Questions about what to do with my car

[EvoFire]

Some of you probably have already seen my thread, my car blew a gasket(is that even the correct term?) yesterday when I was going to school. As many of you know, changing the head gasket is a big thing and I don't even know if anything else is broken.

Right now I see three options in this.

1) Fix it. Mechanic quoted me a bit over 2k CAD. Seems a bit much, but probably have to repair other parts of the engine too. I guess being a V6 doesn't help here.

2) Swap it. Find a local 3VZ from some where and swap it in, let it be junk yard or something. Asked my mechanic about it, most likely will cost around the same as fixing it. Good side is I don't have to worry if I broke anything else with the head gasket, bad side is I don't know the history of the engine and pulls another one on me.
Side note,
I can get a JDM 3VZ, 200hp sounds good but I'll have issues with the EGR regarding emissions and the CEL. I'm personally not too sure about emissions in my province and whether if it will pass. Other fitment issues come into mind such as tranny and wiring. Anyone with any info please tell me.

3) Junk it. I don't think I will get much out of junking it, 5-700 at most? And considering I just got new shocks a year ago, I don't like going this route. Neither does my mom, but sinking 2k into a car that's worth 5k doesn't sound right either.

Please anyone any input would be nice. Please note that I'm in Canada and everything is generall MORE expensive here, like HELL WAY MORE expensive compared to US even though our dollar is higher then yours now. THANKS!!!

[Venom_5]

dont think of it as sinking 2k into a car worth 5k ...

if you swap in an engine, swap in a NEW engine with LOW mileage ... so its really like getting a new car for 2k, assuming it has no major flaws anywhere else ....

personally, i would put some other engine in there ... because this is your only chance to get some true performance ... but if thats not an option, weigh the pros/cons between the 1MZ and 3VZ

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by Venom_5

dont think of it as sinking 2k into a car worth 5k ...

if you swap in an engine, swap in a NEW engine with LOW mileage ... so its really like getting a new car for 2k, assuming it has no major flaws anywhere else ....

personally, i would put some other engine in there ... because this is your only chance to get some true performance ... but if thats not an option, weigh the pros/cons between the 1MZ and 3VZ

Most likely not the 1MZ cause converting to OBDII is gonna cost too much. I thought about the 3SGTE but 1) the engine costs a lot, 2) too much custom work, 3) tuning, 4) I like the fat torque curve of the V6, 5) I like my automatic.

Yeah I'm not gonna consider getting a manual.

[Venom_5]

they didnt make OBD-I 1MZ's in 94? that sucks

[94CoupeV6]

Nope they are all OBDII

[ONE_to_HATE]

well.. 2k for a car that'll work for you for the next 5-6 years isn't a bad thing if you're planning to have a career within that time frame. Which then you can grab the car that you like. And lemme tell ya- making car payments is a bitch.

[Eye8Pussies]

well...long story short, find somebody around your area that specializes in engine swaps

a direct swap can be done in one day on a driveway.

for that kind of quote, and I was in Vacnouver, I'd have you guy the engine (less than $500) and then drop it in for you for 500bucks and you can save a grand

[rayprog]

I did faced similar problem recently with my 92 V6 Camry. It was nothing special. Just got over 500,000 km on it and virtually everything starts failing. It might be still OK to drive around a town but with my addiction to long trips to some places where cell phone does not work it became a kind of risky. I've estimated overall costs of repairs and maintenance I have to do just to keep it up with known problems and ended up with a budget for a minimum 6k for the next year (up to 10k if job done in Toyota dealership).
So for me it was obvious solution to get another car. First of all I did test Camry 2007 on 300 km test drive hw&city- get upset - very very upset. Then switched my mind to used HL. New technologies coming fast and I'm exerting that in/after 2012 I'll be able to get something really fuel efficient on the market with enough power to drive coast to coast.

[OMNI]

just change them, I did head gaskets on a 3vz over a weekend. get a good repair manual or bgb.

[EvoFire]

ONE_to_HATE: That's true about fixing it and having a car that will work another 5-6 yrs. We've just about done everything on the car short of repainting the damn thing.

Eye8Pussies: Why can't you live in Vancouver? T_T

Rayprog: New car, or even a used car isn't really viable right now. If I junk the car, we won't be buying a new car because budget is tight. After I sell my rims and stuff and gather everything together, I have a little under 1k. Not even enough to pay for down payment on a new car, and not quite anywhere to get a quality used car that can compare to the Camry. Not enough to fix the car either.

OMNI: I have no idea how to do, nor do I have access to tools to do it. I know you have to pull most of the engine apart to get to the head gasket, but do you need to pull the engine out?

[Maim Menu]

No you don't have to pull it all out, but you have to take out enough shit around it so you can access the head bolts and take them out. If I had to change mine I would leave myself a whole weekend and take a day off the following monday so if something goes awry, help is available quick.

Head gasket = part cost < labor

[camry man68]

Im rebuilding my engine for a turbo and i had to replace the head gaskets. So i got a fel-pro head gasket for $120 and it took me from morning till late night to replace.

Although, i think in your case you should find a low-miled 1mz because then your car would pretty much be like a new car.

[EvoFire]

Main Menu: That I know. I know the gaskets aren't that expensive, most of the cost will be from taking the stuff apart. If I can I would definitely do it myself but I don't have the resources and skills to do it.

camry man68: I don't know how to do it, that's the problem. I can talk about it, and I know the general stuff, but I have no hands on experience on cars and I don't know how to do it.

[Rdizzle]

just get a crate engine man, you can find em for like 800 bucks

[94CoupeV6]

BBC engine