V8 remorse...not exactely.
My story is a 2F nightmare....and I only offer it up because these landcruisers are expensive when major components break. Used parts are really not all that reliable when you are talking about high wear parts. Used doors ok, but used motors....I am now a disbeliever.
I bought my 60 1.5yrs ago knowing that thew white smoke coming out the back was at least a headgasket failure. I had a mechanic pull the head. The problem wasn't a headgasket, but rather a cracked head. I bought a used head from cruiserparts.net for $350 and had it rebuilt by a reputable machine shop ($250) and all gaskets replaced, reinstalled. Total costs was something like $1000 bucks to get it running. It lasted about 1500 miles, before failing.
Instead of doing a second headjob, I went the used engine route. I picked up a used 2F motor (80k, great compression) from toycruiser.com for $650 and had it installed by a shade tree cruiserhead. New gaskets, odd parts, etc. cost $500. Total install costs on the new motor....$1150.
The motor ran hot from startup, despite new hoses, radiator, flushing, etc. Coolant was being lost from somewhere. Compression checks were good. It turns out I have a cracked short block. I am at the point of having WAY too much tied up in this rig to contemplate getting rid of it. I have to fix this one. At this point I am looking to a welder to see if he can seal up that crack and get me on the road. See my other posts.
My rig has been broken longer than it has ever been driven. So....V8 remorse....I don't know. I just wish I had better luck. At this point, I have learned a ton about trucks. I just wish I started the lessons with a rusty ford 150 before losing my shirt with a toyota.
YES, USED 2F engines are availble. If I was to do it again, and couldn't do the work myself, I would NOT recommend paying to have headgaskets replaced, heads rebuilt, or shortblocks swapped. I would pay instead to have a used 2F installed....AFTER inspecting the used part in a vehicle while it was running. If you have to buy an engine that can't be inspected, then do a conversion or buy a new rig in better shape.
Or spend $200 on an an engine crane, buy a good set of rachets, extensions, wobble extensions, torque wrench, carb cleaner, the FSM and take 10 days off of work to do it yourself.
My two cents....cause I've not been blessed, yet, but the cruisergods.
