Head Gasket Worries

[Beowulf]

No timing belt on the 1FZ-FE. It is a chain.

There are lotsa things that are very easy to do with a HG job.

There is a timing chain guide that most of us would replace with the HG job. (See revision in post #23)
I would have the injectors cleaned and balanced.
Now is the time for the PHH and the VSV for EGR.
Oil pressure bypass valve spring thingie. (See revision in post #23)
I would have the valves redone.
Clean throttle body.

I believe there is a couple of threads detailing the "while you are in there" things for a HG job.

-B-

 

[DTAYLOR]

No timing belt on the 1FZ-FE. It is a chain.

There are lotsa things that are very easy to do with a HG job.

There is a timing chain guide that most of us would replace with the HG job.
I would have the injectors cleaned and balanced.
Now is the time for the PHH and the VSV for EGR.
Oil pressure bypass valve spring thingie.
I would have the valves redone.
Clean throttle body.

I believe there is a couple of threads detailing the "while you are in there" things for a HG job.

-B-

FYI on the timing chain and guides. The oil pan and front cover have to be removed to replace these. While it is wise to do so, it is also a lot of extra labor / cost.

If I were buying this truck (and I would at that price) I would be happy with the head work, PHH, hoses, belts, stat, fuel filter, throttle body cleaning, cap, rotor, wires, plugs, water pump, fan clutch, and two oil changes. (Use Mobil one oil)

This will get you a long way down the road, plus it should run a lot better than when you test drove it.

0.02

DTaylor

 

[Beowulf]

FYI on the timing chain and guides. The oil pan and front cover have to be removed to replace these. While it is wise to do so, it is also a lot of extra labor / cost.

My statement about the timing chain guide should be amended to say: "Most of us ham-fisted klutzes would replace the timing chain guide...."



DTaylor is correct that it is a lot of extra work and I would NOT recommend doing this with a normal HG job. I was thinking of Rick's HG and Dan's oil galley issues.... my bad.

-B-

 

[csnowtn]

Quick update - Toyota finally got the head gasket job done but couldn't do any of the other PM without some sort of commitment that i was buying (which I understand) and I didn't feel comfortable purchasing a car that's in the shop. So, we went to go look at it again after it was back on the lot and before we left I got a call from the salesman saying the radiator was now leaking. So, another day went buy and he calls me back to tell me they ended up replacing the radiator. However, this time the GM mechanics did the work. Should I just walk at this point? Seems like too many issues are popping up. But, then again, maybe the radiator was no surprise and its a good thing they replaced it. Any advice?

 

[4WD Toyota Owner Magazine]

Walk! The truck has issues in expensive areas, heck be patient and find a better one--and there are plenty!

Walk!!

 

[Rich]

While the rate of failure of headgaskets is unknown, the risk comes with all fzj80s. I would not consider the replacement of the radiator to be any sort of significant incremental risk.

 

[tarbe]

Walk! The truck has issues in expensive areas, heck be patient and find a better one--and there are plenty!

Walk!!

Well, the truck certainly had issues in expensive areas. But if it now has a new HG and a new (hopefully) OEM radiator, one might expect those are two issues you will not have to deal with again. If I bought this truck, I would probably flush the cooling system very well and change the oil immediately.

Any 9 year old truck you look at might be one spin around the block away from needing a HG or radiator...you just never know...unless they were just changed. Then you have a pretty good assurance...maybe they will guarantee their work if you buy it?

 

[alaskacruiser]

regardless of your intentions for the truck, you should buy the one with the diff locks. Becuse down the road if you wanted to sell the truck those things will bring you some extra money if marketed in the right area.

I disagree with Rick on one point. While I agree you should get the one with the difflocks, it is because they are quite expensive to add-on later (esp. to retrofit the factory elockers), and not because of better resale value.

Nobody but a die-hard Cruiserhead knows or cares about difflocks when buying OR selling, and your average soccer-mom seller likely doesn't even know what the switch is for. I've seen a few mall-cruising sellers emphasize this as a selling point, but rarely does it makes a significant difference in final selling price vs. non-locked rigs. Miles, geographic market, and condition play a much bigger part in resale value in my experience.

 

[Atticus]

I disagree with Rick on one point. While I agree you should get the one with the difflocks, it is because they are quite expensive to add-on later (esp. to retrofit the factory elockers), and not because of better resale value.

Nobody but a die-hard Cruiserhead knows or cares about difflocks when buying OR selling, and your average soccer-mom seller likely doesn't even know what the switch is for. I've seen a few mall-cruising sellers emphasize this as a selling point, but rarely does it makes a significant difference in final selling price vs. non-locked rigs. Miles, geographic market, and condition play a much bigger part in resale value in my experience.

You make a good point, but the reality is that, when/if he sells in five years or so, the market is likely to be comprised only of "die-hard Cruiserheads". How many soccer moms do you see driving around FJ-60's?

 

[csnowtn]

Despite all of the wonderful feedback, I decided not to get the LC with the bad HG and Radiator. Instead, I just found and purchased IMMEDIATELY (before someone else found it) a 1997 LC with...get this...only 55,000 miles! One owner from right here in Nashville. Immaculate inside and out. Dark blue paint (which I haven't seen very many of). I'm beside myself that I found a 9 yr old LC with only 55k miles. And, CarFax checks out so its not a typo. And, on top of all that, it has Diff Locks. Thanks again for all the wonderful feedback. Frankly, if it weren't for all the back-and-forth on the HG issue I would have never found this one. I'll post a picture tonight when I get home.

 

[csnowtn]

Here it is...

 

[jfz80]

congrats.....good things come to those that wait. i was in the hunt for almost a year b4 one popped up in state as well. 55k and lockers ; you gotta love that

 

[Darwood]

You make a good point, but the reality is that, when/if he sells in five years or so, the market is likely to be comprised only of "die-hard Cruiserheads". How many soccer moms do you see driving around FJ-60's?

This is happen even now. When I was looking for my cruiser about 2 years ago when I asked over the phone if it had locker I often got the response "no it doesn't and I've had 5 other guys ask me that". From my experience the lockered rigs sold significantly faster than the non lockered ones.

 

[landtank]

Nice find....what's that wet spot right under the front door/fender seem?

 

[csnowtn]

I think it's coolant from the blown HG...ha ha...It's just water from the A/C.

 

[tarbe]

That is really a great find! Congrats and enjoy the baselining. Yes, you should still baseline even though it only has 55k. It is 9 years old

Makes me want to go out and find one just like it

 

[IdahoDoug]

Strange wheel centers - are those 93/94 caps, or something else that's black instead?? Nice color. Do a search on replacing the antenna.

DougM

 

[Skillet]

Is that a screen door sticking out of the roof?

 

[csnowtn]

Those caps are aftermarket caps that the dealer had put on. They're silver with a black center and a silver Toyota logo in the middle.

 

[Spydaz]

Nice find... I found my 1997 in a soccer moms gararge here in LI with 36k miles last year.. No lockers but hey i really do not care for that low of miles.. I paid 17,500.00 cash.. What did you pay for her??