Tundra engine options

Picked up an 05 Tundra access cab SR5 yesterday for $500 on Craigslist! Owner says it threw a rod and since it has 300k on the clock doesn’t want to waste any money on it!
No brainer purchase for me. It’s in really good condition and since I bought it for so cheap I have plenty of room in the budget. Any ideas on what to swap in? I am currently looking for a used engine and admit I haven’t verified what is actually wrong with this one...but it’s snowing and 5 degrees out and I don’t feel like messing with it today. Thanks for the ideas!

 

4.7 I think

 

The 4.0 or the 4.7.
I'd put the 4.7 in hands down. The engine is still very relivent in the Tundra and Lexus market, it lasts forever, posts excellent numbers for its size, parts availability is high... Its a no brainer.. Excellent find.

 

More info: This has the 4.7 v8, auto trans and 4X4. I know I can just replace with a 4.7, just looking for other possibilities.

 

Many determining factors. What’s your budget? Goal? Burnout queen? If you want reliability, drop in a low miles or rebuilt 2uz. If you want easy power...LS. If you’re a little crazy, like me, drop in a 3ur!

 

I'd like to keep it around $5000. Daily driver with enough power and decent fuel economy is my goal. I honestly don't have anything to compare to except our 07 Sequoia. It's a fuel hog 4.7. Right now I'm leaning towards rebuilt with forged internals and a mild turbo set-up.

 

stock, the Tundra will get 1-3MPG better than the Sequoia.

 

If you replace the motor and keep everything else stock you should be able to get about 14 city, 18 hwy combined 16. To me that’s not bad at all considering how powerful the 05-06 tundras feel.

 

I've had curiosity about 4.7 out of a land cruiser instead. I have read but can't confirm that those are built in Japan. If they are the idea of them being higher quality may just be folklore, but it would be cool to find out.

 

except for this one ;-) LOL

 

Timing belt probably broke.

 

If forever means 300k miles

 

The only thing I’ve read about the 4.7’s made in Japan are that they have forged rods instead of cast.

 

Sounds better

 

We don't know the real history of abuse behind the original. Those of you that have the 4,7 have a remarkably well made and durable powerplant. People get their digs in but look for a 5.0 or lower that is as well built and sustainable. The chevy 305 is a pile of crap, the coyote 5.0 is solid but every electronic component will fail, Dodge Pentastar has marginal performance and is their answer for everything under 5.7L..

I think Toyota has a winner here. Several have surpassed 300k.

 

Yeah.. Good point. You have to Johnny on the spot with this engines belt. I'd sub a 4.6 but Op didn't mention it

 

That is probably your best bet if you want a little more power and the possibility of better MPG...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2014-Toyot...948802&hash=item48c3e57e21:g:mMcAAOSwK2Jchbq0

 

I would stay with a low mileage 4.7 v8. I have 375,000 miles on my 2000 tundra and drive it everyday. I have never done anything to the engine except reg. maintenance. Timing belts and water pumps.etc...

 

I don't think the new 4.6 is compatible with the existing 5-speed auto in the 2005. You would need both the engine and the transmission to do this (as well as ECU and any other fancy electronic gizmo-trons that would be required).

Dan

 

Yeah..that's a safe bet...and unlikely within the OPs budget anyhow..

 

So I decided to just go back with the 2uz. I found one with 120k miles for cheap and was able to see it run before it was pulled.
FYI the original engine did not throw a rod. Timing belt broke. I have no idea how many miles was on the belt as the last record for the vin was it was changed at 96,000.

I have also been reading a lot of posts on this and other forums that the 2uz is not an interference engine. From what I have just seen, I completely disagree. Change your timing belt at the recommended interval....
Here's some pics of the carnage for your viewing pleasure. Original owner claimed he was doing about 25 when the motor just quit. I'd say it quit...

 

By the way...the bottom end is fine on this engine. Even with over 300k the cross hatch on the cylinder walls still looks great. No scoring or damage from the valves. Pistons however...not too good with valves jammed into the top of them. Both heads have significant damage - not just broken and bent valves. Broken out valve guides and the right side has an obvious crack. Cams look good. It looks like the water pump had been leaking and that (and probably high miles) is what killed the belt. I didn't take any pics but there was a lot of antifreeze soaked belt shavings all throughout. That and the fact that there was a gallon of green el cheapo antifreeze in the bed and green in the overflow tank and the funky brown - green/pink mix in the radiator.

Planning on maybe redoing this bottom end at a later date with forged internals for a little force feeding...