Topic: 1993 4Runner blown head gasket

[mudmaster]

I found one for $1950. I haven't looked at it yet, but the pictures of it look promising. Owner says it needs head gaskets. Has anyone done head gaskets on the 3.0? If so how much of a pain is it? Is this a good price?

Thanks and all relevant comments are welcome.

[Marlin]

3.0 V6's are almost always a pain to work on.

The last v-job that I worked on, I had to find a pair of heads because they were all pitted out from rust and electrolysis.

$1950 seems a bit steep.

How is the body? any options? auto, stick, miles...

I will admit that I am spoiled working on the 4 bangers.

Marlin

[mudmaster [OP]]

The body is in excelllent shape. It's an auto, pw,pl,ac, 218k for miles.
Thanks Marlin

[mudmaster [OP]]

Here's a link for pics:

http://seattle.craigslist.org/skc/cto/1070948766.html

[Marlin]

Clean truck.

Do your best to carefully look it over.

Have the the heads been removed and rebuilt before? Most shops glass bead the aluminum heads when they do a valve job. This leaves a dull finish on the surface.

From my experience, the more metal that has been removed, the shorter the head gasket life.
Is everthing in its proper place under the hood?

When I look at used trucks, I try to get a feeling for what has been done.

With such a clean truck, this may be a good gamble.

Too bad they are firm on the price.

Marlin

[OOPS]

Get the VIN and call your dealer. They can check to see if the HG's have already been done under the campaign. You may be able to still get them done for free. Looks really clean.

[mudmaster [OP]]

Get the VIN and call your dealer. They can check to see if the HG's have already been done under the campaign. You may be able to still get them done for free. Looks really clean.

That's a really good idea.

Thanks for the advice Marlin.

[BLACKDOG]

poke around on here for BLACKDOG and 3.0 headgasket problems.  I've got a few threads talking about them, nad a lot of help and I put up a lot of pictures when I did it.  Its not too bed, but it does suck.

[mudmaster [OP]]

Get the VIN and call your dealer. They can check to see if the HG's have already been done under the campaign. You may be able to still get them done for free. Looks really clean.

It was already done by Toyota about 10 years ago

[mudmaster [OP]]

poke around on here for BLACKDOG and 3.0 headgasket problems.  I've got a few threads talking about them, nad a lot of help and I put up a lot of pictures when I did it.  Its not too bed, but it does suck.

Thanks will do. I haven't looked for the thread yet, but are there any special tools required, beyond torque wrenches?

[kneedownnate]

I'd pass for that price, seems more like a $700-900 rig to me.  People don't think logically when they try and get rid of something like that, because they feel it's still good, but they have to accept the value/cost/time it will take to fix what they themselves aren't willing to fix. 

[Snowtoy]

It is clean, but not worth the money IMO.  I see these quite often on C-list, and the sellers always think they are worth more, but w/a bad HG it isn't.  If it was a 5-spd I would say $1000-1500 would be fair but w/the auto maybe only $1000.  It would be worth taking a look at and then keep an eye on it, it is likely you will see that price drop.  If you don't have any experience w/a 3.0 and auto transmission, you will definitely want to drive one before you buy it, unless you would also be putting in a 5-spd.

If you do decide to buy it, you will want to do more than just drop in new HG's, you will want both heads rebuilt and clean/rebuild the injectors, so figure on a budget of about $1k for repairs, providing you do the work yourself.  As mentioned it isn't all that difficult, it looks/manual reads like it is a lot more difficult then it really is.  I did a lot of extra work mapping/taking pic/video of where everything when rebuilt the top end on mine 5yrs ago.  The extra work added several ours to the tear down process, but well worth it on the rebuild, especially since the rebuild took place 3 weeks later.

[mudmaster [OP]]

Right now I'm going to pass on it and see if the price drops. I talked to the owner and he won't drop the price, at least not yet.
Thanks for everyones input.