nvchris Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Hi I bought a 97 Taco that I'm going to do a RnR with a salvaged engine from Japan.Motor is on the way and was looking for any tips or advice.Its got an AT and I was wondering what I could/should do with/to the torque converter.Thanks for any help!A few pic's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heybeerman Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Chris,Sorry I have nothing to add. I do not have any experiance with Tieotas. :-)You are asking about the torque converter. If the trans was is good working order I would leave it all together and just service it with new fluid and a filter.Blake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Thanks Blake,Thats what I was thinking, just a normal service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Well the swap is done. :wubu: The thing fired right up. So now I have a 97/99 with a fresh engine total cost, truck + parts + motor = $6400 still come out about $1000 less then 99% of the ones I looked at.And the others had an average of 250,000 miles on them.Link to the photos; http://s1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb439/detectoraid/Taco/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lve2fsh Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Does this mean we will see you at the gold basin outing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Old tacos never die---just their owners-coveth both my 86/04 forevermore-John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Actually John,There is a class action concerning the sludging of the 3.4 engine. They are dying daily. The 3.4 runs hot, this cooks dino oil creating sludge. All the research I've done recommends using a true synthetic oil, an oil cooler and a dual bypass filter system. Not to mention the frame rust recall where toyota is replacing the entire frame of Tacomas. Trucks are failing safety inspections and end up with a salvaged title in some states. Some good deals on used Taco's coming from the East coast!These frame problems are with the 96 to 2001 the sludge is a problem of 3.4's is in all years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garimpo Posted March 9, 2012 Share Posted March 9, 2012 Chris find a Ams/oil dealer and use their synthetic oil and filters.....good stuff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 9, 2012 Author Share Posted March 9, 2012 Don,Thats my oil . In fact the air filters by Amzoil are the same tech as whats used in the A1 Abrams Tank to protect their engines.Makes K&N filters look like a screed door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnno Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 G'Day ChrisVery nice job. I just hit the road, should be at your place tomorrow. I need some repairs on my 1994 Toy Xtra Cab 4x4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 11, 2012 Author Share Posted March 11, 2012 Bring it by Johnno, And a few slabs I'll replace parts till it works!One of the best tools I found is the OBDS reader. Even if you don't work on your cars its great for knowing what repairs are needed before taking it to the shop. It can save you hundreds of dollars.Cars are run by computers there is an electronic sensor for everything and then some. You would not believe how many connections there are on a modern wire harness. In fact that was the biggest challenge in swapping the motors, going from the 99 to a 97 harness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Thats why 86(bought new) and 04 no problems and run 1,000 miles at a shot in summer heat in kalif/nevada/utah/wyoming and never a single problem ever-pays to check things out and Consumers Reports are a great aid in the quest for the perfect mining truck-tons a au 2 u 2 -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnno Posted March 12, 2012 Share Posted March 12, 2012 Chris, thanks for the offer. I would love to bring it up to you. I respect my vehicle, I've constantly maintained everything. But when things went south with the economy, I had to cut back. So the regular oil maintenance, I kept up. But as for the rest, I was hoping it would last. I have a drivebelt that needs replacing, pulley and adjustment pulley. But when you go to that extent, you need to replace the water pump as well. I found all the parts on ebay, complete set.. belt, pulleys, gaskets, water pump for $550.I've also got a blown CV boot, left hand. I've been pumping it with grease. I also found you could buy a complete CV unit including boot. Take off the wheel, insert the CV unit, $80 for the whole unit. I could do it myself. I'd say the belt, pulleys, water pump might take a day. Don't know what the boot would take.darn, in the old days, I could strip a Holden FB down and rebuild it in a day. But this new sh#t is confusing. But I keep nursing it. Hopefully I'll get some spare bucks soon at least to buy the parts. Because I want to get OUT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 12, 2012 Author Share Posted March 12, 2012 Johnno,The water pump/timing belt kit that I put on was $260 from Amazon, OEM parts. $550 seem a bit steep.For a temp fix on the CV boot try some of the silicon tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnno Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 G'Day ChrisHey thanks for that. I'm going to look into it. I really need my truck fixed, not only is it my fun machine but it's my bread and butter.You've been a great help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver hillbille Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 Rock Auto and AUtoPArts daught COM can be a source for parts, price comparisons. SAved quite a few bucks now and again when the dealer wanted an arm and a leg. I would imagine there's a Toyota discussion board somewhere that's hooked up with a dealer or two- that gives discounted prices( for those times when dealer/OEM is the only source). I save at least 20% on parts for my Nissan that way, and that's shipped to my door price. THe SAn DIego county dealers are reeally proud of their parts, if you know what I mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver hillbille Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 CHris, do the transmission lines from your slush box run up to a tank at the bottom of the radiator? I know on Nissan's they can have issues when the tank clogs up- there's a small filter in there. I htink your truck is fresh enough that you shouldn't have issues there, but another drain/fill of ATF in 500 miles might not be a bad idea/cheap insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weaver hillbille Posted March 13, 2012 Share Posted March 13, 2012 I'm guessing the sludge issue with the old engine starved the cam bearings of oil causing heating and the fracture. They don't like to be rode hard and put away hot, I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnno Posted March 14, 2012 Share Posted March 14, 2012 Thanks for the head's up Weaver.CheersJohnno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 WH,Yes to the transmission cooler but no filter.Great thing about the internet is the choices and competition for your $. Dozens of Tacoma forums.I lean towards the sludge as a heat related/poor maintenance problem. If you've ever been around heavy equipment the rule is to idle for ten minutes before shut down to keep the oil from cooking on the turbo bearings. It's only affects a small % of the engines (and not just toyota).Yep the B2 cam is the longest oil passage so it is the most common area for a blockage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoser John Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Finally found refrence to sludge problem in 6 cylinder camrys in 2 unrelated years and problem fixed instantly for free on those older models. Never a problem for me or my dozens and dozens a buds pushing their toys down the road either. Drove'm since 72 and NEVER a single problem??? Trailer and city queens with oil not changed ,not being used, or other things would sludge in all makes of everything so go USE THAT TOY nd you'll be a much happier miner-John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 10 pages of results with a google search of toyota sludge. Just for a start.Dozens of youtube vid'sToyota has spent billions in the 2007 settlement and the problem is still ongoing with the current, 2012 engines."Drove'm since 72 and NEVER a single problem??? "I never had a heart attack….. so….. heart problems don't exist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimshot Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 I assume ya'll never had the steel bolts screwed into the aluminum block problem causing the the threads to erode leaving you with a blown head gasket and major problems.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nvchris Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Nope, never owed an all aluminum engine. Well aware of electrolysis though with any mixed metals. (Iron block aluminum heads)One of the key "preventive" steps is maintaining several good clean grounds from the engine to the frame, the frame acts as the anode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimshot Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 NV,Well some of the Camry's had em. I sold my 02 because I didn't want to take any chances. Wasn't sure if the tecomas had the same probs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.