02 3.4 petrol advice plz..

[Ran Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ran]

Hi ! I have bought a 02 3.4ltr petrol and gas prado, auto, with a cracked head and broken spark plug in it. Was sitting in the garage for about 6months.

Its done 305k kms so far. I have 8k to spend on it including labour. What are the

options for me. I would like to go bush and every where it can take.

shall I repair the head and run it ?

Put a new engine ? with or with out lpg or can I put a diesel engine in it. If so Please specify.

Finally a good mechanic around Perth who can do all the Rig up.

Thanks to all its a good blog site and very helpful.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

It depends on the extent of the damage to the engine. If there is half of a spark plug loose in the cylinder the engine block could be damaged beyond repair and you should look at a 2nd hand engine or long block replacement. If only the head is damaged, then replacing the head is the way to go.

Ditching the lpg setup might be worth considering. There might be some resale value in the lpg parts to pay for a 2nd hand 90l main tank to give you both petrol tanks back. I don't think a diesel conversion or any other type of engine swap is really worth the trouble unless you want to pay big money (10-20k) for it to be done properly by a workshop specialising in engine conversions.

[MDST Member Find all posts View Profile Close MDST]

Here is another good option if you still can keep that engine:

http://www.lceperformance.com/Master...-p/1010016.htm

Good luck!! Cheers

[Ran Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ran]

Thank you so much for the reply's by WILLIADE ; MDST ; ##########...

Well if i go this way using Two re-conditioned heads being it a V6 and re-tapping for spark plug, removing lpg system, clean out all filters, clean out petrol tank smelling foul, flush radiator, timing belt as its already done 305 and don't know when was it changed last time + labour = $8000 After all this I think the heads are pretty new and rest of the engine is old, so will it take heat and pressure.

What if I source a runner or second hand 3.4 petrol motor and change the whole engine plus all additional things above looking at close to $10k which would be better.

while we are here which engine is better a Japanese import or a second hand engine with around about 150k on clock ?

I just don't know which way to go ? Please help.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Mate if its going to cost you 8g alone just to get motor going firstly I would look at getting a low klm from a wreckers. Personally I wouldnt buy an import motor, for sure as shit there will be some thing different that wil stuff you up. There is no way I would spend 8g on some thing that is worth what 12/15g running ?? Either that or I would put the 8g towards another one, might cost you another 4g to pick one up running, low klms, in better nick. Dont forget its not just the engine thats done 300k its the gearbox,diffs, everything. While they are a really good reliable vehicle/engine your going to spend 8g just to get the engine running, then stuff around replacing fuel tanks. This is just my opinion but personally I would scrap it get what you can, add that to your 8g your going to spend will probably give you ten then if you possibly can get another 2 that gives you 12 you would be getting close to picking one up. ok might not be an 02 but still a series 2 or very late series one, yes will more then likely have over 200k (or around that) on it but I would prefer that be worrying what else is going to go bang on the one you have. If well serviced these motors will do 400k + so extremely reliable, just the thought of it laying around for 6 months and you spending 8g on it !!! At the end of the day its your vehicle and what ever suits you will be what you do. It just sounds to me this thing is going to continue to give you problems once you have spent big $$ on it and dont want to see you put out your hard earned $$ and not be happy
http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...NAV=A&__N=1216 1282 4294962861 4294962685&distance=25&find=gxl|CarAll

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...NAV=A&__N=1216 1282 4294962861 4294962685&distance=25&find=gxl|CarAll

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...NAV=A&__N=1216 1282 4294962861 4294962685&distance=25&find=gxl|CarAll

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...NAV=A&__N=1216 1282 4294962861 4294962685&distance=25&find=gxl|CarAll

http://www.carsales.com.au/private/d...NAV=A&__N=1216 1282 4294962861 4294962685&distance=25&find=gxl|CarAll

You see what i mean, even the last one is a beauty decked out ready to go. Dont forget you say its been laying around for 6 monthes not moved ?? Probably find the wheel bearings will need replacing, aircon compressor probably will shit itself, oil seal starting to leak from drying out, an for sure as shit the tyres I reckon will have massive flat spots, the list goes on. Again this is just my opinion but I f I was in your position I WOULD NOT spend 8g on it. Not sure why its going 5o cost you that much ?? But you have obviously done your sums. Cheers Steve

[Ran Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Ran]

Thanks you STEVE M its a good option too. Thank you once again for pointing me at other 4b4 on sale.

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Toyota-Pr...item45ffe35cf4 there are others with lower klms but alot cheaper option the rebuilding the one you have, As said I have personally seen these motors do over 400k without any major engine issues (if well serviced, oil changes) This would personaly be a cheaper way to go if you want to keep the vehicle you have...Cheers Steve

[james_hbay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close james_hbay]

hey guys, my first post here, wanted to try n make it a usefull one,
coming from the import/drift world with mostly turbo charged cars, most of the time when something is broken well beyond repair or not worth the money to repair, the same motor is purchased from an import wrecker and slipped in over a weekend with some beers and mates, not sure why it appears so hard in the 4x4 world to do this?, not trying to be rude or anything maybe theres something i have missed in this thread?

cheers
james

[Steve M Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Steve M]

Not hard James to replace an engine (done few over the years), but sourcing the correct one can some times be tricky. Alot of over seas engines run different pollution control components then us. Then you may buy the same engine from say a hilux V6 and want to put it into your prado that runs the same engine BUT when you really check out the hilux engine, its tuned different for what ever reason to say the prado. Eg the surf motor 1KZ is different to the one that was sold here in our prados, only niggly things but enough to piss you off. While I like the surfs (generally loaded with more then what we get in our prados back in there days) but have issues with over heating due to running smaller radiators (not an issue with engine I know) but there thermstat is different. Then say the earlier nissan patrols while ours run 12V the overseas imports run 24V. Now wile this may be a simple fix to some can be a total nightmare for others that have no idea (I would be one of them lol) and both motors are 4.2 Diesel enigines.....Cheers Steve

[james_hbay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close james_hbay]

cool man, cheers for the quick reply, the prado is my first 4x4 after owning a turbo starlet gt (grey import) skyline, supra, another starlet, silvia, and a 180 all turbo, didnt think there was much of a difference in an engine swap, just getting the correct engine thats the same as yours which is the trick, and not all wreckers that arent exactly toyota scecific know their shit if you know what i mean, and for someone whos never done an engine conversion before it can be scary ground to cover indeed. shit i reckon even for me it would be scary looking at all the variants in our vehicles :S

[james_hbay Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close james_hbay]

double post