Hello fellow 4Runner lovers...
I am new to the forum and am in need of help with my 97 4x4 4runner with 200k miles. About 6 months ago I was doing some maintenance such as replacing plugs, valve cover gaskets etc... when I had finished I tried starting her up and it sounded like a bowling ball in a dryer.
My next step was to pull the plugs and turn it over again. Coolant and fuel shot out of the plug holes AKA coolant had pooled in the cylinders. I have been slowly working on removing the heads by myself and am down to removing the cams and cam sprockets, and undoing the head bolts. Once the heads are removed I get to see what damage has been done and get this thing running again.
Here is my dilemma. I don't know how to stop the cams from turning as I try to remove the sprockets. I don't want to jam something in there potentially damaging the cams themselves. On top of that, we are a BROKE family LOL. With winter approaching and us living here in Tehachapi (we get snow) this is our only 4x4. Is there anyone in SoCal who wouldn't mind coming up to help remove the head? I can cook some amazing steak and I have cold beer on stock 24/7.
Any help would be appreciated, as well as guidance and where to get head work done, where to buy parts on the cheap, etc... I owe my wife a running 4x4 since she says I'm the one who broke it in the first place! Don't you love woman logic?
I am new to the forum and am in need of help with my 97 4x4 4runner with 200k miles. About 6 months ago I was doing some maintenance such as replacing plugs, valve cover gaskets etc... when I had finished I tried starting her up and it sounded like a bowling ball in a dryer.
My next step was to pull the plugs and turn it over again. Coolant and fuel shot out of the plug holes AKA coolant had pooled in the cylinders. I have been slowly working on removing the heads by myself and am down to removing the cams and cam sprockets, and undoing the head bolts. Once the heads are removed I get to see what damage has been done and get this thing running again.
Here is my dilemma. I don't know how to stop the cams from turning as I try to remove the sprockets. I don't want to jam something in there potentially damaging the cams themselves. On top of that, we are a BROKE family LOL. With winter approaching and us living here in Tehachapi (we get snow) this is our only 4x4. Is there anyone in SoCal who wouldn't mind coming up to help remove the head? I can cook some amazing steak and I have cold beer on stock 24/7.
Any help would be appreciated, as well as guidance and where to get head work done, where to buy parts on the cheap, etc... I owe my wife a running 4x4 since she says I'm the one who broke it in the first place! Don't you love woman logic?
