A Pre-emptive Rebuild for my 60?

[OCHO4I]

Okay, I’m FINALLY going to get an H55 put in my FJ60 at the end of the month. (Another happy Toyota of El Cajon customer!) At any rate, while my 60 is in traction, I was considering rebuilding the engine while it’s laid up.

The question I have is this: Is it worthwhile doing a pre-emptive rebuild at this point? It has 175K on the odometer and from what I know of my 60’s history, it’s never been rebuilt before. It was well maintained by its previous owner and I’ve done all the normal maintenance (oil changes, filters, etc.) at the appropriate intervals since it came into my possession. The bottom line is that it still runs strong for a 20 year old mill. The engine has always been pretty much bone stock and it’s never run hot. Compression is still good and within a few pounds from cylinder to cylinder; the spark plugs look good and no signs of oil or water leakage that I can see. I know that all things mechanical eventually go south (and usually at the most inopportune moment!) and at some point, it’s going to need a rebuild. However, if it’s still running strong at this point, is the rebuild worth it? I don’t tend to hot rod my engine, so how many more miles could I expect to get from my 2F before a rebuild becomes inevitable? (It’s my DD for that grueling 6 mile round trip to my office in Los Angeles each day whenever I’m stateside in addition to being my weekend fun vehicle for trail excursions and the occasional trip to the Sierras.) Would you rebuild the 2F at this point? What about just getting the head overhauled and reinstalled on the un-rebuilt block? Any ideas?

 

[jgordon]

If you really want to spend some money, rebuild it - I'd leave it alone. A lot of these rigs are hitting 400k with no issues, doesn't seem to make sense on an engine that's working as well as yours seems to be.

Edit: although wtih a daily mileage as low as yours, I would keep an eye out for carbon buildup. Engines need to get hot (full operating temp) on a regular basis to avoid that and other issues.

 

[REKCUT]

The only down side is money. If that is no concern then I would rebuild.

 

[rfj62]

If she's running good I wouln't with it.

 

[OCHO4I]

I almost forgot . . .

Also, if I ultimately decide to do the rebuild, what is a ballpark estimate of what I should expect to pay to overhaul a 2F? (Including new pistons, bearings, gaskets, machine work on the head and block, new cam, replace valves if needed, etc.)

 

[Dynosoar]

LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!! 175k miles is the break in period. In addition, you are looking at boat load of cash to rebuild it. Parts alone could be as much as $1,000. Then there is machine work, etc...


Dynosoar

 

[Tvaldriz]

If I knew you better, I'd ask if you were high? Why would you
want to rebuild the engine now?

2x what brother Dynosaur said. Leave it alone.

 

[OCHO4I]

I can honestly say that I'm not leaning one way or the other regarding doing the rebuild or not. The reason I put this out there for everyone’s input is to see whether I should take advantage of the time my 60 is in the shop to have the engine rebuilt if it would more than likely need to be rebuilt in the near future in any case. I have no interest in throwing my money away if it’s not to my advantage at this point to rebuild the engine.

 

[cando john]

if it an't broke don't fix it .........................

 

[paulwolf350]

if it an't broke don't fix it .........................

x2

you will get 300k out of a 2f easy. I wouldnt touch it until its dead

Paul

 

[Ducks]

It would be nice to know how long a 2F usually lasts. I know some have gone 500k before needing to be rebuilt BUT I don't expect mine will. Seems like there are a least a few people on this board that have had their 2F go kaput ~250k. I'm looking forward to rebuilding my 2F but it would be nice to do it when I want to and not when I really need it to work for me. That said, there should be tell tell signs about the engine going south. It doesn't usually happen overnight. I guess I would say wait until the compression doesn't look great or you smoke on startup or whatever sign there is that the 2F ain't quite up to snuff any more. I understand the preemptive urge, but this might be a little too soon. My 2¢.

 

[Ducks]

Has anyone seen a rebuild kit for the 2F? I know they have them for diesels. The rebuild kit for the 3B is $1,500.

 

[Pighead]

I'd rebuild it while it's out...But i like rebuilding engines. and it's easier in a Pig than a 60...
BUT, you'll get a much better engine. Better than factory. You can have it balanced, and stuff. Every little thing will be checked...
my rule of thumb is to do a valve job every 100-125K, rebuild every 250K.
Pre-emptive rebuilds are much better than post-emptive rebuilds.

 

[Tvaldriz]

I think the issue here is that he is going to have to pay to have the
engine rebuilt. Big $$$ there.

I thoght some more about the earlier question, and about all I would
do at this time is to replace the rear main seal when you have the
tranny out and perhaps do a clutch if it is original. That, at least to me, makes sense.

I'd still wait on the rebuild until you need it.

 

[fowldarr]

Mine has 290,000 on it and the engine runs ok. It needs work in a lot of other areas, but the engine has shown no signs of giving up. My vote is to wait. But I would replace the rear main seal while you have the tranny out, and maybe the clutch,

Even if your rig only makes it to 250,000 before needing the rebuild, at 6mi/day and only sometimes when you are stateside, That is a long way from 175,000. You've got time my friend, use it to by a lift, or tires, or pay for that trip to baja, do something fun.

 

[marting]

hey! are you rich? then rebuild it with some turbo's and stuff... are you poor like the rest of us bas##ds, let it be!

 

[OCHO4I]

Like most things in life, it comes down to the old time vs. money issue. I thought that given the time it would take to do the H55, it would be worth the extra cash to do the rebuild in one shot if I would end up having to do it anyway at some point in the near future. However, the consensus seems to be that I have nothing to worry about and the 2F should “keep going and going and going . . .” so long as I do my part to keep it maintained. I thank you all for your insight and input. Yet again, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” prevails! You definitely saved me from having to put out additional funds for a job that really does not seem necessary at this point in time.

The clutch was replaced last year, but I have no idea about the condition of the main seal. Any ideas on how much that would run given that I’ll have the transmission out?

Now fowldar, you really got me thinking about a trip down the Baja peninsula with all the money I’ll be “saving.” (At least that’s how I’m going to pitch it to my spouse . . . )

 

[Tvaldriz]

The rear main seals are relativly cheap. Go OEM, less than $40.

They can pull the rear main seal easily once the tranny is out, and
they are easy to install at that time. If you have a good relationship
with the shop, I doubt they would charge much to install when the
tranny is out.

 

[debushau]

I'm all for preventative maintenance but why it rebuild it before it breaks - you won't have to pull the motor to put an H55 in there so it will take a same amount of time to do it now or later.

 

[Ducks]

my rule of thumb is to do a valve job every 100-125K, rebuild every 250K.
Pre-emptive rebuilds are much better than post-emptive rebuilds.

That sounds like a great idea. I would want to give the engine a reasonable amount of miles before rebuilding. But I'd rather rebuild it before something happens when I can plan the time and money to do it.