Check engine light is on.. so I checked...

[Hyde802]

I still havent checked my timing. My light wasnt working (its really old) and I havent picked up a new one yet. But after a few tanks of fuel, Im getting about 20mpg, which Im pretty happy about. I was getting right around 15 before I pulled the old motor.

I lost a bit of oil in the first 500 miles, which is a bit worry some, but seems to be ok now (still watching it like a hawk, and will do a full oil change in another 500 just as a precaution) I also had some tender exhaust manifold studs that came loose, so when I have time Ill heli-coil those. But besides that its running good! Just in time too, It was 25 out this morning when I left my house. An hour ride on the motorcycle to work in those temps even with the carhearts on, still causes major shrivelage.

 

[KidVermicious]

25 is brrr, and it's only going to get colder. We're supposed to be getting our first snow of the year today, but I don't think it'll stick.

 

[Hyde802]

So Ive put about 1k miles on it now and Im loosing some oil... quite a bit actually, but I dont have any leaks and Im not puffing it out the exhaust? I dont know where its going... The only time I see anything is if its idling for a while then I blip the throttle and a small puff comes out, but its doesnt smell like anything. :shrug:

I am however getting 22 mpg, which Im pretty pumped about.

 

[KidVermicious]

Are you sure it's not burning out the exhaust? Tie some white cheesecloth over the exhaust pipe and see if it collects oil or soot.

 

[Hyde802]

So the 22re runs great! Sings at 5k rpms, or sits idling all day long. Getting a constant 20mpg, valve train sounds great.

However, it burning about a quart of oil every 750 miles. I add oil about every 3rd fuel fill up. ( I drive 60 miles a day, 120 on days that I go to work, then to the shop) So its adding up quick until I can take the bike out for the summer.

I changed almost all the seals in that sucker, but I didnt change the valve seals :crybaby: because I didnt want to have to take the head off.

I found a way to do it without taking the head off, buy hollowing out a spark plug and pressurizing the cylinder to hold the valve in place, assuming I have good compression (could also be the problem, ive never done a compression test on this)

So my questions are this: Anyone done this? How would I compress the spring to get the keepers out? Any other places I should look for oil loss?

Its not going happen for a while, as Im still balls deep in my camry motor, and my off road truck is next to get in the shop.

 

[Coveman]

Can you get your hands on some Valve spring compressors?

Tighten down the spring compressors and take pliers (sometimes they can even just come out by hand, or you could use a small magnet) and pull out the keepers - the two small peices that hold in the retainer and valve spring.

To keep the valves from falling into the cylinders, couple of ideas:

- rope fed through the sparkplug holes to fill up combustion chamber, and then turn the crank pulley until you feel resistance. Pull out rope when finished.
- a fitting and air compressor, feeding air into the cylinder so the valves are held in by the pressure. careful though, if the seats leak at all, the valve could still potentially fall through, so the rope trick is probably the safest bet.

Good luck, you've done some really good work so far! :hatsoff:

 

[Hyde802]

Well... sad day for me. I listed my runner on CL last week because all it does is sit. When its nice, we take the motorcycle, when we want to wheel, ill soon have my dedicated trail truck. And I have a Camry for a DD now. The funds from this sale will go towards other projects. I do love this truck, but it just doesn't fit my needs any more, and I hate to see it sit and rust into the ground fro lack of use. Ive already noticed somethings starting to fail, such as ebrake and one of the cables to open the rear gate.

1987 Toyota 4Runner SR5

Had someone test drive it today and hes going to pay my full asking price.. Its gonna be sad to see it go. I think the girlfriend is more upset than I am about it. Haha.

 

[KidVermicious]

Aww, man. I wondered where you'd been.

 

[Hyde802]

Life moves on...

I still want to do what FOG is doing to a 2nd gen one day..

It was either sell this or sell the 92, and the 92 is closer to where I want it to be than to get this to that point. Plus, its still really clean for a New England truck, and I would destroy the body in the woods. The guy its going to ( I hope) wants to restore it and use it for nice drives and such, not a redneck muddin' drinkin' beater like most of the toyota around these parts.

Ill still be on here from time to time. :spy:

 

[Footofgod]

The joy of a 2nd gen, they cost a dime a dozen and you can cut the hell out of it! LOL!

 

[Hyde802]

I found my old runner for sale about an hour away from me. The engine is out in the middle of an LCE upgrade, body is just sitting on the frame, and its a little rustier from sitting. But there is it. Poor thing. I offered him 800 but he didnt take it. I need a tow rig more than I need this project back. Haha.

out: