97 FJ80
- Thread starter KDAWG97m3
- Start date
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Does it need a headgasket?
- Thread starter
- #3
Not that I am aware of. Doesn’t over heat. Zero issues. Just want to get ahead of it at the mileage. I agree, that isn’t a preventive maintenance item, but if I am sticking my 16 year old in it? Should I?
Get your son some tools and download the FSM. Will be cheaper and he will learn a few life lessons in the process.
mudgudgeon
Resident galah
I agree with the two posts above 
Depending on your capabilities, and your son's interest level, refreshing the cooling system and the head gasket with his help could give him some skin in the game in regards to looking after the vehicle in the future.
A car gifted to a teenager is not often valued or looked after.
Would he notice signs of an impending head gasket failure if it was left alone, and went bad later?
I tried to do this with my son with my current 80. Deal was, I bought the car, he would help me with catching up defered maintenance, and the car would be his once he got his license.
Ultimately he wasn't interested in working on an old car, and with mommy's bank, he bought a newer car when he got his license (long since upgraded), and now pays for regular maintenance.
Depending on your capabilities, and your son's interest level, refreshing the cooling system and the head gasket with his help could give him some skin in the game in regards to looking after the vehicle in the future.
A car gifted to a teenager is not often valued or looked after.
Would he notice signs of an impending head gasket failure if it was left alone, and went bad later?
I tried to do this with my son with my current 80. Deal was, I bought the car, he would help me with catching up defered maintenance, and the car would be his once he got his license.
Ultimately he wasn't interested in working on an old car, and with mommy's bank, he bought a newer car when he got his license (long since upgraded), and now pays for regular maintenance.
Start out small and get a wrench in his hands. He may take to it after working on a couple of easier things with you and feeling the satisfaction of completing something mechanical. Perhaps start with changing out the radiator hoses or other more easily accessible hoses (if needed), changing the oil, draining the transmission fluid, or changing out some burnt out dash bulbs. After a couple of smaller projects, you should have a sense of whether a bigger project would get his interest.Not sure he has the interest. Trust me, his investment in the truck is going to be deep. Nothing is free in my house
Then don't mess with it other an a nice thourough flush and new rubber.
CharlieS
GOLD Star
Bah. Good learning experience. I coached/assisted my son through replacing the head gaskets on his rover v8. He learned a ton and we had a lot of fun.
If he doesn't want to work on it, take it to a shop and get an estimate on it to do the work. Then he can scrounge the $$$$ to make it happen. Then maybe he'll get the point.Not sure he has the interest. Trust me, his investment in the truck is going to be deep. Nothing is free in my house
Make sure he thoroughly understands: (a) how to monitor the cooling system, (b) what to do if the truck shows signs of overheating and (c) the consequences of ignoring (a) and (b).
Great platform for tackling head gaskets.
Just remember one thing, even if you do this job yourself, and install a new head gasket, new valve seals (factory Toyota head gasket kit is around 300 bucks) and a valve job done (machine shop cost local to me for this job is 550 bucks) it's going to cost you over a grand, If you add in odds and ends "while your doing this job" you'll be way closer to 1500 bucks by the time your done, Don't get me wrong, i BELIEVE strongly in preventive maintenance, but if your head gasket isn't leaking, i wouldn't mess with it till it was, Just my 2 cents YMMV
What's the matter with ACC? Just curious because I went there once and had a good experience.
