norsk
SILVER Star
Sometime ago, I got a 2nd 2F head for my 1986 FJ60 with 217k miles on it. I followed JimC's counsel and upgraded to stainless steel Chevy valves. My machinist did a great job on it and last weekend (Apr 1-3, 2011) I pulled it and swapped in it. My monday it was running but with difficultly. Found a manifold leak and wednesday last, install two manifold gaskets and tightened it down - no more leak.
It was ran VERY smooth. Examining the old head, it looks like some of the exhaust values were pulled up into the head. This explains the extremely tight valve lash from last year when I first set the lash. I could not understand why it was TIGHTER instead of LOOSER. Now I do.
I used a Toyota head gasket and the machinist did all the rest on the head. Well, thursday morning headed to work with a STRONG engine (more than I had felt in a FJ-60 w/headers and trollhole's carb) and POP.
Find out that the head's rear freeze plug blew out.
The machinist accepts responsibility for this and will help pay for part or all of the parts cost, effectively losing the entire job costs for him. But I will return in the future for other work.
Now for the reason for this post.
Got a hold of CruiserDan to order just a head gasket this time instead of the valve-job kit from him.
He doesn't have any in stock but can order then. BUT, he cautions, the single item gasket has a 50 percent chance of arriving intact to his place in New Mexico. And it will take a week or more to get it.
BUT he does have a valve-job kit in stock and can ship it out to me. I take it.
Now the kicker: There are just 5 single item head gaskets in the continental US. Just 5. I didn't ask how many valve-job kits there are.
With Japan's crisis, we might be in the last days of Toyota's head gaskets. That is a scary thought.
My V8 plans just took a boost of a serious investigation. That plan is a complete build of GMPP parts, etc.
Thought you might like to know
doug t
It was ran VERY smooth. Examining the old head, it looks like some of the exhaust values were pulled up into the head. This explains the extremely tight valve lash from last year when I first set the lash. I could not understand why it was TIGHTER instead of LOOSER. Now I do.
I used a Toyota head gasket and the machinist did all the rest on the head. Well, thursday morning headed to work with a STRONG engine (more than I had felt in a FJ-60 w/headers and trollhole's carb) and POP.
Find out that the head's rear freeze plug blew out.
The machinist accepts responsibility for this and will help pay for part or all of the parts cost, effectively losing the entire job costs for him. But I will return in the future for other work.
Now for the reason for this post.
Got a hold of CruiserDan to order just a head gasket this time instead of the valve-job kit from him.
He doesn't have any in stock but can order then. BUT, he cautions, the single item gasket has a 50 percent chance of arriving intact to his place in New Mexico. And it will take a week or more to get it.
BUT he does have a valve-job kit in stock and can ship it out to me. I take it.
Now the kicker: There are just 5 single item head gaskets in the continental US. Just 5. I didn't ask how many valve-job kits there are.
With Japan's crisis, we might be in the last days of Toyota's head gaskets. That is a scary thought.
My V8 plans just took a boost of a serious investigation. That plan is a complete build of GMPP parts, etc.
Thought you might like to know
doug t