Builds Lexus 450 rebuild

[Green Hell Mustang]

@sandcruiser80 Get this rig fixed and come out and see us at Logan's Run in Uwharrie National Forest from September 19th to the 21st.

Also, hit us up at the club forum and let us know if you need any help. We have some members in Eastern NC that could help you out if you get into a bind with work on your truck.

 

[sandcruiser80]

@BILT4ME Thats the plan right now, Im gonna get the flywheel off on wednesday and get the "new" motor up on my stand and strip it down. The plan is to do.....
Strip the motor down (head, timing cover, both oil pans) ect..
Check the pistons, pretty much just make sure it all looks good, no ring material melted to the walls lol
Do both front crankshaft and real main seal and o rings behind the timing cover
Im gonna most likely keep the same chain and guides, I haven't looked up how much they are but thats a possible maybe
Re seal and most likely reuse my original oil pans, as there in great shape and the ones on the "new" motor are not as nice
And im sure im missing a lot but im gonna replace all the o rings and gaskets from a stripped block to a running motor and i will keep y'all updated on how it goes, Im going to much more detailed as the reassembly goes with pics and torque specs. A lot of stuff is still in the mail but I still have to get the old one out and dissemble the "new" motor.

@Green Hell Mustang Im hoping to have the truck finished by then!! I will need a good wheeling trip after all the work, It will most likely still be stock height and tires but im down to ride along! I will join the group and yeah, I could use some help getting the new motor with the transmission back in, My GF and I have an airbnb on the Outer Banks we could put someone in for helping.

 

[sandcruiser80]

I’m at the shop today and I’m getting a good move on the truck.
Flywheel is off and no thanks to the bolts stripping then me having to use heat and ruining the rear main seal but I got it off!
I disconnected the exhaust at the back of the muffler and just slid it back and a little more out of the way as the bolts to the cats are rusted to nothing and there’s not getting them off so I will prob cut them later, not sure. I forgot my little lift to support the transmission and I’m heading home for lunch and coming back and then the motor is coming out! Drive shafts were a PITA to get off, stabilizer bar is off and just need to do the stuff in the center console and shifters and I’m ready. I will post pics of it out later & new motor in stand and starting to dissembled hopefully today. If not, tomorrow for sure.

 

[Jroc561]

I feel for you on this build, it seems to have turned into a project you werent expecting

 

[amgraham]

I'm sure you were putting a new rear main in anyway, right? That's the only place left on my truck that I have a slight leak left but it's not worth pulling the motor or trans for.

 

[sandcruiser80]

Well it’s definitely turned into more of a project then I wanted but I love it @Jroc561

And yeah I am now lol, I was reading around and was wondering about a slight spacer to offset the original seating of the seal but I don’t know yet. I just got the motor out as of... 3 mins ago. I did it solo, for anyone curious. It is, possible. I had my lift set on the 1 ton setting and had to cumalong the tranny up with the transfer case on to get it all the way out, it was about a 10 min process after I had everything unbolted. Ugh... keep on trucking I guess.

 

[sandcruiser80]

After pulling the tranny from the engine, witch was a pain. It did not come off very easy and exactly flat.... the torque converter came off still on the engine side. After wiggling it off, I knoticed the gear on the inside of the converter is “loose” I can hold the converter flat and shake the gear around with more play then I think would be acceptable. The input shaft on the transmission is solid! If I put the converter on it, it still has a bit of play..... what do y’all think?? Ugh I hope it’s not ****ed...

 

[BILT4ME]

Damn! Those camshafts are RUSTED! Is that the "new" engine? Probably ought to clean those up before use!

While I'm in there..........

May as well install new rear heater lines while you have all that out of there!

 

[sandcruiser80]

Haha, not that’s an extra head that came with the “new” motor, I don’t plan on using those cams lol. I have another set of cams and shims I would put in there if I used it. @BILT4ME

Btw, new rear heater lines are currently in the mail

 

[BILT4ME]

Haha, not that’s an extra head that came with the “new” motor, I don’t plan on using those cams lol. I have another set of cams and shims I would put in there if I used it. @BILT4ME

OK, Thank goodness!

 

[sandcruiser80]

Sooo! Got the “new” engine up on the stand and heads off, lower oil pans, and look at all that gasket maker!!! Everything down there looks great! Pistons, crank, color. I’m pretty stoked. I’m gonna flip it over and take the timing cover off, clean up the pistons and post some more stuff.

 

[sandcruiser80]

Engine flipped over and pistons all cleaned up. They came out very clean, I’m extremely stoked. Unfortunately my parts haven’t shown up and I’m stuck waiting for the head gasket kit and other stuff before I can start reassembling it. Ohhh... while I was taking the head off alone, cracked the chain guide so I’m gonna have to order that... and more. The build continues!!

 

[davidp14]

Nice work!! Keep us posted.

Sub'd

 

[Cass007]

Way to go on things!!!

How much did the new heater lines set you back, if you don't mind me asking?

Don't feel bad about the chain guide. When doing mine I dropped the timing gear and broke a tooth off of it. Accidents happen when home wrenching. Pistons and bottom end look good.

 

[sandcruiser80]

I feel pretty good about the motor now. Once it’s all together I will be able to feel at ease knowing what it looked like. Thanks everyone!

After I posted, I took my razor and cleaned up the gasket material that was left from the old head gasket and then took my shop vac and taped a small enough rubber hose (by wrapping it in blue tape till it was sealed) and stuffed it in the water jackets to get any gasket material out that may have fallen in there. First, vacuumed and then blew it out with my air compressor and then vacuumed again. Feel good about that.

I’m also gonna paint the block, I know it’s kinda pointless but I want to do it, So I’m going too.

Came home to more parts!!
@Cass007 they cost me about 330$ and some shipping. I love the rear heater, used it all the time in my 94LC before I sold it. Had hoses attached to it and ran them inside my wetsuit after surfs in 30 degree weather. Made it very pleasant to put my wet wetsuit back on.

I’m also excited to have ARP studs. Cheaper then OEM and I think they are much nicer and provide more even torque.

 

[sandcruiser80]

Update : My head gasket kit is on order and no ETA yet.
Ordered more tools and parts today.
Both guides, sprockets for the top and bottom and a brand new chain and tensor plus the small o rings that go behind the timing cover.
Timing cover issues. I have 2 and both are pissing me off. On one I seam to have broken the ear off where the chain rides, you can see in pic but I have the oil pump screws loose and it looks a lot nicer then my other one that has a very stripped screw that I have to figure out. Not sure what I’m gonna do yet.

On another note, pretty sure I’m done doing all the big expensive orders, once everything arrives I can start assembling. I prob won’t go back over for at least a few days so if you have any input for the timing covers.... lemme know.

Btw I don’t have a welder to weld to the screw to get it out. Is that ear being broken off THAT big of a deal??

 

[Saito]

Update : My head gasket kit is on order and no ETA yet.
Ordered more tools and parts today.
Both guides, sprockets for the top and bottom and a brand new chain and tensor plus the small o rings that go behind the timing cover.
Timing cover issues. I have 2 and both are pissing me off. On one I seam to have broken the ear off where the chain rides, you can see in pic but I have the oil pump screws loose and it looks a lot nicer then my other one that has a very stripped screw that I have to figure out. Not sure what I’m gonna do yet. View attachment 2041222View attachment 2041223

On another note, pretty sure I’m done doing all the big expensive orders, once everything arrives I can start assembling. I prob won’t go back over for at least a few days so if you have any input for the timing covers.... lemme know.

Btw I don’t have a welder to weld to the screw to get it out. Is that ear being broken off THAT big of a deal??

Just a drill bit and easy out should do you for that oil pump cover bolt. Ended up doing all of mine that way when the time came. Replace with Allen head ones or make sure to get a set of JIS bits if you insist on stockers for replacements.

 

[tmxmotorsports]

Where are you on the obx i live in Currituck big toyota extra cab on tractor tires on the main hwy mainly mess with 60 series but own two 80s one has a blown head gasket the other is parts truck

 

[sandcruiser80]

Where are you on the obx i live in Currituck big toyota extra cab on tractor tires on the main hwy mainly mess with 60 series but own two 80s one has a blown head gasket the other is parts truck

I’m in kill devil hills, the one with the white lowered truck next to it? Gonna PM you my number. Would be interested at looking at your parts truck.

 

[sandcruiser80]

Not much is happening but my parts are suppose to be here tomorrow so we’ll see, taking stuff to a buddy of mine to use his parts washer. I also installed my rear heater lines. I wrapped the heat shields in a gold heat reflecting stuff to keep the heat away from the lines. My phone was dead but I’ll post pics of that tomorrow. These pics are my success of getting the screw that I stripped out, out.