Approximately 3 weeks ago I saw my 4Runner for sale on a local car forum, after checking it out, I made my purchase. $1000, talked him down to $950.

Wasn't a bad deal as the truck came with 33x12.50 SuperSwamper TSL's and the stock tires too.

The throwout bearing was squealing and I was hoping to have some time before doing the clutch.

WRONG. Clutch was completely dead by the time I was half way home.

The first picture I ever saw of my truck (fell in love instantly):


Clean:


What I'm guessing it looked like before the PO did anything (and threw out the bumper pieces):

 

So, after getting her to the shop without a clutch (yay dry-shifting!), we pulled her apart to see the damage. I've never seen anything like this.

Throwout bearing, completely bunked:


I'm not sure if this even needs a caption:

 

So after I replaced the clutch, everything was fine for a few weeks aside from a bunk TPS.

I decided to do a bit of mild wheeling and hit a puddle I should have checked first. Let this be a lesson to everyone who doesn't know. Always check. Also, don't go alone because when this happens, you get stuck walking back to the highway at least (8km in my case) and back and camping in your truck overnight, probably freezing and hungry.






Fortunately, I was saved by a guy (that's him in the pic) who was taking the trail on his Polaris Ranger 6x6, not the strongest of machines but it did the job, after 4 hours, a few trees and some creativity.

We had to pull my truck sideways (wrapped around the door and roof from the nerf bar) to level it out a bit, put trees (see pic) in the mud under the tires, and then pull it out backwards.



Once the truck was out, we tried starting it to no avail. Came back later, tried to boost it and almost turned over, that's when the engine pretty much seized up. Wasn't sure what was happening at this point.

Had to come back a few days later to pull it out of the trail (8km remember).

A sad moment, being towed out by a Jeep, with a quite nice Toy passing by to witness it:


Another sad moment, having to leave it behind because of lack of towing equipment to get it back to town (bumper sticker enlarged for your amusement):


Now it took me a few days to get back and tow it because I had no money for anything really, because of this I booked a tow dolly with u-hell. They completely broke their reservation, failed to honor their guarantee and wasted 3 days of my time. Finally I got the dolly and managed to find a brand new hitch at pick-n-pull for $15.

Turns out leaving it there was a really bad idea, when I returned, my CB radio antenna and Bosch lights were stolen, and my pass signal light was kicked out (no pics, sorry). Now, I haven't overly upset about any of this, and I'm not even too mad my stuff was stolen, but why did they have to go and willingly damage my truck too? That just adds insult to injury.

Anyhow, we loaded the truck on the dolly and towed her home, checked a few things and suspected that the head gasket had blown, good and bad news, the good being that now I know what's wrong. Everything else being the bad.

The next morning I called Toyota early with the slight hope that my truck fell under the recall. And it didn't.

Now it's my job to tear her apart, fix it, and put her back together, really tempted to do a 3.4 swap but I don't think I'll have the money.

 

My garage:


Which really sucks. My brother is renting a huge 2-car garage and has a compressor. I have an air impact and ratchet. He's not letting me leave my truck there yet because I don't have everything ready to do it quickly. (Doesn't want my truck sitting there for a long period.)

Dirty 3vze with no intake:


A LOT of water came out of my airbox and throttlebody, a week later, yucky.

Drained the radiator, what a lovely bunch of yucky colors, some Toyota red, some green, some water, some mud and worst of all, some oil. Definitely blew the head gasket.

Got the radiator out unbolted and anything else will have to wait until tomorrow - it's dark now.

 

Got a chance to do some more work today..

Finished taking the rad out, took off the fan, took out the alternator, got the timing cover off..



Wow!! Definitely time for a new timing belt..!!


Marked the timing, removed the distributor, the power steering pump, the fuel rails and one of the valve covers off, got too cold & dark to finish the other one today..

 

What ultimately caused my lack of judgment and jump into the puddle:

 

Haven't done much work lately, missing a few tools and have no motivation or money.

Yet another thing I have to replace (rusted cam shafts):


With shafts removed:

 

Well here is your opportunity to install some weazy2k performance cams... weazy is a member here and has some very nice stage 2 cams available at a good price. try a search here for them...

 

Cool, thanks for the info.. If they're comparable price-wise, I'll definitely get them. I basically want to slap this thing together so I can drive it and save for a swap.

 

Well, THAT wont be happening:

Lower intake off:


And.. TADA!!



So what's next? A new engine? Maybe a swap? Or will she get junked or parted out?

Time will tell, time will tell.

 

after some thorough thought, 3.4swaptime.

 

Okay, so before I begin, I need parts. I will edit this post as I get the part or find/fab a suitable replacement, this is mostly for me to take notes but I might as well document everything.

(taken from Andy Zook's Home Page )

Parts that are bold, I still need to get. (This place needs strikethrough text!)

From Donor vehicle with 5VZ-FE (3.4L):

1. 5VZ-FE V6 complete with all accessories (PS pump, AC compressor, alternator) and unmolested (uncut) engine wiring harness as it plugs into the computer and dashboard wiring harness.
2. Exhaust crossover pipe (needed for the flanges only)
3. ECU
4. Igniter assembly
5. Evaporative canister (optional)
6. Evap VSV
7. Intake system- tubing, air box, air filter
8. Air flow meter
9. Flywheel with mounting hardware
10. Starter

From 3V-ZE (3.0L) engine:

1. Motor mounts (part that bolts to block)
2. Oil Pan
3. Oil pan baffle
4. Oil pressure sender
5. Throttle cable
6. Banjo fitting from power steering pump
7. Fan
8. Fan shroud
9. Radiator
9a. Radiator cap
10. 2 plugs from the end of the engine wiring harness that plug in to the dashboard wiring harness

From Toyota

1. Dipstick - Toyota part number 15301-62060
2. Dipstick Guide - Toyota part number 11452-62060
3. Dipstick Guide O-ring
4. Union (part that dipstick sits inside) - Toyota part number 90405-10033
5. Exhaust manifold o-ring gaskets - Toyota part number 90917-06083
6. FIPG for oil pan
7. Clutch pressure plate for 3.4L engine - Toyota part number 31210-35210-84
8. Clutch disk from 3.4L engine - Toyota part number 31250-35352-84
9. Clutch pilot bearing from 3.4L engine - Toyota part number 90363-12002-77
10. Clutch throw out bearing from 3.0L engine
11. FJ40 Battery Tray (may do custom)

Custom

1. High pressure fuel line
2. Exhaust crossover
3. Extended AC low pressure hose

Other

1. 1/4" NPT plug
2. 1/4" NPT tap
3. 5' extension cable for battery + to EFI fuse box
4. 4' 1/4" ID fuel hose
5. 4' 5/8" ID heater hose

EDIT: Now that I'm swapping a 5mge, I'm freekn glad this list is much MUCH shorter!

 

Update:

Sold swampers to pay bills.. Hopefully will be able to move on soon, sad seeing her sit every day.

 

Haven't updated this in a while, however my plans now are to swap a 7M-GTE into my Supra, rebuild it's 5MGE and put it in the truck.

I've recently found a 7M-GTE and a donor N/A MK3 to start my swap as well as the bellhousing I need thanks to a member here.

 

Both the engine and donor above car fell through..

I have a new donor car for the truck though, check it out. Cost me $50 bones and it runs!

Engine:


The swap is officially started!

 

Plans (mostly in order):

✓ order bell housing (from fellow YT member)
✓ remove final parts of 3vze from truck
✓ remove 5mge + wiring/computer from supra
✓ put radiator from donor into my daily supra (she leaks!)
- clean up, rust-proof & paint truck engine bay
- (in progress) tear down block, clean it and paint it, machine what's needed
- install new rings and gaskets and put it back together
- install engine (probably keep clutch disc as it's got less than 5000k)
- go 4x4ing

If you think I left something out let me know.

 

Bell housing ordered and paid for, waiting for it to be shipped, thanks 4runner4ever!

Still have been too lazy to pull the rest of the 3vze. I actually did do some work though, pulled off the drivers side head, and found that I busted the #6 cylinder connecting rod also. I got all the engine mount bolts so I just have to unbolt the transmission and get a hoist.

Donor is mostly ready to come out, all the accessories are off (except power steering, can't get the damn thing out! Need more tools..)

 

Still waiting for word on the bellhousing.

Engine hoist + stand are in the back of the Supra, let's see what I can do this weekend. Oh and I got a big mix bag of sweets for some motivation.

I might redo the exhaust on the supra this weekend though, one of my welds broke and now its noisy (I love it, sounds like a race car, but just asking for heat) so we'll see.

Fill up my cup, lets go!

 

Bellhousing should be here next week!

Pics or GTFO right?

Engine hoist (that cost $350) didn't come with a chain, so, I couldn't pull anything tonight. Blast!





Put new fogs on the Soupra.



I really like the light they put out, it illuminates the whole area under the front air dam white, then there's a yellow line, then there's the primary light which is purple-ish and green around the edges.

 

Good looking lights on the "Truno" I mean Supra