I installed a Sequoia 4.7 V8 in my 1999 Limited 4Runner back in January. The swap was perfect. the motor only had 75K on it and was purring great.



Then about a month after the install, my baby started smoking badly. Really bad. I could smoke out an entire mall parking lot.

It only smokes when it first starts up so I diagnosis that i had a torn valve seal.

I took the spark plugs out and saw the cylinders 7 and the opposite side 8 had been oil fouled. How in the heck are two cylinders in opposite heads giving problems. I though maybe a bad PVC valve but after replacing it, same issue about smoking when starting up. I buckled down and tore the valve covers off and to replace my valve guide seals with new ones.

OMG, I just about had a heart attack when the valve cover came off.



I removed all the sludge,cleaned it up, replaced the valve guide seals, dropped the oil pan, cleaned it up and put it back together.



New Valve seal



Mind you that each valve seal took 15 minutes to remove and replace. Too bad this motor has 32 valves.

Any who, No more smoking and no noticeable oil consumption during the last 2500 miles. Yes I am on a strict oil change schedule until the oil stays cleaning longer.

Went to a FJ Cruiser meet to show off my creation and won a 9,000 pound winch.



Now my next project is to build a plate bumper....

Thanks for the update! I know there's a bunch of us who have wanted to know how it has been working out for you. I'm sure the plate bumper is really going to bog that engine down...

I really hope this means you're back. That is one nasty sludge problem there but glad to know you got it right. I'm curious, how did you go about removing all that sludge? And were you able to do the valve seals with the heads on or did you have to pull them? I've heard it's possible with the head on but seems like it would be a nightmare.

Good to see updates on your truck.

One has to try real hard to sludge up an engine like that. Maybe that is why the previous owners rolled it if memory serves me correctly. I have seen ignorant people perform egregious acts on nice autos.

I have two bad valve seals on my 5vz. I thought I would have to pull the heads. I guess not.

Good to have ya back on the forum. Nice score BTW.

ELVIS IS REALLY ALIVE!!! And he's posting here again!

I did the valve seals with the heads on the engine. With 75k miles, No sense in breaking it down. I used my air hose in the spark plug hole and the air pressure held the valves up.

The donor car must have belonged to a doctor. There were hospital parking decals on the front window. Doctors buy them. drive the crap out of them and trade them in.

What saved the motor was that the engine never starved for oil. If the sludge had built up enough to block the oil screen pick up, devastation would have sure occurred. You can see the tale tale signs on the cam bearings. They would be the first place to suffer from oil starvation.


On a side note, After seeing my motor with all this crap in it, I examined my dad's sequoia and through the oil fill tube, it looks immaculate. Bright aluminum and zero tarnish. And his truck has 178k on it.

Good update. Glad to see ya back.. You've missed a lot

Thanks for posting the update! It's much appreciated!

I guess the real update is -

that I am getting the same gas mileage as i did with the 5vz but I have gobs more power.

that the Motor mounts, air cleaner, wiring, drive shafts and cooling systems are all doing great.

that In a rain storm, i have to be gingerly with the foot pedal as the rear always wants to fish tail out.

Took the family to the beach and in the past, I usually threw the 4runner into 4LO so the engine wouldn't have to work so hard, this time, it drove great in 4HI. No bogging or engine straining.

Paid $175 and had a 2 1/2" exhaust made with a Dynomax VT muffler. Sounds Awesome. No drone when cruising but when you step on it, it sounds like a decked out TRD Tundra. Way cool.

SO GLAD YOU ARE BACK!!! I have wanted updates for so long!

That is awesome that it is running great, Im jelly of how much more power you have than me!

Can we get a sound clip of the new muffler?

Hell ya Sing ... glad to have you back! Your rig looks a lot better then before too!

This swap is what I'd love to be able to do to my 4Runner. I just wish I had the know-how and skill like you Singtoe! Glad to see the truck is still ticking away, and awesome winning that winch!

So jealous. Really really really want a V8........

Nicely done, glad to hear it is running well now.

Welcome back! Glad to see its all worked out for you. Sucks about the minor rebuild/valve job but you still have a monster