So I went ahead and pulled the cams for each head, it doesn't look like it would be possible to pull the heads without, definitely wouldn't be able to get a torque wrench on them when I put them back in. So I just took my time and it was no problem. Only worked about an hour yesterday so that's all that I did. Today I'm gonna get the heads off and into a machine shop tomorrow. After I hear back from them is when i'll decide what to order and hopefully get it back together in a week or two.
Blown HG, options
- Thread starter jpshoe
- Start date
Update
Quick update. Heads are off and took them into the machine shop today. Everything looks good under the heads. All looks good on the heads after testing. Making a price list that includes everything I spent for this job. Will post a detailed one later. Originally was quoted $3,079 as some of you remember and I almost had a heart attack. Including all parts and machine shop work, I came out under $750. I could have done it for even less but I'm doing a ton of extra stuff as well including all gaskets I was even remotely close to during this teardown, PCV valve and grommet, spark plugs, wires, (coolant and oil obviously), all belts, TB/WP and all the associated components, thermostat, all bolts that I'm supposed to replace (head bolts, crankshaft pulley bolt, etc) all exhaust bolts since it's already torn apart and I never want to encounter something so terrible ever again. Price also included a monster torque wrench and a bunch of impact sockets and stuff too. Like I said, i'll post more details as I have some more time coming up to do so, but I'm very excited to start putting things back together and get this thing moving again.
Quick update. Heads are off and took them into the machine shop today. Everything looks good under the heads. All looks good on the heads after testing. Making a price list that includes everything I spent for this job. Will post a detailed one later. Originally was quoted $3,079 as some of you remember and I almost had a heart attack. Including all parts and machine shop work, I came out under $750. I could have done it for even less but I'm doing a ton of extra stuff as well including all gaskets I was even remotely close to during this teardown, PCV valve and grommet, spark plugs, wires, (coolant and oil obviously), all belts, TB/WP and all the associated components, thermostat, all bolts that I'm supposed to replace (head bolts, crankshaft pulley bolt, etc) all exhaust bolts since it's already torn apart and I never want to encounter something so terrible ever again. Price also included a monster torque wrench and a bunch of impact sockets and stuff too. Like I said, i'll post more details as I have some more time coming up to do so, but I'm very excited to start putting things back together and get this thing moving again.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Way to go! Just don't get too excited until you actually have it running again!
Haha yeah, cautiously optimistic at this point.
stir_fry_boy
New member
Great job OP.
Awesome update man.
It's geekingly exciting to follow the progress
Is the machine shop doing a valve job for you?
Haha thanks, can't wait to post pics for everyone. They did a valve job on it and cleaned them up nicely.
Yeah I'm glad I did it myself also. A fun experience for sure and glad to learn a lot more about my truck!
Cleaning away
I've been busy scrubbing my life away cleaning up everything in order to put it all back together. Thought I would share the crap show that was the cylinder block today. I scrubbed the passenger side pistons as well as the gasket surface in order to make good contact. Hoping to get the heads on tomorrow. It seems there is a lot of residual coolant in some of the passages. I want to make sure to blow out all of the gasket crap that falls in but I'm simultaneously blasting coolant all over the place when I hit it with the air compressor. Any tips on cleaning up the coolant passages without making a total mess? Oh yeah here are pics to keep everyone entertained. :llama:
Last pic you can really see the difference in the clean bottom side of the pic versus the gnarly top. Yay brake cleaner! Sorry for crap pictures, my DSLR doesn't take kindly to greasy hands.
I've been busy scrubbing my life away cleaning up everything in order to put it all back together. Thought I would share the crap show that was the cylinder block today. I scrubbed the passenger side pistons as well as the gasket surface in order to make good contact. Hoping to get the heads on tomorrow. It seems there is a lot of residual coolant in some of the passages. I want to make sure to blow out all of the gasket crap that falls in but I'm simultaneously blasting coolant all over the place when I hit it with the air compressor. Any tips on cleaning up the coolant passages without making a total mess? Oh yeah here are pics to keep everyone entertained. :llama:
Last pic you can really see the difference in the clean bottom side of the pic versus the gnarly top. Yay brake cleaner! Sorry for crap pictures, my DSLR doesn't take kindly to greasy hands.
Attachments
There are block drains right above the oil pan flange on each side of the block...that's a quick way to drain the block, or if you're changing the water pump...pull that now and the coolant level should drop a couple inches.
If you don't feel like going through the hassle of pulling the A/C compressor to get the tensioner out to compress it, order one of these... Schley Products 97300 Toyota 3.4l Timing Belt Tensioner Tool by Schley Products | Toolfetch
If you were closer I'd let you borrow mine. I always use this against the old water pump as soon as the belt comes off to avoid hurting the bearing on the new water pump.
Those deck surfaces (the clean side) aren't clean enough. Get a single edge razor blade and scrape the deck surface holding the blade vertical...it'll pull all that old gasket material up.
Also, when you pulled the cams, did you put a 6mm bolt through the split cam gears? If not, you'll have to reset those before you re-install the cams.
Use OEM headgaskets from the dealer. The aftermarket stuff sucks...
You have my #, call me if you have any questions.
If you don't feel like going through the hassle of pulling the A/C compressor to get the tensioner out to compress it, order one of these... Schley Products 97300 Toyota 3.4l Timing Belt Tensioner Tool by Schley Products | Toolfetch
If you were closer I'd let you borrow mine. I always use this against the old water pump as soon as the belt comes off to avoid hurting the bearing on the new water pump.
Those deck surfaces (the clean side) aren't clean enough. Get a single edge razor blade and scrape the deck surface holding the blade vertical...it'll pull all that old gasket material up.
Also, when you pulled the cams, did you put a 6mm bolt through the split cam gears? If not, you'll have to reset those before you re-install the cams.
Use OEM headgaskets from the dealer. The aftermarket stuff sucks...
You have my #, call me if you have any questions.
solsnowbarger
New member
I've gotta say thanks too. Ive been doing my TB/WP and getting the heads serviced this week as well, albeit a little behind the OP, and as a complete noob this has all been very helpful. If I'm successful I'll put up a build thread to chronicle my struggles, and if I fail I'll fade away into the ether, either way though, thanks for all the kind assistance.
So I got everything back together today and it cranked right up!! Then 5 minutes later I can see coolant spraying out of the space between the head and block on the driver side. Exact same place I had before, so I'm back to square one. No clue what to do, I'm going to sell it but I won't get anything for it in it's condition now. Any thoughts? I'm so bummed, I really thought this would do it. What's weird is I'm not getting any codes or white smoke like I was, just the leak in the gasket region. I know I torqued everything exactly how the FSM told me to. No idea what to do...
solsnowbarger
New member
It's possible you got the gaskets mixed up? I know there's subtle differences. Did you measure the block for evenness before reassembly?
Scramble
New member
Sux man, is there a crack in the block?
That's what I'm thinking.... :/
trovergraywilson
New member
NOOO I've loved reading this and keeping up with your progress OP. Good luck, hoping it's a simple fix or mix-up and it's not a crack. :clap2:
I'm hoping so too, going to walk through everything this weekend and check it all out again.
