Last weekend was a somber one. On the way back from Lowes I stopped at a light just off the freeway and the idle felt rough. As I turned down the radio and rolled down the window I glanced in the mirror to see a cloud of white smoke that would make any hipster jealous of my vape cloud. In the morning I started with a compression test and found #2 cylinder at 245lbs. Pulled the tester out and turned it over to watch a geyser come out of the sparkplug hole. The good part about Toyota red coolant is leaks show up immediately.
Background - in December I bought the roughest looking 1992 FJ80 I could stomach, but I drove it home for less than $3k with no brakes, leaking axles, starting problem(discovered to be EFI relay). Tie rod ends were scary, and the knuckles were unbelievably hammered when I rebuilt them. No telling how long it sat, but the kid admitted that he pulled it out of someones backyard and got it to the point he could sell it. Started with rear brakes, all hardware, drums, shoes, axle seals, and a new LSPV. Then, 555 tie rod ends and replaced the Birfs, replaced all knuckle bearings, re-sealed the front and then found a used OME lift. Lift has approx 8k miles on OME 860/851 springs and shocks.
When I bought it I asked the kid if he knew if it had ever overheated, he said no as I looked at the missing hood insulation above the radiatior cap but whatever, stick tp your story kid. About 2 weeks ago I got in and ran it about 3/4 mile to the freeway and by the time I made the second exit(1mile) the temp was pegged. I limped off with momentum and then let it cool before driving the rest of the way to work. Almost pegged temp again. I have a short commute. I flushed coolant, relaced thermostat and cap, and cleared out all heater core, radiator etc, and then this happened. I feel like there was a pinhole already but who knows. No previous smoke, no previous oil/water mixing.
I knew this day would come, but now I feel like it might be time to just go crazy and swap to a 2uz. Looking for any advice from anyone with experience
Question #1 - If I pull the head and deck it, cut valves, NDT, and replace seals is there anything else I should do to the top end? Planning to drop the oil pan, check bearings, and replace side cover gasket check lifters etc. Again motor is at 235k miles
Question #2 - is the @Cruiser Corps gasket set OEM gaskets including head gasket? Is there any type of upgraded head gasket that I would be better off using? I am partial to OEM.
Question #3 - Am I wasting my time and money? I love the idea of a 4.7 2UZ swap but I am not certain I have the patience to work through the install.
Last - I have 2.5 OME springs in front but want to add 30mm spacers. Shoudl I just go to 4" slee springs, and either way will the slee caster plates do the trick or should I just bite the bullet and go with arms?
The belhousing is available to put the 2UZ to the A440F, but is there that much of a gain in HP that I wont regret the time and money spent or should I just try to rebuild as much of the 3FE as I can and hope for another 235k? Thanks to all who offer help. First pic is the day I got her, second is after the lift, and most work. Still need spacers in the front and some caster correction.
Background - in December I bought the roughest looking 1992 FJ80 I could stomach, but I drove it home for less than $3k with no brakes, leaking axles, starting problem(discovered to be EFI relay). Tie rod ends were scary, and the knuckles were unbelievably hammered when I rebuilt them. No telling how long it sat, but the kid admitted that he pulled it out of someones backyard and got it to the point he could sell it. Started with rear brakes, all hardware, drums, shoes, axle seals, and a new LSPV. Then, 555 tie rod ends and replaced the Birfs, replaced all knuckle bearings, re-sealed the front and then found a used OME lift. Lift has approx 8k miles on OME 860/851 springs and shocks.
When I bought it I asked the kid if he knew if it had ever overheated, he said no as I looked at the missing hood insulation above the radiatior cap but whatever, stick tp your story kid. About 2 weeks ago I got in and ran it about 3/4 mile to the freeway and by the time I made the second exit(1mile) the temp was pegged. I limped off with momentum and then let it cool before driving the rest of the way to work. Almost pegged temp again. I have a short commute. I flushed coolant, relaced thermostat and cap, and cleared out all heater core, radiator etc, and then this happened. I feel like there was a pinhole already but who knows. No previous smoke, no previous oil/water mixing.
I knew this day would come, but now I feel like it might be time to just go crazy and swap to a 2uz. Looking for any advice from anyone with experience
Question #1 - If I pull the head and deck it, cut valves, NDT, and replace seals is there anything else I should do to the top end? Planning to drop the oil pan, check bearings, and replace side cover gasket check lifters etc. Again motor is at 235k miles
Question #2 - is the @Cruiser Corps gasket set OEM gaskets including head gasket? Is there any type of upgraded head gasket that I would be better off using? I am partial to OEM.
Question #3 - Am I wasting my time and money? I love the idea of a 4.7 2UZ swap but I am not certain I have the patience to work through the install.
Last - I have 2.5 OME springs in front but want to add 30mm spacers. Shoudl I just go to 4" slee springs, and either way will the slee caster plates do the trick or should I just bite the bullet and go with arms?
The belhousing is available to put the 2UZ to the A440F, but is there that much of a gain in HP that I wont regret the time and money spent or should I just try to rebuild as much of the 3FE as I can and hope for another 235k? Thanks to all who offer help. First pic is the day I got her, second is after the lift, and most work. Still need spacers in the front and some caster correction.