

A Toyota parts manager, recently said to me: "We quote, ~$15K for new Toyota 4.7L engine replacement installed (labor and parts)". "USA made engine and heads" "We can not get Japan made, as part numbers will roll to USA made sub P/N"

Remanufactured engine.
Can re-builders, match Toyota factory (Japan) materials, procedures and spec (Blueprinting). Generally the collective wisdom in MUD, has been NO! But the link @flintknapper provide above, offers a very impressive warrantee.

Used engine.
They are out there. But finding a good one, is getting harder and harder. Most Shops', use a central Salvage yard to source engines. Yard, either has on hand or sources one. There is little to no real diligent done on these engine's. They are very often, form a Tundra or Sequoia (USA made) (halve the price of a 100 series engine, but more labor cost to install). Finding one with even as little as 100K miles is getting very difficult, even a USA made engine. I doubt, any 30K or less around. Used engine need very very close inspection. Even more so, than a PPI when buying a vehicle. The number of bad used engines and bad sellers, is 5 (bad) to 1 (good).

It comes down to how much Effort and or Dollars!

DIY:
One local, I've been lending some guidance to. Took 10 months, to find a good engine. He looked at many and purchased a few along the way. First tool he bough to aid in his search, was a bore scope. Even if engine VIN #, indicates a good engine. Scoping cylinders walls, is a must.
He's now beginning the processes of servicing the used replacement engine and swapping parts over to make a 2003 from an 2001100 series 4.7L engine, to drop in. His cost when done DIY, will be around $3K.

 

[newbielx470]

Having gone through engine issues myself, it’s probably not worth it to rebuild your engine. I would recommend sourcing a known good used engine and just having that swapped in. Should be able to source a used engine for somewhere between $1k - $4k. At that point you could swap it directly in without touching anything else, but it probably makes sense to do some work since it will be cheaper and easier to do it while the engine is out of the vehicle. All depends on how much you want to spend.

Have you actually heard anyone getting a used 2UZ-FE (regardless or Japan or US made) for closer to $1000? That'd be a sweet deal .

 

[awesomeissquid]

I saw a couple in my search, but they either came from a sequoia (US made which I didn’t want) or I could not confirm the reason for the engine being sold so I didn’t want to take a risk.

 

[Sean9421]

Sounds like the OP doesn't want to keep the truck. If you don't see yourself keeping it long term, I'd cut my loses now instead of throwing alot more money at it.

Have you considered parting it out? I see well over $12k in armor/lights/suspension/wheels bolted to that truck just from the outside pics. You won't recoup all of your money, but if you start selling off the big ticket items and then sell the non-running stock truck, you'll probably get a lot more than just unloading it as is. It will definitely take longer to get your money, but you'll get more.

If it were my truck, I'd fix it. You've spent a lot of money in a short period of time, get it back on its feet and it will serve you well for years and years to come. A couple grand more and just enjoy it.

 

[2001LC]

Have you actually heard anyone getting a used 2UZ-FE (regardless or Japan or US made) for closer to $1000? That'd be a sweet deal .

Used engine:
Tundra & Sequoia (4.7L), tend to sell for less. (4.7L USA, Some of the earlier Tundra's, "may" have been from Japan.)
The GX and 4Runners are mid range in price. (all made in Japan)
100 series, top tear. (All made in Japan)

Best, is 100 series of same year range. They're less labor to install.

The 4.7L VVT (06-07 LC/LX), is not considered interchangeable with non VVT (98-05 LC/LX).

 

[3_puppies]

Have you actually heard anyone getting a used 2UZ-FE (regardless or Japan or US made) for closer to $1000? That'd be a sweet deal .

yes, sold one last year for under $1000, I had it for awhile and parted the rig out and wanted to move it. worked out for both of us. the guy drove up from Vegas, had a shop put it into his 100 and got ahold of me after and was happy with the outcome.
it was from a 99, I don't remember what year it was going into.
Currently know of 1 or 2 more.

 

[ikellymo]

I'm in a very similar situation right now. I'm at 270k (2003 LX470) and just had a spark plug eject from my engine and mechanic says the piston and cylinder #07 internals are destroyed. Getting bore scope pics tomorrow.

Reman quote is $13,300, Used would be $11,700 installed. Note the labor is $4300

I'm trying to figure out how good the reman options are with warranty, as opposed to a rebuild by someone experienced ... or do I just try to sell the vehicle and move on.

BUT, the op only has 150k!

Here's my quote if its useful, from a shop near Portland.

REMAN long block	5964.29
coolant	100.28
engine coolant thermostat	37.34
spark plug	162.48
coil packs	1342.88
drive belt	74.11
supplies	37.95
tax	1070
Labor (Engine R&R)	4359.92
Inspection	129.95
	13279.2
USED ENGINE	3166.67
Timing belt water pump	492.38
engine coolant thermostat	37.34
spark plug	162.48
coil packs	1342.88
drive belt	74.11
head gasket set	734.59
coolant	100.28
oil	73.15
oil filter	12.97
supplies	37.95
Tax	945.31
Labor (Engine R&R)	4359.92
Inspection	129.95
	11669.98

 

[ikellymo]

@2001LC, that's 15k for a brand new engine? Seems I should call the dealer, only a bit more than the reman. Slippery slope... is the new Toyota 2UZFE worth it in a 270k vehicle? Transmission, and so many other systems with age.

A Toyota parts manager, recently said to me: "We quote, ~$15K for new Toyota 4.7L engine replacement installed (labor and parts)". "USA made engine and heads" "We can not get Japan made, as part numbers will roll to USA made sub P/N"

I'll probably start a thread tomorrow after I get pics of internals.

 

[3_puppies]

@ikellymo seems the used price is high
wonder why do the headgaskets and coil packs?

 

[neoworm]

Have you actually heard anyone getting a used 2UZ-FE (regardless or Japan or US made) for closer to $1000? That'd be a sweet deal .

I got a perfectly good 05 cruiser engine and tranny for $600 cdn. i went and bought a lottery ticket right after that.

 

[excessive]

your best bet is to buy a complete wrecked donor vehicle from copart , take what you need and sell off the rest. You may be able to get the new engine for free doing this. I did this with a 4Runner a few years ago, all I needed was the manual transmission from it. I made more money selling off all the parts than I paid for the donor vehicle. So I got the transmission i needed for free essentially.

 

[extacoma]

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies. I had taken the rig to Mudrak Custom Cruisers in Sonoma for a second opinion as he didn't suspect it could be this bad, it turns out it was, and the heads are warped

He recommends pulling the heads off and getting them rebuilt - but the quote provided was $6-$7k for this all in I know this guy can charge a high price given he is such an expert on cruisers, but does this seem unreasonably high to you? I still need to call around to some other shops to get other quotes for the job. If anyone knows of any other local shops to NorCal that'd be cheaper, I'd love to hear.

 

[choyota]

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies. I had taken the rig to Mudrak Custom Cruisers in Sonoma for a second opinion as he didn't suspect it could be this bad, it turns out it was, and the heads are warped

He recommends pulling the heads off and getting them rebuilt - but the quote provided was $6-$7k for this all in I know this guy can charge a high price given he is such an expert on cruisers, but does this seem unreasonably high to you? I still need to call around to some other shops to get other quotes for the job. If anyone knows of any other local shops to NorCal that'd be cheaper, I'd love to hear.

I'm not sure how much a tow job would be, but there's a shop in Garden Grove, CA (SoCal) named TJ Auto, run by Tommy. He did a whole long block replacement (Landcruiser motor) with basically every new component you can think of, for $4500 including labor. I had new spark plugs and coils I installed just weeks prior, so he just re-used those. The new motor had new rod bearings, piston rings, head gasket, new valves, seals, timing belt/WP kit, list goes on.

I have a 2002 LX, non VVTI.

 

[2001LC]

Hey everyone, thanks for your replies. I had taken the rig to Mudrak Custom Cruisers in Sonoma for a second opinion as he didn't suspect it could be this bad, it turns out it was, and the heads are warped

He recommends pulling the heads off and getting them rebuilt - but the quote provided was $6-$7k for this all in I know this guy can charge a high price given he is such an expert on cruisers, but does this seem unreasonably high to you? I still need to call around to some other shops to get other quotes for the job. If anyone knows of any other local shops to NorCal that'd be cheaper, I'd love to hear.

Just heads. $6K a bit on the high end, but in range. I'd first, want to see a very detailed borescope of each cylinder. When heads warped, coolant often enters cylinders resulting in damage.

 

[Learning Outdoors]

Noobie to forum, old timer to Toyotas. What ^Extacoma said. A local SoCal shop using only OEM and dedicated only to Lexus-Toyota quotes about $3500 per head if that's the only thing to be done. If the engine overheated at some point or was abused, that changes everything. Other forum members have extensive write ups on engine swaps and the added things to be taken care of at that time (manifolds, starter, etc.).