Head Gasket/Head vs Rebuilt Motor

[slothy49]

Just bought an 01 4runner with 260k on it. It’s in the very early stages of the head gasket blowing. Wondering if at this mileage I should just shoot for a rebuilt 5vz motor?

Cylinder 3 misfires only very briefly on a cold start. Stops after 3-5 seconds. Getting air bubbles through the radiator on cylinder 3 leak down. Small amount of air coming through the oil cap filler on the other cylinders on leak down (leading me to think piston rings are getting worn), and about 10-20% loss across all cylinders. Doesn’t overheat at all. Coolant temp sits at 190-205 all day.

With the age of the motor would replacing motor be a better gamble than just replacing the head/head gasket? If so is there anywhere other than yota1 that can provide a quality rebuilt. Yota1 is pushed out 7-8 months. Brother is a mechanic and we have access to a shop so labor is not the biggest concern. A reliable truck is.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

If the compression is in spec I’d just do the heads. Look for a motor or a rebuild at your leisure.

Rebuilt heads can then be transferred to a reman block later. All you will need later is a “short block”.


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[the_welfare_wagon]

I had a head gasket failure at 278k. Turns out the block was pitted around the water jacket due to crappy coolant(I assume) and that was why it blew. I smeared JB weld in the pits and sanded it down even to with the block, copper sprayed the head gasket and torqued that sum***** down.
Had no time to rip the block to get it milled and the pits were too deep for that to even do anything.

Why am I telling you this? Cause almost 100k later the motor is still running fine and uses no coolant. I did purchase new heads but If I can JB weld my block and get another 100k then you’ll definitely see at least as much as long as the motor has been cared for and continues to be

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[slothy49]

If the compression is in spec I’d just do the heads. Look for a motor or a rebuild at your leisure.

Rebuilt heads can then be transferred to a reman block later. All you will need later is a “short block”.


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Need to do a compression check still. What are good numbers for compression on these? Even with the air coming through the oil filler, probably worn piston rings or worn heads, you'd do the head gasket and head before going straight to rebuild? Thank you!

 

[19963.4lsr5]

If your compression isn’t out of spec redoing the head gaskets with reman heads will buy you time. Then all you need to buy is a short block and put your good heads on the short block.

My one friend has an engine shop so I had him rebuild my spare engine with a bad HG at 258k miles.


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[JoeT4R]

I'm gonna +1 the above. If you have the time, money and resources, why not try a JDM engine? If you can afford to have the truck down for an extended period of time, I see that as an ideal project opportunity.

 

[brillo_76]

What happens when the JDM engines are no longer an option? As they quit selling 4 runners in Japan in 2009. It's just a matter of time before inventory us gone.

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[JoeT4R]

What happens when the JDM engines are no longer an option? As they quit selling 4 runners in Japan in 2009. It's just a matter of time before inventory us gone.

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I suppose we'll have to rely on the inventory of local junkyards here in the U.S. And if that isn't an option one day, then maybe it's time we move onto greener pastures, lol.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

I suppose we'll have to rely on the inventory of local junkyards here in the U.S. And if that isn't an option one day, then maybe it's time we move onto greener pastures, lol.

Taco’s had that engine into the mid 2000’s some time as an option.


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[RandyBobandy]

What happens when the JDM engines are no longer an option? As they quit selling 4 runners in Japan in 2009. It's just a matter of time before inventory us gone.

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Very few if any of the jdm engines are coming from a Hilux surf/4Runner, and they put the 5vz in a ton of different vehicles so I don’t think there will be a shortage of engines for a long time, and even when that time comes there are so many of these engines floating around I think the aftermarket will provide all the parts needed to keep rebuilding them

 

[slothy49]

If it was me, I'd find a new engine and forget about it for another 300k miles.

A complete JDM low mileage engine is only $2300 ish.

No brainer.

I'm gonna +1 the above. If you have the time, money and resources, why not try a JDM engine? If you can afford to have the truck down for an extended period of time, I see that as an ideal project opportunity.

I've read a lot of horror stories of the JDM engines having completely false mileage claims and shady histories. Seems like a big gamble. Even if they post compression numbers who's to say they send me the engine those compression readings came from.

 

[slothy49]

If your compression isn’t out of spec redoing the head gaskets with reman heads will buy you time. Then all you need to buy is a short block and put your good heads on the short block.

My one friend has an engine shop so I had him rebuild my spare engine with a bad HG at 258k miles.


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If compression is good on the engine, and we rebuild the head, who's to say the engine won't last another 250k? Without replacing the short block. If compression is bad, I'll definitely look into sourcing a short block, but if it's good should I even bother with a short block for now?

 

[brillo_76]

These engines are not known for ring issues. These have cast iron blocks (V6)

You are seeing people going over 500K plus on these rigs with minor issues.

The 4 cylinder is mostly doing quite well too..

What kills these engines is the lack of maintenance. No oil changes and the big one... Getting the heads hot. You take any Toyota engine up to or Past H. You are going to do aluminum head damage. This has been an issue way back into the 80s and 70s.

My point was that JDM is a gamble just like any junk yard engine would be.
(people lie )

I was hoping that a few other engine re builders would be listed. I only seen one listed here and are backlogged. So I guess folks will have to find a local engine re builder or do it themselves.

 

[JoeT4R]

Taco’s had that engine into the mid 2000’s some time as an option.


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This is also true! My Dad's 03 has the 5VZ in it as well. Super low mileage, too. Like maybe 140K at absolute most.

 

[brillo_76]

2004 I think is the last model year of the 1st gen Tocuma with the 5vz-fe.

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[brillo_76]

I don't know about any of that, I was using JDM as an example.

Do the research and make your own decision about who you buy from.

The labor cost to do heads is enough to justify a complete engine.

That's if you can even find a shop to do heads. I don't know about other areas but around here. The machine shops that take in engine work are few and far between.. :/

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[19963.4lsr5]

I don't know about any of that, I was using JDM as an example.

Do the research and make your own decision about who you buy from.

The labor cost to do heads is enough to justify a complete engine.

I paid a little over 400 to freshen up both heads. Then about 200 for the YotaShop head replacement kit.

Engine shops are all over my area.


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[19963.4lsr5]

It's great that you've got that option in your area.

This person is in Portland, a far piece from PA.

I keep forgetting my area is motorhead. Lots of race tracks in my area and each shop is trying to build the fastest engine. I’m betting Portland isn’t a racing Mecca……


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[slothy49]

I keep forgetting my area is motorhead. Lots of race tracks in my area and each shop is trying to build the fastest engine. I’m betting Portland isn’t a racing Mecca……


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There’s actually a few shops that rebuild heads. Aluminum Head Rebuilders has a really good reputation and gets stuff shipped in from out of state frequently because of their quality. My brothers shop uses them as their exclusive machine shop. So I’m in luck!

lol! right on.
Yeah, Portland is more known for well, idiocy. No offense to the gentlemen who started this post.

No offense taken. Got a laugh out of it lol!

 

[brillo_76]

Glad your area still has them (More central PA). As my area ( Rural South West PA) almost all of them are closed. I may have to even go a county over or so to get the work done. Or the ones that are still here have too much work it may take several months to get it done. We only have very few left in this county.

Now 20 or 30 years ago, when i was young we had several good machine shops around here that did great work. Amazing how things change and not always for the better. :-(

Maybe things will change in the future for the better. Now i am not saying in a 30 mile to 60 mile radius there aren't more around. I am saying with in 10 to 15 mile radius.. So areas are growing while others are shrinking and slowing dying.

Lot of people opting to just turn over cores at the auto parts stores and have remfg ones to put in trying to save money is most likely the cause.