Figured some of you guys might like this one..

Guy had a 99 4runner limited 4wd on craigslist for $4000 the other day--I offered him $2600. He said he couldn't take 2600, but could take $2650, lol. Tough negotiator and all - SOLD.

The shop he had taken it to told him the rod or main bearings were gone as it was making a rattling noise in the bottom end. I figured I'd slap a used motor in it or maybe build the existing one, depending on how bad it looked when I got it out

Here's the truck when I bought it:

Not a bad looking truck



So, I start pulling the motor out..




And behold.. there's your problem! lol





flexplate was cracked right down the middle. quite a few cases of this when these things get over 150K miles on them. i can't believe I was able to get the torque converter bolts out without this thing breaking (and how the HECK did this thing start like this?!?). It fell apart when I went to unscrew the center bolts with a torque wrench.

So, I ordered a new flexplate, rear main seal, torque converter, timing belt and waterpump and put it all back together.. Started it and it ran like crap. Was missing / hesitating real bad, etc. It would almost die when you hit the gas. So, I put new plugs/wires in




Ran good as new afterwards..

Cleaned it up this weekend. Cleaned up pretty good considering the age and 205K miles:




So, for less than $3,600, I can't complain (although I sure was complaining when I was pulling that motor out--geez who designed that thing?)