Doing my first HeadGasket+Heads job

[nffcllightning]

Hey guys,

College student here who had a head-gasket go on the driver’s side about 1.5 months ago. Since then me & pops have been working away here and there because we couldn't afford a new engine/labor costs. Long story short: White smoke out exhaust, over heating (actually had my radiator blow on the way to Phoenix-replaced that + thermostat ; then when problems persisted + I saw the white smoke I assumed head gasket), gunk under the oil cap, loosing radiator coolant with no leaks found.
SOO I started making moves for head gasket kit, started disassembly (took so long because we could only work on it for a few hours at a time with my work/school schedule), finally got to the heads this last week. Took the heads in to be resurfaced & valve job - - - - -

George at the machining shop called me yesterday and told me that while the head is cool it holds up, but when it gets hot it loses pressure/leaks. He told me that he recommends buying a good head for my driver’s side.

Where is the best place for a new/refurbished/used head? Should I replace them both?-- The passenger side head seems to be holding up fine, but will this create imbalances? I AM ON SUCH A BUDGET.

--Have some pretty cool pics, I will post in a minute.

 

[nffcllightning]

Camshafts, Timing belt, etc still in



Big jump in progress to Head off*** driver side leak/orange gunk



Same as above



Same as above



Passenger side head, no leaks



Shot of engine from afar


Detached L&R heads & bad head gasket

 

[BrianSD_42]

George at the machining shop called me yesterday and told me that while the head is cool it holds up, but when it gets hot it loses pressure/leaks. He told me that he recommends buying a good head for my driver’s side.

Where is the best place for a new/refurbished/used head?

1) just buying a used motor for $1200 may be more economical

2) Buy JE Heads .... Japan Engines


My mechanic did a very rare thing ... he put 2 aftermarket JE Heads for the 5VZ-FE in my engine.

You can buy these Toyota specification heads for $575 each side here. They sell a complete brand new, aftermarket head with all components new.

The mechanic tells me he installs 5-6 of these a month (its a big truck shop here in SoCal) and has never had one come back. He said they also honor a 12 month warranty for him but he's never used it.

He installed the two heads on my engine, along with a Toyota gasket kit over a year ago. It has been 21K miles and no problems.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I have no experience with them but these guys sell a single RE-BUILT head with 12 month warranty for $325.


TOYOTA TACOMA 5VZFE 3.4 REBUILT CYLINDER HEAD

 

[nffcllightning]

Thanks for the link! I will say that being this far in the job- I'd really like to go ahead and replace the head rather than the complete engine. I'm a good head away from starting the reasembaly process- time is another factor in all this, like I said- I've been at this for over a month.

Do you think I'd be able to buy just one head and reinstal my same passenger side head?

 

[02SE]

I can see from the pics that the cooling system has been seriously neglected, which is likely the reason that the headgasket corroded and started leaking.

If the one head is still good after being thoroughly inspected that everything is within spec, and the valve stem seals replaced, then I'd just replace the one bad head.

Once it's back together, flush the cooling system very well to get all of that crap out of there. You said you replaced the thermostat, so that should be good. Ideally you would want to replace the water pump.

I see that you have an auto trans. If the transmission cooler in the radiator is still in use, then I'd also strongly suggest that you replace the radiator too.

 

[chadsy]

Judging by just the looks, it seems the coolant may have been that all makes all models stuff which = bad for seals/gaskets.

 

[nffcllightning]

I can see from the pics that the cooling system has been seriously neglected, which is likely the reason that the headgasket corroded and started leaking.

If the one head is still good after being thoroughly inspected that everything is within spec, and the valve stem seals replaced, then I'd just replace the one bad head.

Once it's back together, flush the cooling system very well to get all of that crap out of there. You said you replaced the thermostat, so that should be good. Ideally you would want to replace the water pump.

I see that you have an auto trans. If the transmission cooler in the radiator is still in use, then I'd also strongly suggest that you replace the radiator too.

I'm thinking of replacing the water pump buutt -Water Pump was replaced 30K miles ago by previous owner (Have records), should I?
I replaced both the thermostat and radiator - I did this 2 months ago & my over heating issues continued. I noticed the white smoke a day or two later and temp gauge still read hot.

I've heard that its a good idea to flush the cooling system 2 or 3 times, good call.