Recommend a trustworthy source for engine?

I'm in need of a good used 3.4 motor. Not sure if the Tundra ones are the same as the 4runner ones, but figured if any of you guys had a good experience with a place then I'd rather try doing business with reputable place than rolling the dice on unknown sources.

This is actually to replace the motor in a 97 4runner, but again, maybe the Tundra ones are the same and even if not, if you got a place you trust then perhaps they'll have the motor I need(96-98 runner 3.4).

Junkyards can be had as cheap as $1,000 but it's a crapshoot with nothing known. No compression test, no leakdown, nothing. On the other end, Jasper and Yota1 are too expensive at $5,500-$6,000. The JDMs are mid priced around $3000 but too many unknowns about changing things to make it work. I just want a US model that will fit right in like the old one and think a fair price to expect would be around $2,000.

Thanks for any advice. I've never shopped for an engine before and don't want to get ripped off.

 

If we aren’t buying a new motor from the dealer for a customer the only other good options for us are Jasper for a remanned motor (3 yr 100k warranty) or buying a used motor from LKQ

and the average for remanned will be about 5-7k so those are right, you will not be finding a remanned for 2k unless it was someone’s backyard pull and they did it themselves

best budget but worst time frame is giving it to a machine shop and have them redo it, but that’s only cost effective if you pull the unit yourself otherwise you’re spending 1-2k on labor for pulling plus whatever in gaskets (and the cost from the machine shop)

also this is all coming from a mechanic who has done this the last 4 years, price will vary on location but this is it for where I am

 

Maybe find an old rusted out 4Runner with decent miles and maintenance history for cheap, and use the motor, scrap the shell.

 

Adding to this, the reality is, if it's the same model engine (5VZ-FE for the 2000-2004 Tundra), it should be identical at the core. But you'd want to swap all the things (sensors, throttle body, etc.) over from the factory engine onto the donor engine so you don't have any wiring gremlins. The sad reality is, the internals of the engine won't have changed, but Toyota did do silly shit like swapping wire pin positions on harnesses across the years, sometimes updating sensors, etc. I'd be moving over everything (if it were me).

 

Just looked at used 1997 4runnerprices. Forget the engine swap, just buy another one.


https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ear=1997&state=IL&zip=60601&clickType=listing

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for...ear=1997&state=IL&zip=60601&clickType=listing

 

2wd 4runners tend to be pretty cheap everywhere. As long as there's nothing different with the engine, get one of those and pull the 3.4 out.

 

Engine swap 3.4l | Toyota Tundra Forum

 

Yes, I'm doing it all myself.
I take it you're happy with what you get from Jasper? I got a buddy who has an account and gets a discount so if his quote is low enough, that may be the way I go.
Thanks everyone.

 

yes jasper's stuff is pretty good; price generally isnt too terrible either; we put them in a lot of customers cars