Help finding an engine

[john657]

True. The hardest part is finding a trustworthy shop. Ask around from your local Cruiser guys to see who they recommend in your area. Then, go and talk to the shop owner/machinist/assembler to determine their background with the F series engine. How many have the done in the past? Are they honest enough to rehone the cylinders and re-ring your stock pistons without pushing you to pay for a full bore and new pistons. I think the general consensus among the 'Mud crowd is the preference for a rehone and keep the stock pistons whenever possible, assuming no over-bore is necessary to clean the cylinders up. In reading other threads as well as talking to my machine shop, the OEM or replacement pistons are getting tough to come by.

 

[john657]

The more the machine work that is necessary, the more expensive the rebuild.

 

[Spike Strip]

OP has not responded or logg'd on since posting ...

 

[gbsmitty]

I read quite a few fairly recent reviews on lowmilageparts.com that were none to flattering. they do have quite a few "Low mileage" 2F's and they say they offer a 5 year Unlimited mile warranty..... one review says they'll never honor it..... but non of the reviews were for Toyota F engines.... anyone else dealt with them recently? in past year or so.

 

[DougAustinTx]

I have a good arrangement with a local rebuilt engine company here in Austin. They let me stand by the machinist doing the boring and honing on my engine blocks and I get to measure the clearances while he is doing the work and it is all done to my satisfaction while I wait. I bring the pistons in and we fit each one into the cylinder and number them together for later reassembly. I think my last 2F engine rebuild cost me a total of $1200 with me doing all the assembly and head work. By the way, I used to say that FelPro headgaskets were OK on 2F's. I no longer have that opinion. Now it is only Toyota or Stoner with the copper rings around all the openings.

 

[Varty Yo]

You must know the machinest well! Hahaha most people would tell you to kick rocks if you wanted to watch over there shoulder the whole time haha

 

[GA Architect]

The guy who built my 2F, upon engine arrival, took the time to explain the process and show me his old school heavy (and I mean H-E-A-V-Y) duty milling machines. It was also comforting to see a few completed 2F's in the shop. I'm pretty sure he would have been more than welcome to let me watch him drill, mill, hone and rebuild it.

Matter of fact, I stay in contact and let him know his craftsmanship is still doing well....Thanks to @beno for the machinist/builder's contact as well as supplying the Toyota OEM parts for the rebuild.

 

[gbsmitty]

I have a good arrangement with a local rebuilt engine company here in Austin. They let me stand by the machinist doing the boring and honing on my engine blocks and I get to measure the clearances while he is doing the work and it is all done to my satisfaction while I wait. I bring the pistons in and we fit each one into the cylinder and number them together for later reassembly. I think my last 2F engine rebuild cost me a total of $1200 with me doing all the assembly and head work. By the way, I used to say that FelPro headgaskets were OK on 2F's. I no longer have that opinion. Now it is only Toyota or Stoner with the copper rigs around all the openings.

agreed! the guys doing most of my restore on the 74 are menonites but we have a fairly large farm/plantation and they've always done honest and good work. I basically tell them what / how and when and they follow orders.... the machining I did take to a local guy in Walterboro SC who "had done one or two FJ's" but yes I wrote down the specs and then came back when he was done and inspected it, made a few corrections and he kindly reworked. cost me $400 for the block, $400 for the head, $150 for the reground crank ....... the rest I ended up going with a forklift complete rebuild kit which came w/ everything else I needed. MOST of it worked but there are slight differences in the F engine and the "F.5" engine mainly with the oil pump that I had to work through. In retrospect I should have yanked the engine and bought a diesel then done the "F.5" on my own time after remanufacturing it (contracting it out anyway) myself.

I am still looking for another good machine shop in Savannah, GA / Charleston, SC or anywhere below in the lowcountry. I am going to start a new project on a 72 FJ40 and prob going to go for swapping out to the 2F.