[Romer]

Adventure off road do the work.

When I was changing the starter contacts I noticed my PHH was in bad shape. Robbie had previously said he saw signs the Head Gasket was going, I also had been wanting to change out the Fuel Injectors. It was running OK, but I wanted to get it in great shape. So I took it to Adventure Off Road and had the following work done:

Head gasket setreplaced, New Spark plugs, Distributor cap and rotor replaced, Spark plug wires replaced, fuel filter replaced, EGR gasket replaced, Distributor O-ring replaced, Water pipe gasket replaced, Fan Clutch replaced, Thermostat and O-ring replaced, Throttle body cleaned out and the PHH replaced.

When the head came off I was told there was tremendous buildup of carbon, more than normal for my engine. The pictures below show the before and after shots.

The head was also slightly warped and the valves needed to be resealed. The head was milled .011. It was running pretty good for all that crap. Must have been the computer compensateing. It runs great now.

The PO must have run cheap oil and did not change the oil when they should have. They probably ran cheap gas as well.

Great service and I would highly recommend Adventure Off Road. You probaby know it by another name, Robbie.

Like I said, who needs the Head Gasket DVD when you have Robbie.

[Romer]

The only remaing problem is Robbie said the carbon build up behind the rings. allowied the rings to push a little more into the cylinder wall, creating a little ring groove. Don't know if you can see it in the photo.

The engine will still run fine for quite sometime and I should be able to get well over 200,000 miles on it. Currently at 114,000 miles. I run Red Line synthetic so that good oil should help and the grooves hopefully won't be a problem.

Was wondering if I should run Seafoam or AutoRx in the oil to help get rid of any remaining carbon.

Thoughts?

[tarbe]

AutoRx is good stuff for getting carbon out of the ring packs. Many users have found significant improvements in compression after running ARx. This can translate into improved fuel economy also. Check out Bobistheoilguy.com - ARx has its own thread. I'd say 80%+ of users are satisfied that the product is money well spent (just my guess based on following the product - and I use it myself).

The esters in ARx will liquify sludge, carbon and varnish and deposit it into your filter. Just be sure to follow the directions and don't second guess.

[Junk]

Originally Posted by Romer

Great service and I would highly recommend Adventure Off Road. You probaby know it by another name, Robbie.

Robbie started his own shop? When did that happen? I imagine it's in CO as we on the east coast aren't lucky enough to have many good shops.

Robbie is a great guy - I'm sure he'll do well and I wish him all the best.

[Montana Cruiser]

Whats a headgasket and mill job on the head run, if you dont mind me asking?

[Romer]

Originally Posted by Montana Cruiser

Whats a headgasket and mill job on the head run, if you dont mind me asking?

This was the cost from the Machine shop:

Cylinder head cleaned, valves buffed, new valve seal installed. Head milled 0.011 Head was lightly warped 252.50

If everything else is OK, you could have the head milled for about $100.

I got the headgasket "set" from CDAN. I think it was less than $200.

Edit: it is a flat rate of 15 hours. Robbie corrected me below

[lowtideride]

or a 3fe

[NorCalDoug]

Sorry to hear that you had to open her up. I can't think of a better person to perform the work though.

I'd consider making the drive out there to have it done right the first time.

[Montana Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Romer

This was the cost from the Machine shop:

Cylinder head cleaned, valves buffed, new valve seal installed. Head milled 0.011 Head was lightly warped 252.50

If everything else is OK, you could have the head milled for about $100.

I got the headgasket "set" from CDAN. I think it was less than $200.

10 hours of labor was what I was told a headgasket job takes. Mine was more becuase I had other things done (see above) and it came to about 15 hours.

Not quite as bad as I would have thought, and you know you got quality work.

[Cruiserdrew]

How did Robbie get it so clean? That engine block looks really great with the carbon cleaned off. 10 hours of shop time is not as bad as I thought.

[cruiserdan]

Robbie has forgotten more about the 1FZ than probably any other mechanic/technicion in the US knows...

It is a safe bet that he has serviced/repaired/overhauled more of them than the next 20 or so combined.

In addition he is a gentleman and a damn fine friend.


There is only ONE person I would "sublet" ANY work on my 80 to and that is Robbie....

[reffug]

Originally Posted by Junk

Robbie started his own shop? When did that happen? I imagine it's in CO as we on the east coast aren't lucky enough to have many good shops.

Robbie is a great guy - I'm sure he'll do well and I wish him all the best.

Where the heck have you been???

Busy with your sock collection???

Congrats Romer you guys in CO don't know how lucky you are to have an asset such as Robbie so close by and available for truly technical work on your trucks.

[powderpig]

Andrew I use a combination of scraper, and scotchbrite pads on a air grinder, with some hand work inbetween. The one mistake Ken stated is the job is a flatrate of 15 hrs. He had some extra time involved with the wiring and fan hub, injectors, thermo stat. A little extra work, but it is the way I think it needs to be when you pull the head off. I learned head jobs on big diesels and in those days you used sand paper and wire brushes and used cylinder plugs to keep the sand out of the engine.Oil is also used to clean the cylinder walls and any depree from the cylinder walls before the head goes back on.
Thanks for the kind comments from you all. later robbie

[Uncle Ben]

Originally Posted by reffug

Where the heck have you been???

Busy with your sock collection???

Congrats Romer you guys in CO don't know how lucky you are to have an asset such as Robbie so close by and available for truly technical work on your trucks.

And he is one hell of a skier too! Robbie is the only one besides myself that I would let mess with my stuff!

[Romer]

Originally Posted by lowtideride

or a 3fe

Oh yeah, instead of cleaning it up and milling the head to make it perform better, lets put a slower engine in it. Bwaaahaaaaaaaaa. Sounds like 1FZ envy to me.

[powderpig]

I would also venture to guess there is many 3fe's out in the country that have a middle of the gasket leak under the intake/exhaust manifold. I have also done a few of these. the 3fe leak is more little bubbles that can be seen with out a real loss of perfromance(like their is any except in low range LOL real hard). So 3fe owners take a gander some time in this area and see what you can see. The 3fe will also come alive if the head is milled (also want to take care of the plug that is in the oil passage) if the head is out. But yes I have seen more of the 1fz HG failures. later robbie

[timmbuck2]

Looks like I will be next in line for some HG work from Robbie. The SC adds some hours, more like 20-23 hours. I will probably replace the radiator also. Just have to find the right time to drive ALL the way out there Maybe 20 miles. Sorry guys who don't live in CO, I feel very lucky that Robbie will be able to work on my rig.

T

[lowtideride]

Originally Posted by Romer

Oh yeah, instead of cleaning it up and milling the head to make it perform better, lets put a slower engine in it. Bwaaahaaaaaaaaa. Sounds like 1FZ envy to me.

Nope not really at all when, PM includes replacing a HG i really dont want it under the hood. I like slower a reliable. I just joking with you nutty 80 owners.

[Area51]

Romer,
Can you give some info on how to contact Adventure off road?
Phone#, website, address, etc.
Thanks in advance

[Romer]

Originally Posted by Area51

Romer,
Can you give some info on how to contact Adventure off road?
Phone#, website, address, etc.
Thanks in advance

PM Powderpig - He is Adventure Off Road. I'd rather not post a phone number in a public forum. He has posted above, so you can click on his name and take it from there

[concretejungle]

I do remember him posting that he is a "traveling" mechanic. So, perhaps us east coast @&@&@&@&ers could get a group purchase of head gaskets and convince him to come our way. Perhaps if he knew there were 10 rigs that needed head gasket's done, it would be worth his time for a road trip.

[Romer]

Thanks Trabe for answering my question on AutoRx. I spent the morning reading Bobistheoilguy.com The Owner of the company is on the site and you can tell when he posts about his product. However, plenty more recommend it. Looking at what they did in the Automotive industry gave their posts a lot of credibility. I ordered some and I'll give it a try.

The head is clean, but I am sure there is still carbon behind the ring packs and I would like to get rid of that. I'll post up results.

[cruiserdan]

Robbie will travel. Do be prepared to compensate him accordingly......

[Romer]

Just look at his sig line.

Can't wait for a trip

[Junk]

Originally Posted by reffug

Where the heck have you been???

Busy with your sock collection???

No socks, but you're wife won't be home til later.

Hadn't realized that Robbie has his own shingle now. I'm happy for him. Definitely one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Only had a chance to wheel with him one time, but when I'm in Denver in early Jan maybe I'll try to swing out and say hi.

Robbie - if you happen to read this - I wish you all the luck in the world, but you won't need it. Good things happen to good people.

[bh4rnnr]

Romer, your truck is in good hands. It's a plessure to wheel with you Robbie, even if I do get you lost . The best of luck to you . Junk, give us a ring when you get out here

[Romer]

Update of the Carbon in the ring pack Issue:

With no other alternative other than an engine rebuild to get rid of the carbon, I turned to AutoRx that is praised on Bobistheoilguy.com.

I just completed the first cycle and now am into the 2nd cleaning cycle recommended for engines over 100,000 miles.

Oil after the AutoRX 1500 mile cycle came out fairly clean. The oil after the 2000 mile rinse cycle came out fairly dirty and the oil from the filter came out a little sludgy (Thicker than the pan). I ran another quart of clean oil through while draining for good measure as an extra poor mans rinse.

2nd cycle started for 1500 Miles with AutoRx. The trip next week to South Dakota will eat up a lot of that and I should be starting the rinse cycle in Early April and it should be complete shortly after returning from Moab.

Other observations:

Before the head gasket and fuel injectors were changed, I was averaging about 11MPG. After Robbie was done with his magic, I was averaging about 12.1 to 12.5 running mid grade gas. The last month I have been running an average of 12.8 to 13.2 MPG. I would estimate that the driving style is all pretty similar, but not always. I am not claiming that AutoRx itself improves your gas mileage, but thinking it reduces the carbon making it easier for the Pistons and thus allows it to operate closer to normal.

I will update again when the 2nd rinse is done.

Remember, I am not an oil expert, but did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

[tarbe]

12.3 to 13.0 is a 5.7% increase. That is significant in my book.

[reffug]

Originally Posted by Romer

Remember, I am not an oil expert, but did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

That wasn't any Holiday Inn Express......................

[tiorio]

C'mon! Who's gonna ask about the condition of the head gasket? Or did I miss something? Wasn't that the whole point?