What is my 4Runner worth with a blown engine? '97 4wd ~210,000 mi

Hello all,

I was recently told that the engine on my 97 SR5 4x4 needs to be replaced. It's going to cost a lot ($4-5,000) to replace and I'm thinking of selling the truck as-is. What do you think it's worth. It has almost brand new BFG All-terrains and is in decent shape otherwise.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Dave

 

Pics and more details please

 

Well, without seeing any pics. I’m gonna say $600.00 oh, and welcome to the forum.

 

Hey Jay,

The truck is still at the mechanic's shop so I can't post pics but will asap. Basically, I think it had a head gasket leak. Whatever caused the issue, the mechanic said that one of the cylinders had so much water in it that the spark plug had rust on it. It's been running very rough, missing from time to time (sometimes missing and sometimes not) and burning coolant for months. I haven't really driven it since July 2019 because of the coolant leak/rough running and have been saving money to have the repairs done. I've driving it once a week to the grocery store since July but essentially it's sat in my garage for months.

The mechanic is doing a bumper to bumper check up of the truck to see if there are any other issues so that I can make an informed decision about how to proceed. But, if a new engine is going to cost $4,000 I'm considering selling it as-is and finding another 4Runner.

I have no idea what a 4Runner in this condition (needing an engine rebuild/replacement) would be worth. I'll post pics as soon as I can and more details when I get them from the mechanic tomorrow.

 

SlverSlug, thanks for the estimate and for the welcome! And, thanks for your service to our country!

Dave

 

It’s always worth more running than not running, so I’d personally fix it and then assess whether to sell it or not. I wouldn’t pay $4-5K to fix it though. No way. If it was something I couldn’t fix or my friends couldn’t fix, I’d find a country repair shop, or a wrecking yard to swap in a used engine. Life is an adventure and this will be one of them. Good luck.

 

Is this a spare truck or is/was your daily driver? New cars have fewer hassles, but you can't get many good cars for less than $5,000.

 

Hi Micah, this is essentially my daily drive ... it's my only car. I am lucky enough to be able to walk to work so the truck is only driven on weekends or as needed.

 

Ok, I'm not saying you should rebuild necessarily, because that's a lot of money, but you already know what kind of shape it's in, and it may be better than buying used, and it's far cheaper than buying new. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Ooof. That badly needed head gasket job looks cheap in hindsight!

The value on a vehicle this old depends on the location. North of Virginia, I would give you exactly zero for it.

A southern car, Cali car...maybe as much as $1k since it is a 4x4. Maaayybe $1500 if it was really nice except for the motor. That car is going to require a ton of wrenching and I don't do rust anymore.

My $.02.

 

Blue book it like it is running then subtract the repair costs.

Then subtract a little more because you will get low balled since it is not running.

So probably nothing honestly. Maybe couple hundred since you got a chassis I'm assuming is in decent shape.

 

Minimal rust with the interior in relatively good shape. Everything, electronics/4x4/transmission and so on all working and intact except the motor, with that many miles on the chassis...

Id personally do $500 MAX and make it a project vehicle. Im sure the right person MAY give up to 1500, but these days you can find old running trucks for 1500 and people often scrap vehicles with blown motors for only 2-300 bucks.

 

It’s not too hard to swap an engine into a car if you can find a decent one at a fair price, and have a clean dry place to work. Some of us on here actually think doing stuff like that is fun. Haha.

 

I dont know if you want to put money into it or not but here is my advice. It doesnt cost $4-5,000 to replace the engine. I got a JDM engine for $1,350. it cost about $1,100 to put in with new timing belt, water pump, tensioner, and valve cover gaskets replaced which is recommended. for that you have a vehicle that you can drive forever. $2,500 for a very reliable and good looking truck. I'm happy I did it. it drives like new. Good Luck

 

Where the heck can you get an engine swapped for $1100?

I walked into a very good independent shop a ways outside of the city and they said AT LEAST $3k. Was going to be closer to $4K. And this was for a car 100 times easier to yank an engine on than a 4runner (think Fox Bodied Mustang).

 

Thanks for the response. Not sure where you live but here in Atlanta, there are many JDM shops (reputable). I guess because they are in competition, the price is pretty even across the board. The highest I was quoted was $1,350 for install with the water pump, timing belt etc. I didnt even buy my engine from them which was $1,300

 

Charlotte, NC.

It's not out of the realm for me to go down to Atlanta for a savings like that.

 

Just food for thought here, but you can spend $5k getting the motor installed and have a brand new motor thatll last another 220k miles or spend just about the same on getting another 4runner with an older motor. I just went through that myself and decided to just have the new motor put in and I basically have a new rig for the same cost. I dont regret it at all.

 

Great way of looking at it, 4X4Addict. If the rest is good, and you know its condition, it's better than starting over with an unknown, IMHO.

 

I was looking at replacing my '02 4Runner 4x4 with 250k miles with a new Taco or 4Runner...but I don't have $35k to blow on a new car. But I did have $3500 so I bought all new tires, hoses, t-belt kit, ball joints, TOYOTA shocks, struts, throttle body and more and replaced them. Transmission pan had no debris in it, engine doesn't seem to burn oil.

With just normal use maybe I'll get 10 years more? That's a hell of a deal. Everything works on her still. Can't say that I would junk her for needing a $5k engine swap either. although I would have to think long and hard on it.

 

New to site, not new to the four runner. Had ours from the show room floor in 97. A SHORT look at JDM shows they are used 45-65k motors shipped from japan. The price is pretty sweet, are they warehoused near the tsunami reactor?

Ours is burning a little oil so this thread peaked my interest.

 

I think 4Runners are worth whatever people are willing to pay for them. My recently acquired '99 Limited has seen better days--small body dents, torn drivers seat, carpet stains, seeping valve cover gasket, non locker, but it runs and drives well. I picked it up for $2500. Others in similar or worse condition that are either 2nd Gen or early 3rd gen are going for $2500-5000. Also, if you're in a state where Toyota trucks are more desirable-- like the Rocky Mountain states, then they will command the higher price points.