Hello Group,
Well it looks like this is one of those rare time when it actually is the head gasket
.
I put the head back in with a new gasket on Saturday and it looks like that has done the trick. I also think I have figured out what happened.
The Original problem I am certain of was a failed head gasket, at only 44,000 kilometers. When I originally pulled the head it looked fine and when I went to put the new gasket on I had servcal different gasket numbers and the gaskets were pretty much the same just a few minor differences, so I took the original gasket and picked the one that match it exactly. That gasked did not have any tin around the water ports. This time after pulling the head and taking it in, they even saw where it was possible leaking when I got the head back from the shop I finally pulled the gasket from the block, and it looked like it was leaking where they stated, but it looked as if it was leaking around at least 4 of these small water ports.
The gasket I used was the recommended part number ending in 040 and I think this is an improved design over the original it has tin around all the water ports, I think this has fixed the orignal problem. I also decided to put in an 88c thermostat instead of the 82c one I had in the engine. My reason is I think the 82c works great in the 3B especially if you are on Southern California like I am, however looking at the design on the 13B-T you have hot water being pumped back into the top of the housing and I think with the 82c it gets messed up and does not have time to close and recoop so to speak, just my theory could be wrong but I stoke both so the 88c went back into the Cruiser.
I will drive it for a few weeks as much as I can and make sure it is tip top again. I would hate to tell you what was going to happen to this BJ74 if I still had the problem after this, I know Wayne knows, but luckily Wasabi is all better so he stays as a BJ74 for now.
Thanks for those who contributed.
Cheers,
Michael