To buy or not to buy?

Not my first Tundra, but have wanted a second gen for awhile. Came across 08 w/ 5.7 4x4 140k miles with a (supposedly) blown engine / head gasket. He stated it makes a terrible noise when running after it overheated, and now It won't crank (starter solenoid just clicks even with jump pack). With no body rust and very little uncarriage rust it looked interesting, and I was able to get him down to $3250. Think it's worth a purchase? Seems I can get a engine locally with around the same miles for $3800, figured even if it did need one it would be worth it.

Carfax checked out as well, no accidents / second owner with legit miles.

Thanks in advance

 

If you have the skills and don't mind turning wrenches I would buy it. If nothing else you could part it out and make money off of it. Being a 4x4 the transmission has value, the rear axle, and of course the body panels.

 

I'd go for it. You can choose which one you want to keep! Maybe make some money too.

Ever done a task like this before?

 

I have with much smaller, easier to work on cars (Think Miatas and 4cyl ford ranger) but never a V8 full-sized truck other than head gaskets on a 97 F150 (Was a PITA).

I ended up purchasing it and the engine is completely toast, metal shavings and bent valves inside the cylinders. I found an engine for it, but it's out of a 2018.. anybody know if its interchangeable? Everything I can find says 2017 is the last year that will work but the engine code is the same?

 

I can't answer directly but what I do is the 'where used' for assembleis, sub-assemblies, and components. I would start with parts of the VVT-i and follow up with sensors and injectors and a that keeping in mind that anything around the intake can be swapped so if the VVT-i is controlled the same, all the other stuff can be swapped.

GL finding a good donor. How's the rest of the truck look?

 

Rest of the truck is in great shape - other than one soft spot in the bed which is odd because the underside is in great shape. No crappy plastic liner, it had LineX installed when new. Found a 2012 engine with 70k miles for 3800, so will be swapping that in. Debating on letting a shop handle the swap, I got a quote for $1500 and is tempting for how much of a pain it looks like.

 

$1500 sounds like a good deal

under 9k all in sounds like a great deal if nothing else is really wrong with it!

All that savings from not buying new or from used dealer inventory can go into adding blower
to it

 

One can hope nothing else is wrong...

Any pointers on what I should inspect / replace on this used engine before installing it? Currently going to do the thermostat, radiator, water pump, valve cover gasket, plugs, front / rear main seal, and intake manifold gasket. Inspect the timing chain, maybe go ahead and replace tensioners and plastic guides. All of these items I will be doing myself to save money on the swap.

 

JM2C - if it's not leaking at front or rear mains, I'd leave that and the chains alone unless someone pressure washed it which can hose a critical seal if blasted directly.

I'd do valve cover seals but only because of the plug tubes and the water pump. These things are pretty solid if OCI 's are done so IMO a lot of that could be spent elsewhere. Obviously it gets new plugs and by then you'll have a clue of how it was maintained.

New battery, fluids - brake flush, front/rear diff, t'case and inspect brakes.

To your point, a new radiator as who knows why the last engine had melt down...