It IS my head gasket...now what
- Thread starter mendozer
- Start date
Also found some runners in my area on Craigslist for under 3k. That seems like a no brainer for me to drive that while I fix min up and/or swap parts. Some had great bodies (my rear hatch is dented) but I want to keep my power seats, etc. So there might be some frankensteining going on. I'll have to think about this. Tacos are available too, but they're more, not sure why. Same drivetrain and a tiny bed.
thegipper
New member
I was kind of in the same boat. My original engine was overheated several times by the previous owner (my bro) when he got a pink milkshake. 15k miles later, the head gasket blew. It was also leaking oil out of everywhere it possibly could.
I could tell the original engine wasn't maintained that well so I opted to swap in a used engine (bought a wrecked truck off a member on here). He had meticulous maintenance records for it and the engine I swapped in didn't leak a drop anywhere.
Moral of the story is with a little searching, you can probably find a good used engine and swap it in. The yards around here have 150k ish mile motors for around 600 bucks. Best case scenario is you find one from a member on here or someone else who has some records showing it was taken care of.
With a helper and some basic hand tools, you can have it swapped in a weekend.
Good luck
I could tell the original engine wasn't maintained that well so I opted to swap in a used engine (bought a wrecked truck off a member on here). He had meticulous maintenance records for it and the engine I swapped in didn't leak a drop anywhere.
Moral of the story is with a little searching, you can probably find a good used engine and swap it in. The yards around here have 150k ish mile motors for around 600 bucks. Best case scenario is you find one from a member on here or someone else who has some records showing it was taken care of.
With a helper and some basic hand tools, you can have it swapped in a weekend.
Good luck
plcfcng
Member
If you did a compression test/leak down and found the heads where the leak is and not the rings I would pull the heads take them to a good machine shop let them resurface, grind the valves, replace the seals (use the ones in the head gasket set you buy) and correct the valve lash. Replace the water pump timing belt and pullies, all the hoses that carry coolant including the heater valve, spark plugs, pcv valve, Radiator and coolant and reseal the pipe under intake. I have done 3 of these in the last year and all are running great. This could take about a week to get done. If you do a JDM you still should everything except pulling the heads for a complete job and may need to swap the intake manifold make sure valve lash is checked. Doing the engine swap maybe a bit of less work but not alot. I you do the work along with all the regular tool get Die for the exhaust manifold to clean the threads to save alot of head ach. You can price parts threw many sights I did high end parts threw Rock auto and the Machine work done that cost about 1,500 if I remember correctlly. There are some good u tube video's one of a guy with a blue pick up. As far as bad rings one of the rigs I did I reringed that was a bit more work a hole other story. Thats my thoughts on head gasket. 
olice: jobs.
olice: jobs.
Brian.
Member
Not all OEM on the timing belt kit, that's for sure. The water pump, all by itself, is roughly $100, and one idler pully is $120. Normally the water pump and 2 idler pulleys are non-OEM... and even then, the kits with good reviews tend to be closer to $250.
I only have $89 into the OEM parts for the valve cover gaskets, but that all depends on what's included.
oops, you said Head gaskets.... not valve cover, no clue there.
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The head gasket kit came with valve cover gaskets (although mine were just done 2k miles ago). The timing belt kit did say all OEM with boxes to prove it. I know, the idler I thought would be a koyo or NSK but it had the toyota box in it. Sounds like a hell of a deal. I'm gonna order it!
plcfcng
Member
For shits and giggles look at rock auto they have many times economey parts as well as higher end depending on part. I used Mahle or Felpro gaskets, Gates water pump. I use higher end parts but not all Toyota factory parts. I don't anti seize my spark plugs but I do on most other parts NGK says a light motor oil when installing plugs but do use a Torque wrench. On head bolts I also use a bit of motor oil make sure to run a old bolt by down the threads of the block to make sure that they are clean and smooth. :clock:
BoomerBob
New member
I went with 2001 Toyota 4Runner Head Gasket Set - Ishino Stone W0133-1742305 from Partsgeek.com. $223.00
Got my timing belt kit in today from fleabay. For $200 it is legit! All Toyota sealed bags and boxes. Maybe the seller gets dealer pricing or something. I wasn't able to get my valve grind kit and bolts for under 479 but that's still less than the 512 my local dealer wanted for the gasket kit (and not not including bolts, which they wanted 16 bucks each...go F yourself). So I'm 700 bucks in for parts. If the machine shop charges me 300 bucks for whatever theyre gonna do I'll be a happy clam for 1k
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