5VZ-FE engine rebuild

Hey everyone,

I live in Minnesota, found a clean high mileage 2003 access cab 2wd tundra with the 3.4L 5VZ-FE from AZ with a bad motor (huge hole in the block). I bought the truck with an additional motor. There are tags on the motor showing that it came from an 97 Tacoma, it doesn't show the mileage on the motor but I have feeling the motor has a lot of miles on it (there is scribbling in yellow been that is hard to read but looks like 400,XXX). The motor looks like it was checked over before being pulled. The previous owner didn't have a lot of knowledge on where the motor came from (other than it came from a reliable source), all the coils are loose so I'm assuming/hoping they checked compression, all of the lines were capped and sealed off, the wire harness and hoses are complete (nothing was cut or hacked off) and the oil was drained before being stored. It was stored outside but was covered with a large rubber tarp. Being 2wd it doesn't have a lot of value in the upper midwest but for how clean it is it would be a nice daily driver.

I'm pretty mechanical and have access to a lot of tools. I've never rebuilt an engine but its been on my bucket list for a long time. Has anyone rebuilt one of these engines? What are things to look for/ be aware of? Know of any good resources to help with the project? The body itself has almost 400,000 miles but you'd never know it without looking at the odometer.

I also have 2003 access cab 4wd tundra with the 4.7 that is the same color but starting to show signs of rust. My original plan was to swap the tailgate, doors and bed to bring it back to "new" but now I'm not sure that I want to wreck a vehicle in such good shape.

Any help, direction or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you all

 

the 3.4 is pretty simple to rebuild, if your going to rebuild it have the heads checked for cracks (between the valves).. thats really the only major issue ive ran into with them.. and even then its rare. Toyota sells a whole gasket kit with every seal you would need for 300-400 bones. i would go that route and not cheap out on the gaskets (sucks pulling a engine apart again because a cheap headgasket let go.


Basic rebuild really. make sure the heads a straight, the blocks straight, all your bearings are in spec, ETC.