My 4Runner is dead...

[heynowAMY]

I'm looking for some advice. I have an '87 4Runner that died in Feb. of this year. I recently towed it to my mechanic (great guy, long time friend) and he said that the engine has lost compression in two cylinders and we're looking at a rebuild. The tranny also needs to be rebuilt due to a long-time problem of it popping out of first gear. To do a rebuild w/all new parts for the engine and the tranny rebuild, both with guys my mechanic knows very well, will put me in the hole about $4000.00. I am desperately trying to justify spending this amount of money on a truck this old but am not sure if it's worth it. I can see it becoming a money pit because once all the mechanical stuff is done, I'm gonna want to do some body and suspension work, then where does it end? I recently inherited a car that I use for my daily driver, so the truck is meant to be for fun and offroading now.

What do you all think: do I do the rebuild and keep if for many years to come, or am I better off getting rid of it for cheap as it is right now or selling it for parts? Just looking to see what some of you would do if you were in the same situation. Thanks for any thoughts on the matter.

 

[cruiser88]

how is the body if it is good then fix it at least then you would know what you had

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

$4000? Seems steep to me.

Tranny here:

http://www.marlincrawler.com/htm/transmission/3a.htm

Best rebuild you can get and only $900ish plus shipping.

Engnbldr.com here:

http://www.engnbldr.com/ToyotaHotLicks.htm

Great parts, great prices. Less than $400 for a full engine kit and a new cam and timing cover. You probably don't need either, but a new cam can be fun

So $2500 to get any machine work done, a new clutch and other odds and ends and labor??? Sounds like a lot of labor.

I would do the work myself, but there are some options for you.

 

[1stgenxxx]

ouch man... buy used parts and get you buddies to help you put them in

22re...500adv price
you can pick up and manual tranny for like 200 maybe less...

less than a grand will get you back on the road

 

[brian]

i bought a rebuilt motor(jasper) and then paid a shop to put it in and was just over 2K.
that was with all new hoses, water pump and a clutch job as well.

 

[WristPin]

$4000 is high. but since you hire a mechanic to do it, he charges labor and jacks up the cost on the parts.

you should try to find your own parts, links above are a great place to start.
then see he can cut you a deal. what ever you do for a living, offer your skills as a barter.

otherwise it is not worth the money.
you can buy a nice 4runner for that price. that prblyy even has a lift on it.

 

[MLX450]

diesel convertion w/ japan 1/2 cut! 2LT-E or better!

 

[Jukelemon]

I agree on NOT spending that much on a 87 4runner unless you had sex with Scarlet Johansen in it. Then, gold plate the thing As well, trannies popping out can be as simple as a collapsed shifter bushing-very common.

You can find running re's for a lot less and just pay for the install labor. To be honest, I cannot follow why you have a great friend who is a mechanic yet has to go to two other guys for rebuilds ( :

 

[WristPin]

I agree on NOT spending that much on a 87 4runner unless you had sex with Scarlet Johansen in it. Then, gold plate the thing As well, trannies popping out can be as simple as a collapsed shifter bushing-very common.

You can find running re's for a lot less and just pay for the install labor. To be honest, I cannot follow why you have a great friend who is a mechanic yet has to go to two other guys for rebuilds ( :

hahaha! +1

 

[Full_M3tal]

Heres A Good Spot Fo And Engine Rebuild....

http://www.performance-auto-parts.com/engine-rebuild-kits/engine-rebuild-kits-toyota.php

 

[Martin White]

That seems like a lot of cash. What else could you buy for that 4000? There are people buying 80 series trucks for not too much more than that, in decent shape. I always suggest to people that they look at what ELSE their money would buy, and then decide whether or not it's worth putting that money into what they have now.