would it be worth it to swap an engine from a sequoia to a similar year tundra?

Hello everyone. I'm new to the community. So I don't currently have a tundra, I have a salvaged sequoia i got from my sister. she smacked a deer and tore off the bumper cover and busted up the radiator. I replaced the radiator and got it running, it needed a new fan and battery. I put new fluids in and it started on the first try. It runs and drives great. Transmission is solid. I've recently been wondering if it wouldn't be easier to pick up a tundra with a blown or bad engine for cheap and just swap them? that way I don't have to deal with a salvaged title and all of that bs.

 

If the sequoia runs and drives great, what does it matter that you have a salvaged title? And if you get a tundra that needs its motor replaced it will likely be a salvaged title too, no? Why not just keep the great running and driving great sequoia?

 

the sequoia does run and drive. it is not currently registerable, or road worthy at all really. I also don't have a title for it, just a bill of sale.

 

What happened with it is my sister hit a deer, they took it in to get it looked at. when the insurance company got the bill they decided to total it instead, my brother in law bought it back thinking he'd fix it up and it ended up sitting in a field for six plus years. He doesn't remember everything the shop said it needed un fortunately. he also never got a title for it.

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!
I would think it would take less effort to get a salvage title than to find a Tundra and swap out the engine.

 

6+ years in a field and started right up…she’s a keeper?

 

that's what I thought. when I check the vin it said something about the airbag system. would that be expensive if it needed worked on?

 

This is what it says when I check it on an insurance site.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Yep

 

If airbags didn't deploy in the crash then it's probably fine. If they did deploy, will need to be replaced. Or don't, up to you, but airbags are important. Personally I'd keep the Sequoia the way it is, salvage title inbound. You got a great vehicle there.

 

My vote is also to keep the sequoia whole. Welcome to the site!

 

Keep the sequoia. Fix it, salvage title, move on. My 89 4Runner is a salvage title that sat for 18yrs before I got it running and it’s still trucking.

 

Thanks everyone! As far as I'm aware they didn't deploy. I think the biggest impediment I'm having is the rear hatch is stuck shut and I can't get it open. I need to so that I can change the rear blinker bulbs. The bumper shouldn't be bad. I've never done body work so I don't know. Only thing that sucks is all of the tires are bad and need replaced. That will be pricey.