Headgasket job started (2 Viewers)

[SteveNJ]

Finally started the HG work on my 97. Actually started Thursday night couple hours here and there. The parts should all arrive this coming week so I figured I'd get everything apart before hand.
Good thing too as a kind of guy doing a kind of job everything is taking longer. That and nothing has been wrenched on this truck in ages so tons of things stuck etc.

Doug's list and DVD have been a great help getting everything ready so far.

So far:
cut out the entire exhaust ( I'm replacing it so it made it easier)
Exhaust separated from manifold
Air cleaner out
Battery out
Belts off
Distributor out
Plugs out
Alternator out
Throttle body out

I'm probably a solid 10-12 hours into this now, I think I understand why Toyota wants $1900 to do it

Over the next week or so (maybe 2 or 3) I'll be replacing:
All the gaskets/ seals as part of the HG job
The entire rear heater lines (rusted like crazy, rather not have them go after everything buttoned up)
New plugs/belts etc
Manifold to tail pipe exhaust replacement
PHH
Crank seal
Oil pump gasket

Right now I'm planning to just put in the HG, not sending the head out for work etc, since it was just failing and not failed I'm hoping head is good still, debating sending out injectors, I'll probably have the time while waiting for parts.

One thing I noticed that is different from Doug's DVD, I don't as of yet need a board, I can actually fit in the engine compartment where the air cleaner was and stand on the frame (carefully avoiding AC lines)

 

[blkprj80]

You might want to buy the seven screws for the oil pump. Odds of salvaging all are slim.
Is the dizzy o Ring part of the gasket set?
Do you have the bolts you will need to lock the cam backlash gear?
Have fun and save the beers for after the job is done.

 

[SteveNJ]

You might want to buy the seven screws for the oil pump. Odds of salvaging all are slim.
Is the dizzy o Ring part of the gasket set?
Do you have the bolts you will need to lock the cam backlash gear?
Have fun and save the beers for after the job is done.

Have all the screws coming from Dan with the seals, the dizzy o ring is separate but ordered it too.

Do Not have bolts for holding, been trying to figure out what to use


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[Rookie2]

If you're talking about a service bolt to lock the cam gears together, you'll have your pick of about 15 to choose from once you take the head cover off.

 

[SteveNJ]

Not her day of wrenching done, got to the camshafts finally.
Decided to stop there since I was tired and the camshaft removal is really the only part that worries me.

Hopefully get the head out tomorrow and start putting it back together shortly after.


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[96landcrusher]

HG? me too

Hey Steve,
funny that we are both starting the HG at the same time and so close by too. I am located near scranton pa in the poconos and am starting the same job. I have been paranoid about the HG for a while now with 228k on my rig and when i had powerloss, sputtering at idle, and some plumes of white smoke I knew what i was in for. I too am a wrencher so ill be very interested to hear how things go for you as you are a few days ahead of me. So far I have only moved my truck to a friends well equiped garage and ordered $400 worth of parts from Cdan. I am planning on tearing her apart on tuesday or wednesday and am both excited and nervous to see whats inside the old beast.

Maybe we could even help one another out if one of us gets stuck or needs a hand.
Best of luck and keep the updates coming!!
-Evan

 

[SteveNJ]

Hey Steve,
funny that we are both starting the HG at the same time and so close by too. I am located near scranton pa in the poconos and am starting the same job. I have been paranoid about the HG for a while now with 228k on my rig and when i had powerloss, sputtering at idle, and some plumes of white smoke I knew what i was in for. I too am a wrencher so ill be very interested to hear how things go for you as you are a few days ahead of me. So far I have only moved my truck to a friends well equiped garage and ordered $400 worth of parts from Cdan. I am planning on tearing her apart on tuesday or wednesday and am both excited and nervous to see whats inside the old beast.

Maybe we could even help one another out if one of us gets stuck or needs a hand.
Best of luck and keep the updates coming!!
-Evan

I can say it isn't a huge amount of fun, I finally got to the HG tonight though and it definitely needed a replacement so I feel good I made the choice to pull it apart.
Next couple evenings of cleaning everything up and I can start putting it back together to see if it works

I don't think it is really hard as in complicated but it absolutely is a pain in the a$$. Matter of taking the time to do it right I guess.


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[94SRUNNER]

How many miles are on your 80/1FZ? I only ask, because if I were going to go through all the work to freshening things up, such as you are, I would be of the mind to at least have the head inspected. Personally I would have the head rebuilt. Just my $0.02.

Good luck with the build. Any progress pics?

Right now I'm planning to just put in the HG, not sending the head out for work etc, since it was just failing and not failed I'm hoping head is good still, debating sending out injectors, I'll probably have the time while waiting for parts.

One thing I noticed that is different from Doug's DVD, I don't as of yet need a board, I can actually fit in the engine compartment where the air cleaner was and stand on the frame (carefully avoiding AC lines)

 

[SteveNJ]

How many miles are on your 80/1FZ? I only ask, because if I were going to go through all the work to freshening things up, such as you are, I would be of the mind to at least have the head inspected. Personally I would have the head rebuilt. Just my $0.02.

Good luck with the build. Any progress pics?

97,288 (yep, under 100k) the HG never catastrophically blew, it was only detected because I did an oil analysis when buying (I haven't even put 1 mile on it yet), I had it trailered to the house, parked it in garage and started planning tear down immediately.


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[IdahoDoug]

Good call on the oil analysis, Steve.

DougM

 

[SteveNJ]

Here's a shot of what appears to have been the problem

 

[Rookie2]

Since you're not sending it out, I assume you are still going to clean the bottom of the head so just be aware if you turn the head over the pucks and shims will start falling out.

 

[SteveNJ]

Exhaust showed up today. Nothing Fancy, just an OE replacement.
Should have everything else by Friday, so maybe by the end of the weekend the truck will be on the road again, and I'll actually be able to drive it

 

[jcardona1]

97,288 (yep, under 100k) the HG never catastrophically blew, it was only detected because I did an oil analysis when buying (I haven't even put 1 mile on it yet), I had it trailered to the house, parked it in garage and started planning tear down immediately.


Sent from my iPad HD

Neither did mine, and it never overheated. And it still needed 7 thousandths shaved off to be straight and true.

 

[SteveNJ]

Based on how my day is going, I should be able to check it tomorrow with a feeler gauge and get an idea if it is off or not. Luckily have a shop not to far away that can do a one day turn around if I have to go that road.


Edit:
Never mind, just talked to shop, for $185, they'll clean/inspect and mill it so I'm taking it tomorrow to get done.

 

[94SRUNNER]

Good deal! What about new valve seals? How are the current seals?

Based on how my day is going, I should be able to check it tomorrow with a feeler gauge and get an idea if it is off or not. Luckily have a shop not to far away that can do a one day turn around if I have to go that road.


Edit:
Never mind, just talked to shop, for $185, they'll clean/inspect and mill it so I'm taking it tomorrow to get done.

 

[Rookie2]

If you're not doing the valve job, you might want to pull those pucks and shims out and organized them so you know where they go back, lest you get them back from your head guy in a plastic grocery sack.

 

[SteveNJ]

New seals are part of the valve grind kit, I didn't ask but I'll take them as well to be replaced and see what it adds price-wise.

Guy seems pretty good, he made sure to remind me of the pucks. Told me I could do it or he would (mark and number them all), I'm going to do it tonight while cleaning everything up, don't want the head dripping all over the TT's trunk.

 

[SteveNJ]

Welp, suffered a minor set back this evening.
Head came back nice and clean, new valve seals in. Just a smidge shaved. Overall good condition.
Put the gasket on, put the head on went to get the bolts and washers, turns out somehow I only have 13 washers, not the 14 needed. I had half fall out in the garage, and thought I found em all, the others were stuck and the shop guys had them zipped tied to head for me when I picked up, so either here or there sits a washer.
So now I'm dead in the water unless a local Toyota place carries them in stock and I can get one Friday, otherwise whole weekend is shot for putting it back together.
Anyone know if those plate washers in the head can be subbed for something in a hardware store, or should I find a Toyota one no matter what?

 

[Stevesnj]

Welp, suffered a minor set back this evening.
Head came back nice and clean, new valve seals in. Just a smidge shaved. Overall good condition.
Put the gasket on, put the head on went to get the bolts and washers, turns out somehow I only have 13 washers, not the 14 needed. I had half fall out in the garage, and thought I found em all, the others were stuck and the shop guys had them zipped tied to head for me when I picked up, so either here or there sits a washer.
So now I'm dead in the water unless a local Toyota place carries them in stock and I can get one Friday, otherwise whole weekend is shot for putting it back together.
Anyone know if those plate washers in the head can be subbed for something in a hardware store, or should I find a Toyota one no matter what?

Try a local speed shop.