I just bought an 89 3.0L V-6(boat anchor) 4x4 standard cab auto for $300 bucks. heres a picture or two:
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii318/snailspeedcarclub/yotafront.jpg

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii318/snailspeedcarclub/yotaback.jpg

locking front hubs
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii318/snailspeedcarclub/yotawheel.jpg







All in all its an ok deal, the bed needs a lot of patching, same with the floorpans, and there is an oil leak from the upper timing cover and/or passenger side cam seal. I ordered the timing cover/gasket set with cam seals for $20 bucks locally so its not a huge deal as long as that fixes the leak.

I wondered since I don't notice a lot of people with the same motor on here, did I get the worst of the 2(4cyl and 6)? A friend of mine is a Toyota tech and he told me the headgaskets go easily in the 3.0L. any other things I should watch for or check over?

Also, since its an auto which I normally hate, is there a noticeable advantage or disadvantage while wheeling because you don't have to ride the clutch. I would think it would be easy to wear out a clutch in a wheeler.

I'm interested in learning more about properly set-up rig's and I'm in awe by some of the shit I saw in build-up thread's in this toyota forum. Should be cool to talk with some people that know what they're doing.

-Ian

From what I know, the 2.4l is the better, longer running engine. Both engines put out about the same hp. -about 116hp... Looks like a sweet find! Hell, for $300, I'd just get the engine running good and "mash that loud pedal" til it won't go no more! As far as how it will hold up for you wheeling, it all depends on what kind of wheeling you do. Mud, rocks, trail.... Aslo, your style of driving too. The more info you can give to thePBB, the more info you get out. The people here know their sh1t! (they will chime in, don't worry...)As far as the head gaskets blowing on the 3.0's, just stay buddies with that toyota tech!:D I once bought a 89 3.0 with a leaking head gasket(didn't know it at the time) and still drove it around for 3 months. (I was young and dumb)... If the 3.0 won't cut it, you could always swap engines for a small block!:evil: Good luck with you winter project.

Yeah I haven't heard much about the 3.0 ever before I never really messed with Toyota's enough to know the engines so its gonna be interesting to see how it goes.

I plan on doing some mud, some trails, nothing too extreme for now I haven't done a ton of off road driving before I'm no vet by any means so..

I just want to set this truck up so I can daily drive it if I have to or take it out and have fun on the weekends camping and wheeling a little too.

Yeah, if the head gaskets haven't already been replaced I can almost guarantee that they're going to blow sometime! Mine have.... twice, but the first time was before I owned it, and there was ten years in between when they blew the first time and when they blew after I bought it. So, hopefully it won't happen again. Other than that I think they're pretty solid motors. Other than the head gaskets mine has never even hiccuped, and runs as smooth as can be. A lot of guys on here whine about how much they hate the 3.0 because they're underpowered and they drink gas. Sure who wouldn't like a little more power, but I'm happy with what I got. You're going to get tired of the IFS, so keep your eye out for a solid axle to put under that thing! Good luck building and take lots of pictures for your build up thread.

Thanks for the info on your expierience's. I'll try to get as many pictures up as I can before and after I do anything. I do plan on doing a solid axle swap probably around spring time when I can drive one of my other vehicle's and work on the yota more.

I am glad I found this truck though, its not such a bad deal. The tires are almost new, the frame isn't rotten, it runs and drive's which is allways a plus, and the oil leak hopefully should be a cheap fix because the cam seal's were only $20.

I put it in 4 high at a stop sign today and when I stopped to put it back into 2 wheel there was a pretty loud thump and clank so I'm hoping the drivetrain is fine. I'm gonna drain all the fluids out and replace em with some new juice maybe a little lucus in there too.

well I started on the bodywork and got some pictures for everyone. I'll post em when I get back from work.

My 3.0 is fine with 197000 on the odo. Plenty of power with 5.29s and 36" Iroks.

most people dont like the 3.0 becasue it only puts out 150hp, isnt as reliable as the 22r, doesnt get a good power to gas milage ratio, and the head gasket problem. which are all excellent conserns, becasue the tacoma 2.7 puts out just as much power in a lighter better mpg and more reliable package. but it doesnt mean that a 3.0 is a total pos. if you do end up replacing it though, i wouldnt recomend another 3.0 when other options like a 22r or any tacoma motor is availible. the upside though is you have a v6 3rd member. its stronger than the 4cyl
i say make all your nessesary repairs and wheel it as is. replace what breaks with the next step up when it does

most people dont like the 3.0 becasue it only puts out 150hp, isnt as reliable as the 22r, doesnt get a good power to gas milage ratio, and the head gasket problem. which are all excellent conserns, becasue the tacoma 2.7 puts out just as much power in a lighter better mpg and more reliable package. but it doesnt mean that a 3.0 is a total pos. if you do end up replacing it though, i wouldnt recomend another 3.0 when other options like a 22r or any tacoma motor is availible. the upside though is you have a v6 3rd member. its stronger than the 4cyl
i say make all your nessesary repairs and wheel it as is. replace what breaks with the next step up when it does

X50!!! Remember the old saying if it ain't broke don't mess with it??

Thanks for the replies. I had planned to keep the motor in it until it really dies, which I dunno when that'll be. I'd like to do a tacoma swap my dad had a TRD SR5 it was pretty fun to drive.

I know for sure that the truck has like 296k on it and a lot of things show that wear and tear. But the engine was rebuilt I forgot to mention that earlier, allthough the guy I bought it from said the guy who did the rebuild used the old seals. Which is why it leaks now and is also the dumbest thing I have ever heard of, and why it was for sale.

I'm gonna do the cam seals, front main seal, timing belt, drive belts, and give it a tune up and set the idle back to normal it's set pretty high right now. I have it in the garage now I just gotta start busting ass on it so I can start to drive it without the leak worry.

I'm allways stuck doing motor work when its cold as balls outside this is two years in a row for me. Last year I did the headgasket in my hardbody over winter it wasn't fun. Plus I have a civic to drive in the meantime, which is not quite a yota in the snow. Anyhow heres a few pics of recent times:


patched bed rot
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1713251_9432.jpg

unpatched(expanding foam is there to make that corner less flimsy I basically filled up inside the bed panel to give it support. If that makes sense)
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1713252_6457.jpg

floor
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1713255_9614.jpg

best idea yet, I bought every can they had at Lowe's.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1713260_5486.jpg

looks pretty decent in person no runs, it scratches off i noticed i swiped a pine tree in my yard oh well i have 5 cans left haha
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1713250_9021.jpg

I'm gonna start tearing the front cover off today to replace the leaky seal and everything else I need to. I'll get some pictures for everyone.

started with the tear down

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v647/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1828337_136.jpg

Nice 300 dollar fine. Was it ever involved in a front end collision just cause it has a different grill on it. That looks like a great truck just dont let it over heat from something stupid like a messed up radiator cap or thermostat. Then the head gasket will be Fawked. Most of the head gaskets were replaced by the dealer. A letter was sent out the owner they just need to take it in. The only thing that sucks about them is the Chain driven case. Weld the rear Diff and the thing will go anywhere
Great find

everything is like this on the left side of the motor, completly soaked in oil from the cam seal leak. I have a lot of degreaser to buy and a few seals to replace. In about 50 miles I went threw a case of 10w40 so you can only imagine.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v647/67/112/774057783/n774057783_1828342_6389.jpg

now that i have it torn apart I'm gonna replace the timing belt setup, water pump, thermostat, drive belts, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, and anything else I notice.

I plan on driving this truck all winter daily, because my civic is getting a motor swap, turbo, full suspension, lots of detail work that I don't want to type out and then some.

So I gotta rely on the 3.0 motor for at least the winter and when it dies I want to do a Tacoma motor swap or a 305 but its gotta last for some time.

I have no idea if it was in a front end collision, what year grille is on it? All I know is the previous owner had a lot of claims about the truck that were just misuse like he said the tranny didn't shift itself but it was low on fluid and there was no air filter in it when I got it so you can see why it was so cheap. But either way a good deal he didn't realize what he had sitting there it's a good truck and has a lot of potential.