Need advice on HG replacement

[nocones]

The project started out as taking out the fuel injectors for cleaning and replacing all hoses. Now that I'm in the middle of that I've decided that I'm going to replace the valve cover gasket as well.

Once I have the valve cover removed, how much more work is involved in getting down to the head gasket? Keep in mind, I'm pretty much learning as I go along with the help of this board and the FSM.

I have a 97 LX450.

 

[Lockd97]

A lot. Lower intake, exhaust mainfolds, EGR stuff, Main harness, Alternator, cams. That is a fair chunk of time.

 

[CJF]

x2.

If you really want to PM the HG, go for it. But you're nowhere near a "while I'm in there" siuation yet.

Curtis

 

[OGBeno]

I'm going to respectfully disagree in terms of what else you need done to get down to the head. Much of it boils down to things like tools you have, experience you have (or your ability and want to learn as you go), how much money you have available to you, and time.

If you have a DD, then dealing with the head could be a nice learning experience for you as a shade tree mechanic.

Bu that is just my shade tree .02...

Good luck.

-o-

 

[breathed]

You should consider replacing the spark plug tube seals, as well. They should be nice and hard by now. They were a pita to remove. I had to hammer a screwdriver between the outer edge of each one and the valve cover and pry away the seal several times until I could get a pair of vise grips in to pull them out. I used a homemade seal driver to install the new seals.

Be careful tightening the valve cover bolts. They have a low torque value. I ended up using a screwdriver handle with a square drive. I tightened them evenly in a sequence like is used for the head bolts as tight as I could get them with the screwdriver and didn't have any problems. I don't have an iron grip and some people might be able to break a bolt this way, but it seemed safer than using a ratchet. I think even a small 1/4" ratchet could provide enough leverage to break one if one was heavy handed.

 

[KLF]

I'm asking this question, because I don't know 80's that well.

When I do HGs on 4-cyl trucks and cars, I always leave the intake and exhaust attached, lift the whole thing off as a unit. Much easier, although it's heavy. Toyota makes this easy, especially with the 22RE, just disconnect the big harness from the ECU, pull it thru the firewall, drape it over the head, and lift it all off.

So, can this be done with a 1FZ? I know, it's a LOT heavier, but if you had a cherry picker engine hoist available, seems like it could be done.

 

[CJF]

I'm going to respectfully disagree in terms of what else you need done to get down to the head. Much of it boils down to things like tools you have, experience you have (or your ability and want to learn as you go), how much money you have available to you, and time.

So what are you disagreeing with then? Neither of us said, "Don't do it."

 

[OGBeno]

So what are you disagreeing with then? Neither of us said, "Don't do it."

Then let me make myself clearer: I think he is much closer to a "while you are in there situation" than you are letting on.

-o-