My kid just moved to S. Jordan, bought a 88 Forerunner and just blew the head gasket (?), don't know the area but realize its a hotbed for Toyota trucks. Can any one recommend a shop or person to buy an engine from and install it for @1500.00 in the Jordan area. Any help would be greatly appreciated. She just spent a bunch of money on the truck and then having other stuff worked on by random independents. Not sure if bottom end is still good or what real problem is, just thought that fresh engine install would cover all problems for a couple of years. Thank you
WTB 22re / install @ $1500, Jordan area ASAP
- Thread starter Ironworx
- Start date
You should list the symptoms/problems you're having and see what the brain trust here thinks...a shop is rolling the dice whether or not they're telling the truth. And for what its worth, an engine change will not take care of all the problems u might have with that thing...it is 22 years old you know.
1000 miles away
Daughter not able to diagnose, just trying to get truck back on its feet before they give up on it. Wanted motor swap to alleviate any future problems with truck. Dont want kid chasing top end, bottom end and timing chain problems if there is someone in the Jordan area who wants to swap out current unknown problem for known good motor. If there is someone in the Jordan area that can look at truck to diagnose and fix I would greatly appreciate it.
Daughter not able to diagnose, just trying to get truck back on its feet before they give up on it. Wanted motor swap to alleviate any future problems with truck. Dont want kid chasing top end, bottom end and timing chain problems if there is someone in the Jordan area who wants to swap out current unknown problem for known good motor. If there is someone in the Jordan area that can look at truck to diagnose and fix I would greatly appreciate it.
You're looking at limited options...the only way to truly diagnose that motor is to pull the timing cover and check that, because you need to check the timing chain anyway, and to do a compression test to see if the head gasket is bad. The compression test probably needs to be done first. This is assuming you have coolant in your oil. If its just overheating, it could be as simple as a thermostat. Bottom line, is that no one is going to be able to do a complete motor change for 1500, with a new or rebuilt motor. Further, you would be far better off fixing this one, because you would have had it gone through and would know its good. If you buy one off of someone,yo u don't know what you're getting. So, you can take it to a shop, have them fix it (which will probably be about 1500, without a motor swap, but it will be fixed), roll the dice on a mystery motor and have someone put it in (which will also be about 1500 most likely and it may have other hidden problems), or just cut your losses and sell the truck as is and get something else. I'm not trying to sound rude, but these trucks (or anything this old actually) are not really for people that can't work on their own stuff or have the money to pay a shop to fix it. Parts just wear out on these, and thats just the nature of a 20+ year old vehicle.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I agree with Will. I'd pay to have it rebuilt. If the vehicle has less than 300k, I'd go with a top-end rebuild (assuming that's your problem).
who has the best bang for the buck shop
Right now the truck is just sitting, want it fixed but being 1000 miles away and not knowing area puts us at a great disadvantage, we have owned Toyota trucks over the past couple of years and have done all the typical timing chain and head swaps but now need to know what shop can get it done without any nonsense or bait and switch tactics. Is there a reputable shop or person who routinely gets heads and chains swapped out for reasonable prices. Im a 50 year old ex race engineer in SCCA and American Le Mans and have had 20 plus chassis and engine builders for racing, some are good , some not. Dont want my kids first experience to ruin her confidence in owning an older vehicle. She is a past motocross champ who worked for 3 years as a filter, oil , tire changer and instructor for a motocross camp and is not afraid to get dirty and routinely works on the basics, just hasnt opened a yota motor. Im just trying to avoid an expensive catastrophe and am just looking for the name of a place where people get work done, on time with bulletproof results.
Right now the truck is just sitting, want it fixed but being 1000 miles away and not knowing area puts us at a great disadvantage, we have owned Toyota trucks over the past couple of years and have done all the typical timing chain and head swaps but now need to know what shop can get it done without any nonsense or bait and switch tactics. Is there a reputable shop or person who routinely gets heads and chains swapped out for reasonable prices. Im a 50 year old ex race engineer in SCCA and American Le Mans and have had 20 plus chassis and engine builders for racing, some are good , some not. Dont want my kids first experience to ruin her confidence in owning an older vehicle. She is a past motocross champ who worked for 3 years as a filter, oil , tire changer and instructor for a motocross camp and is not afraid to get dirty and routinely works on the basics, just hasnt opened a yota motor. Im just trying to avoid an expensive catastrophe and am just looking for the name of a place where people get work done, on time with bulletproof results.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
good luck. Let us know how it goes.
cheepin
Active Member
- Location
- Parachute Co.
Buy a used car.
krany
kranberry
- Location
- saratoga springs
There is a company out of slc called LKQ they specialize in rebuilt/gently used auto parts. I would give them a call and see what a price is and then pay a shop to swap the motors.