Blown Head Gasket

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70 FJ40

70 FJ40

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Threads
85
Messages
1,058
Location
Eastern, OR
I have a blown head gasket on my recently acquired '81 FJ60. I'm looking for a little help on some options for repair. I plan to do the work myself with some help from a young mechanic friend. I'm trying decide how extensive to go on the machine work for the head. Just have it checked or do more?? I'm also looking at possibly purchasing a head from someone that had a bunch of work done to it in anticipation of building a performance 2f. That may be the quickest and easiest option, but im not sure its the correct way to go. I'm worried the extra compression will not be good for the rest of the motor. He has it shaved 1mm as well as new valves and a few other things. I'm hoping to get more details on it later in the weekend.

A few questions about going the route of the new head.
1. What things do I need to be aware of when putting a head from an '86 on a block from an '81? I know there were some minor differences after '85, I think.
2. What year gasket kit do i need to get?
3. My Cruiser has 239k miles and I'm pretty sure the motor is original without any work done to it. Is a head that's been re-worked and shaved 1mm going to be bad for the old motor?
4. Any pitfalls or things to be aware of? Anything I should do "while I'm in there"? Good threads to read on the subject? I've done some looking, but im just starting this process as I just confirmed yesterday the blown head gasket.

Thanks for any help or pointers.

Max
 
Ya. At a minimum, I'll have it magnafluxed.
 
Warped and cracks are the two concerns when a head gasket goes or overheating occurs. Heads can be milled flat but cracks may be the end of a head
 
I’d say the answer depends on how quickly you want/need it on the road.

When I did mine, it’s my daily driver and I knew I would be building an engine for it in the near future and this one has 300k miles so I just had them check for cracks, then shave only as much as they needed. Mine was cracked so I used a spare head I had.
If it’s not apart yet, do a compression and leak down test to see the condition of rings and valves, if you can. But the shop can tell you if it needs the valve seats recut.

If you have time and plan on a higher performance engine in the future, have it checked for cracks, shaved and swap stainless Chevy valves and a little porting if you can. However…. A 2F has limited potential without severe modifications and to get the most you can without big mods, it needs to be a well planned build. Meaning, plan the head and head work to match the cam and compression. You won’t really know the compression of the future engine until it’s apart and machined so buying a different head with work already done may go backward in performance if the valves are too big or shaved too much, etc.
 
Personally, if doing the backbreaking work of removing the head, it's ridiculous (to me) not to have the head refreshed, particularly if there's a lot of miles on it.

The 81 head will take the 61010 HG
The 86 Head will take the 61030 HG

Either head will work.

1mm shave is a lot. It will significantly increase compression ratio to the point you may need 91 oct gasoline. You also might need to put a washer under the head-bolts so they don't bottom out.

SteveH

Thread 'Shaving a late 2F head'

I have an '82 2F engine from an FJ40 that was rebuilt 25K ago, and then run with mis-adjusted valves, and the compression is a bit low-ish in two cyls. I plan to pull the head, have a valve job done, and get it shaved to bump compression for better performance at my 7000' elevation. The lower end is solid on this engine.

I haven't seen a thread on late model 2F head shaving (in particular) - since this head is rumored to be more 'fragile' than a '78ish head, should I have it shaved less or do anything else along the way? (Paging Mark Whatley!)

Thanks - Steve
 
Spike Strip said:
Personally, if doing the backbreaking work of removing the head, it's ridiculous (to me) not to have the head refreshed, particularly if there's a lot of miles on it.

The 81 head will take the 61010 HG
The 86 Head will take the 61030 HG

Either head will work.

1mm shave is a lot. It will significantly increase compression ratio to the point you may need 91 oct gasoline. You also might need to put a washer under the head-bolts so they don't bottom out.

SteveH

Thread 'Shaving a late 2F head'

I have an '82 2F engine from an FJ40 that was rebuilt 25K ago, and then run with mis-adjusted valves, and the compression is a bit low-ish in two cyls. I plan to pull the head, have a valve job done, and get it shaved to bump compression for better performance at my 7000' elevation. The lower end is solid on this engine.

I haven't seen a thread on late model 2F head shaving (in particular) - since this head is rumored to be more 'fragile' than a '78ish head, should I have it shaved less or do anything else along the way? (Paging Mark Whatley!)

Thanks - Steve
Click to expand...
Thanks for that info. All good stuff to know. I'm learning a lot. Some of the info is still over my head, though.

Does it matter what lower end I use for which head gasket? Or the head gasket is only determined by which head I use?
 
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Spike Strip said:
The head-gasket should match the head for coolant flow. Use the Toyota gasket- expensive, but this is not a job you want to do twice.
Click to expand...
Where are you finding Toyota head gaskets? I'm having my 3FE head mag'd. I asked the machinist about rebuilding the block too, told him i wanted to used OEM, not a Felpro gasket set. He said "if I mill the head and the block, why wouldn't a Felpro gasket work? do you really trust an OEM head gasket thats been sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30 years?" what are your thoughts on this?
 
redtoy said:
Where are you finding Toyota head gaskets? I'm having my 3FE head mag'd. I asked the machinist about rebuilding the block too, told him i wanted to used OEM, not a Felpro gasket set. He said "if I mill the head and the block, why wouldn't a Felpro gasket work? do you really trust an OEM head gasket thats been sitting on a shelf somewhere for 30 years?" what are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...

Toyota head gaskets aren't sitting on a shelf for 30 years. Toyota moves their inventory quickly and makes/orders only the amount needed, as needed based on inventory sales in any given 6 month period.
 
redtoy said:
what are your thoughts on this?
Click to expand...
Take a look at the difference between OEM and another brand. (2F)

20240407_173344 - Copy.webp


20240407_173406 - Copy.webp
 
Any Toyota Dealer can get one for you, but you'll prolly get a better price from multiple MUD vendors.

FWIW, I HATE having Head Gaskets shipped, because they always arrive bent or otherwise damaged.

I would buy from a place you can pick up, or ensure they will ship box-in-box.
 
Spike Strip said:
FWIW, I HATE having Head Gaskets shipped, because they always arrive bent or otherwise damaged.

I would buy from a place you can pick up, or ensure they will ship box-in-box.
Click to expand...
Buy your head gaskets from Cruiser Outfitters, they box them up special with strips of lumber as stiffeners inside their boxes...
 
Why would a head gasket “go bad” sitting on a shelf for 30 years? Does that mean head gaskets have a shelf life and we need to be replacing them in our engines at specified intervals?
I’d question using that machinist honestly.
 
Just an FYI, if one orders anything from Partsouq or other overseas suppliers you will be charged the 25%(depending on what the rate is for that country at the time of arrival) tariff upon arrival of the goods into the US. I recently ordered a lock kit for my 75 and the shipper, DHL, sent me an invoice for the tariff, along with an easy way to pay via Credit Card. Once payment was received, my shipment was released for delivery.

As far as a head gasket goes, just order one from the dealer or a vendor who packs well as others have stated. My dealer let's me inspect parts prior to leaving so if there are any issues they will order a replacement.
 
I went and picked up the head today from the '86 fj60. (First picture). I talked with Cruiser Outfitters about a head gasket. They told me they have an engine gasket kit for an '81-'85 2f that would work for my truck. They said the head gasket would be the same. I thought there was a difference. The head is obviously very similar but I see there is a difference where the manifold goes. There are several more threaded holes in casting. Doesnt look like they are used for the the manifold, though. Will I need to have a manifold gasket for a later head?
20251108_214347.webp

20251108_214322.webp
 
The extra holes in the late 2F head are for the 3F manifolds as this head was used on both 2F and 3F blocks, worldwide.

The gasket kit for pre 85 will have the 61010 HG

You should use the 61030 head gasket.

You can get the 3F gasket kit from overseas, which contains the 61030 HG, but some of the other gaskets are different.

Best is just to buy the gaskets you'll need individually.
 
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