Did I just blow my engine?

[Damcowboy]

If you have wrenching skills already, then you are ahead of the game. The engine is nothing more than an assembly of parts. Quite a few of them, but it's just parts at the end of the day and there are step by step instructions for assembly/removal/re-assembly in the factory service manual. I believe you can still buy a long block (entire lower end) from Toyota brand new, and it becomes more of a parts swapping exercise. Take out your engine, take it partially apart and reassemble all of it onto the new long block. Probably want to have a head job done 'while you are in there' by a competent shop, but even that would be optional.

If you just want to drive it and aren't into wrenching as a hobby in and of itself, I wouldn't tackle it. For myself, I just could not afford to drive old vehicles if I didn't wrench on them, plus I enjoy it as it's own thing.

I like wrenching. I’ve rebuilt power steering pumps, installed transfer cases, removed the viscous coupler, rebuilt axles, rebuilt the front end on my Bronco, redone the suspension. Welded up a swing out rear bumper on the LC, so I know my way around tools. I’ve just never opened up an engine.

I’ve talked to Toyota dealers, from what they told me you cant get new engines here in north america. The Land Cruiser restoration people get the short blocks from over seas, usually from the middle east or Japan. Thats why most of the rebuilds take 6 months to a year. At least thats what I was told.

I work for a construction company and our shop mechanics are keen to help. So I have the LC at the shop now, we’ll look into pulling the engine and tearing into it to see exactly what is damaged and go from there

 

[AussieHJCruza]

The short block is absolutely available in the US.

 

[Kernal]

^^^This^^^

What the dealers in your area have told you is not correct, they can order the short block, key is first using the correct part number IME.

Part of the problem may be that you're in Florida which means all the Toyota dealers are part of SET (Southeast Toyota) which uses it's own parts ordering system. Those dealers (in SET) are technically not part of Toyota North America and don't use the same system as Toyota USA for ordering or tracking parts (the parts gurus could explain it better)

Short Block Assembly #11400-66041 | Autoparts.toyota.com

Ensure smooth operation of your Toyota with our Short Block Assembly. Converts fuel into mechanical energy for optimal vehicle performance.

autoparts.toyotaofdecatur.com

 

[oilbrnr]

Does the above Short Block come with the oil cooler installed or is it just the block and rotating assembly?

 

[Fj80oregon]

@Damcowboy if you end up needing a long block i have a freshly rebuilt one sitting in the shop. Pm me if interested. And everyone is right you can definitely get a new short block from Toyota you will just have to transfer over all your old alignment pins and dowels and everything else easily done on a engine stand with the FSM.

 

[Fj80oregon]

Or if you just want to chat about engine rebuilds and what’s involved price wise feel free to reach out I’m more than happy to talk cruiser engines!

 

[ajax1]

Or if you just want to chat about engine rebuilds and what’s involved price wise feel free to reach out I’m more than happy to talk cruiser engines!

@Damcowboy Sounds like you should just buy engine from @Fj80oregon , pull in day, lay new harness out, clean up engine bay put new used engine in next weekend. This would prob be fastest easiest way. Plus you will learn to do it all.
I would pull the engine without tranny coming out as well, Either way works

 

[OGBeno]

Does the above Short Block come with the oil cooler installed or is it just the block and rotating assembly?

Block/rotating assembly. Anything else needs to be transferred over from another engine or, of course, purchased new.

 

[calokie]

Very intimidating. Most of what you wrote sounds like greek to me. All my skills stop at the outside of the engine. So frustrating, I bought this thing exactly for the legendary reliability rather than stay with my 96 Bronco. Oops!

Sadly I see this scenario playing out continually. The Legendary 80 series is bulletproof up until about 220,000 260,000 miles then it blows the Head Gasket (anyone who says otherwise is BS or extremely lucky. One could argue that replacing the HG isn’t a major repair, you can slap a new Head gasket in and be back on the road. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of engine options for the 80 and having to pay labor on repairs will cripple most common folks, Unfortunately you can’t go down to the local junk yard get a used engine to swap in like you can a Ford.

I didn’t get to see how many miles were on your 80 when it died on you.

 

[BTLSHP]

Sadly I see this scenario playing out continually. The Legendary 80 series is bulletproof up until about 220,000 260,000 miles then it blows the Head Gasket (anyone who says otherwise is BS or extremely lucky. One could argue that replacing the HG isn’t a major repair, you can slap a new Head gasket in and be back on the road. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of engine options for the 80 and having to pay labor on repairs will cripple most common folks, Unfortunately you can’t go down to the local junk yard get a used engine to swap in like you can a Ford.

I didn’t get to see how many miles were on your 80 when it died on you.

Now you are scaring me.....got 234k on ours no obvious sign of an HG problem but I am literally about to do cooling/heater hoses, transmission hoses and VCG (they did not do tube seals at 176k and they leak now).

 

[calokie]

Now you are scaring me.....got 234k on ours no obvious sign of an HG problem but I am literally about to do cooling/heater hoses, transmission hoses and VCG (they did not do tube seals at 176k and they leak now).

My trucks original HG made it to 265,000 , according to Toyota service records. Should be good for another 250,000 more, currently @355,000
It’s inevitable be prepared

 

[FJBen]

Sadly I see this scenario playing out continually. The Legendary 80 series is bulletproof up until about 220,000 260,000 miles then it blows the Head Gasket (anyone who says otherwise is BS or extremely lucky. One could argue that replacing the HG isn’t a major repair, you can slap a new Head gasket in and be back on the road. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of engine options for the 80 and having to pay labor on repairs will cripple most common folks, Unfortunately you can’t go down to the local junk yard get a used engine to swap in like you can a Ford.

I didn’t get to see how many miles were on your 80 when it died on you.

I’ve had 6 80 series from 110k to 350k miles. All original head gaskets. Maybe I’m just lucky because I’m not BSing. Whether they popped after my ownership I don’t know.

Not saying it doesn’t happen because it does, but everyone seems more excited to put a lift/tires before redoing the cooling system.

 

[calokie]

I’ve had 6 80 series from 110k to 350k miles. All original head gaskets. Maybe I’m just lucky because I’m not BSing. Whether they popped after my ownership I don’t know.

Not saying it doesn’t happen because it does, but everyone seems more excited to put a lift/tires before redoing the cooling system.

The 350K vehicle was a one owner, you still have it?

 

[FJBen]

The 350K vehicle was a one owner, you still have it?

I don’t have any of the 80s, not a one owner but pretty sure all major service records. I was 3rd owner.

Just my experience. There is no designed headgasket fail date/mileage. I’ve heard low mileage and super high mileage failures.

 

[landtank]

back in 2000, there had been a few HG failures reported on the forums. I took my new to me 96 into my garage and probably did the first proactive HG job on an 80.

Caught a lot of grief on the forum but in the end the sealing ring was distorted. That truck is stil in service and running flawlessly.

A head gasket is the first thing on me todo list when buying an 80. I realize that the labor is free to me but I’ve yet to be stranded due to a HG failure. Current 80 has over 300,000 and burns a half quart of oil every 5000 miles.

HG can fail in a way that’s not catastrophic and go unnoticed for thousands of miles. Doing irreparable damage to the block.

IMO if you are still running the factory HG your playing with fire.

 

[calokie]

I don’t have any of the 80s, not a one owner but pretty sure all major service records. I was 3rd owner.

Just my experience. There is no designed headgasket fail date/mileage. I’ve heard low mileage and super high mileage failures

Never said the HG failure was designed or designated.

I bought my 80 series @336,000 from the soccer mom that lived a few doors up the street from me, Dawn was the original owner and had lived in the neighborhood for 27 years. When asked.. “if any major repairs had ever been performed” (I was hoping she would say yes) Her answer was no . After hearing about countless HG failures on various forums and social media outlets with HG failure averages ranging from 230,000ish miles to 265,000ish miles. I looked up my 80s service records on the Toyota website (using the VIN). There was ole Betty getting a Head gasket @256,100 miles, I was relived to find this HG had been replaced.

Thermal Cycling has predictable results, material properties are consistent, so are the quality standards and manufacturing practices @ Toyota. 256,000 miles is an impressive amount of miles not having a HG failure. These days its rare to find a 1FZ-FE on the market with less than 200k.

 

[landtank]

I should note that I did do one HG for a friend and it was the original version with over 120,000 miles and in impeccable shape. The truck was out of Maine and I was floored when I saw it.

So if you don’t drink, swear and stay truthful to your woman, maybe a proactive HG job isn’t needed.

 

[SNLC]

I’ve had 6 80 series from 110k to 350k miles. All original head gaskets. Maybe I’m just lucky because I’m not BSing. Whether they popped after my ownership I don’t know.

Not saying it doesn’t happen because it does, but everyone seems more excited to put a lift/tires before redoing the cooling system.

I have had one come in the shop with 460k on an OG head gasket.

Cheers

 

[FJBen]

Never said the HG failure was designed or designated.

I bought my 80 series @336,000 from the soccer mom that lived a few doors up the street from me, Dawn was the original owner and had lived in the neighborhood for 27 years. When asked.. “if any major repairs had ever been performed” (I was hoping she would say yes) Her answer was no . After hearing about countless HG failures on various forums and social media outlets with HG failure averages ranging from 230,000ish miles to 265,000ish miles. I looked up my 80s service records on the Toyota website (using the VIN). There was ole Betty getting a Head gasket @256,100 miles, I was relived to find this HG had been replaced.

Thermal Cycling has predictable results, material properties are consistent, so are the quality standards and manufacturing practices @ Toyota. 256,000 miles is an impressive amount of miles not having a HG failure. These days its rare to find a 1FZ-FE on the market with less than 200k.

View attachment 3673870

I don’t disagree with you. Most have been neglected and put away wet. 265k miles of usual neglect and an underpowered i6 pushing a fat 80…I’d say it’s pretty good.

 

[BTLSHP]

Well, I have learned at last two things today. One, is I have to check the freeze plugs on the blocks for any signs of coolant wiping through hairline cracks. Two, I have to think about the head gasket and whether I do it now or entrust it to someone in CO. I am going to have to watch the OTRAMM videos again.

I currently plan to have the TB off, the valve cover off and the upper intake off. My guess is that is halfway or so there.....