Help! My 200 Series Piston Rod broke and punched through the motor

[gray rider]

Not to sidewind the thread, but here is my recent experience with a "blown up" engine for whatever data it offers. Much of it is in my court, etc. (as it should be)...
I contacted the original Owner (not the seller) of the vehicle and he was very forthcoming with the fact that the engine "just let go and started banging".....
My trusted mechanic said "Maybe it was an oil plug not replaced thing?"

The used car dealer that I purchased it from is not very cooperative regarding info (to say the least).

Regardless, I am now the proud owner of a kick-ass 2013 200 series with a questionable heart.

In 40 years of buying vehicles, this may be the 1st purchase that I have made from a "USED CAR DEALER". (Note to self).

Here is the link to my woes (although in the grand scheme things it could be worse as thankfully it is neither of the big C's.):

Salvage Motor Question

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[liv2bike]

How the hell is it $16k to replace the motor? Woof.

I got multiple quotes. Overland Cruisers in Bozeman, ARD Offroad in Park City and The Car Care Nut (yes, the YouTube car care nut). All three with extensive Land Cruiser experience.

For installing a donor, all were $15-17k. Not much deviation between the three. 3UR Donor engines from a reputable yard are $7-10k alone. My donor was out of a LX570 and had 70k miles.

These trucks aren’t corollas.

Guy

 

[skrypj]

I got multiple quotes. Overland Cruisers in Bozeman, ARD Offroad in Park City and The Car Care Nut (yes, the YouTube car care nut). All three with extensive Land Cruiser experience.

For installing a donor, all were $15-17k. Not much deviation between the three. 3UR Donor engines from a reputable yard are $7-10k alone. My donor was out of a LX570 and had 70k miles.

These trucks aren’t corollas.

Guy

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If Toyota's were not reliable you would go broke fixing them because their parts are so outrageously expensive.

$7-10k for a used motor is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with it not being a corolla.

 

[gray rider]

The used car dealer I bought from butchered this salvage engine swap-in. Cost about 3k to fix their install. So some degree of skill is required (obviously, yes I know).

 

[Kernal]

Sorry if I missed it in the thread, but does anyone know how common this issue is (thrown rod) in the 200 Series V8 and what might be the cause for these engines ie: oil starvation due to an internal oil flow blockage, defective oil filter, or ??

Is it linked to any particular production dates?

 

[gray rider]

Sorry if I missed it in the thread, but does anyone know how common this issue is (thrown rod) in the 200 Series V8 and what might be the cause for these engines ie: oil starvation due to an internal oil flow blockage, defective oil filter, or ??

Is it linked to any particular production dates?

Great question.....

 

[rexington14]

I got multiple quotes. Overland Cruisers in Bozeman, ARD Offroad in Park City and The Car Care Nut (yes, the YouTube car care nut). All three with extensive Land Cruiser experience.

For installing a donor, all were $15-17k. Not much deviation between the three. 3UR Donor engines from a reputable yard are $7-10k alone. My donor was out of a LX570 and had 70k miles.

These trucks aren’t corollas.

Guy

Curious if any of those shops were willing to install a 3UR from a Tundra? Or were only LC/LX motors considered?

 

[liv2bike]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. If Toyota's were not reliable you would go broke fixing them because their parts are so outrageously expensive.

$7-10k for a used motor is ridiculous. It has nothing to do with it not being a corolla.

It has everything to do with being a 200 Series Land Cruiser.

 

[liv2bike]

Curious if any of those shops were willing to install a 3UR from a Tundra? Or were only LC/LX motors considered?

Only LC/LX donors. Perhaps others would entertain a Tundra or Sequoia but there aren’t that many of those documented swaps out there. Plus I wanted a (made in Japan) sealed 3UR from a LC/LX.

 

[gray rider]

Any knowledge about these guys:
LAND CRUISER LX570 5.7L ENGINE 81K MILES 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 . | eBay

 

[jjmcabee]

You’ll get 15-20k salvage value on auction. I’d use that as a guide, depending on how much you’ve sunk into the truck, how long your otherwise expect to keep it, etc. assume 15k to get a low mileage used engine installed, will you get 30-35k if you fix and sell? Maybe but probably not. So fix and keep or auction it off.

don’t be afraid to call around and find a shop that will quote less for a warranties engine and have it towed there from the dealer. I wouldn’t have an Indy shop rebuild a 3UR unless I really trusted them, but an engine swap is going to be less skilled.

Where would I put it up for auction? BAT?

 

[jjmcabee]

Try calling ATLR or Japanese Auto Service (both pretty close to Stevinson, and both LC-knowledgeable) for a comparison quote.

Me personally, I don't think I'd pay $15k to resurrect my truck if I were in your shoes. $24k is about what the truck is worth, so I definitely would not go with the new motor. I'd probably sell as-is and move on.

I talked to Japanese Auto Service they just did one for 20K. Where would you sell as is.

 

[jjmcabee]

Bad situation for sure. Was the engine maintained properly? Are you the original owner? What’s the LC’s story?

Original owner. Maintained religiously. I believe the downfall began when I went to SLEE and started adding all the mods.

 

[lx200inAR]

I talked to Japanese Auto Service they just did one for 20K. Where would you sell as is.

When i was looking at just salvaging. Copart was the only automated system with reasonable buyouts. They are one of the big auction sites. You can check online for an automatic quote to at least get a starting point. This was how State Farm "valued" my salvage vehicle for buy back.

 

[ryanCA]

Original owner. Maintained religiously. I believe the downfall began when I went to SLEE and started adding all the mods.

wait @sleeoffroad caused your issues? You sure?

They are the gold standard in LC land

 

[rexington14]

I talked to Japanese Auto Service they just did one for 20K.

Insane

 

[jjmcabee]

wait @sleeoffroad caused your issues? You sure?

They are the gold standard in LC land

No I do not think that SLEE caused the damage. Of course not. The mods are great. But I do think the lift with the upper control arms that had to be replaced after less than 10,000 miles and the added weight of the bumper and all had a negative effect on more than just the fuel economy. If I had to do it all over again, I would still do the mods but not while it was a daily driver.

 

[ryanCA]

No I do not think that SLEE caused the damage. Of course not. The mods are great. But I do think the lift with the upper control arms that had to be replaced after less than 10,000 miles and the added weight of the bumper and all had a negative effect on more than just the fuel economy. If I had to do it all over again, I would still do the mods but not while it was a daily driver.

Interesting.

I just have a lift. That is all I can afford and my truck does all I need as is. Otherwise I am stock, approaching 300K miles.

I didn't realize mods would ruin the motor of a truck.

 

[gray rider]

I used to know this country boy brick mason with an oversized Ford F250.
"Hey, insertname, how much will your truck tow?"
He would say "I don't know."
I would ask, "then how much is too much to tow".
He would say," the truck will let you know when it is too much"

go figure....

 

[gray rider]

True conversation.