Newbie wondering how much head weighs

[Big Jimbo]

My HG blew last week and I am wondering if I can lift it out or will I need to use an engine hoist? I read the HG threads and couldn't find the weight.
Before I found this site I never knew there was a HG problem with the inline 6!! I purchase my 1997 LX 450 new and it just turned 130,000 when it started to run rough. I looked at the exhaust, saw the white smoke and thought the HG blew. I was surprised that this happened because the dealer told me they went 250,000 without problems! Now I see the HG discussed on this site as a routine maint. item!! I have a rear oil leak and was told by the dealer that it was the rear main seal, so I plan on doing that too while I have it apart. I can't believe that a Toyota was made with these design flaws!
I am now to the point of unbolting the head, and must say that this is a much harder job than I thought it would be after reading the threads. I have done 4 body-off the frame muscle car restorations, and for difficulty (endless electrical connections that are barely reachable) I would put this on that level, and definitely not for the casual wrench turner.
Again, Thanks for this great web site!! It has been a life saver!
Plus I found out about Cruiser Dan for all of my parts!!!

 

[Sno bored]

I can't help you with your question, but i'm sure you will get an answer soon. I wanted to make sure you know about the HG DVD that is out there. I'm sure that it will help you in your replacement. If you search old threads you will find out about it.

 

[cruiserman]

I recommend using a hoist to save your back. It's not as bad as you think to do the HG.

 

[Rookie2]

I have a rear oil leak and was told by the dealer that it was the rear main seal, so I plan on doing that too while I have it apart. I can't believe that a Toyota was made with these design flaws!

Welcome Jimbo.

Couple of things on the rear main seal: First off, not sure there's any advantage to doing the rear main at the same time as the head, unless you've removed the motor and tranny from the vehicle. Second, you might want read up a bit on the rear main seal/pan arch deal. Most times it's not actually a rear main seal leak, but a leak between the pan arch and oil pan. If so, you can tackle this without removing the tranny, but it's still a PITA job (IMHO).


Rookie2

 

[RAYJON]

We have alot of people here who have had leaks at the front of the motor.. oil pump,, front crank seal... I dont recall seeing a rear crank seal ever being mentioned.... might want to get a second opinion.. Dealers arn't the brightest.....

Also remember the youngest 80 is over 8 years old and most have over 100k.. rubber doesn't last for ever... the valve cover gasket in my 97 was rock hard when I changed it.. I am sure your rear main is similar...


.good luck if I remember right the head weighed about 45 lbs it was fairly light..I pulled it with a picker and put it back by hand....

 

[lovemylc]

Head Weighs

The head weighs 8 lbs. More or less depending on how big the brains are.

 

[RavenTai]

It is heavy, heavier than I would want to reach into the enigne bay for

With cams feels like about 80 pounds? (WAG)

It is long also making it awkward weight, if you want to do it by hand have a friend help, strech first, reaching far for a heavy object is a good way to put you back out.

 

[Big Jimbo]

You guys are great! I will use the engine hoist to pull the head. Can you tell the rear main seal from the arch leak by looking? The dealer said they looked at it and could tell. (This is also the same dealer who split my transfer case by tightening the oil drain plug with a breaker bar!!)

 

[RavenTai]

kinda, if you pop the inspection cover on the transmission and get a mirror you may be able to tell.

Mien is just oily all over the place, I have radial oil streaks on the flywheel so I think I have a rear main, that does not necisarily mean that I do not have a rear pan arch leak also.

considering the work to get to either one and only a quart every few K or so they can just keep leaking till I need to get in there for something else, I will probably be waiting a wile, knock on wood)

 

[Big Jimbo]

I was putting it off too until the HG blew. It has gotten bad enough now that it leaves a 6" puddle each night on the driveway, so I think I will do it while the car is down.
Makes me wonder if I should do the front seal and pan arch and be done with all possible leaks!

 

[Jester]

47 Pounds, in the Toyota Box

 

[Rookie2]

It has gotten bad enough now that it leaves a 6" puddle each night on the driveway, so I think I will do it while the car is down.
Makes me wonder if I should do the front seal and pan arch and be done with all possible leaks!

Yeh, that's a good size leak. FWIW, generally the pan arch seal and rear main fixes are tackle by two different approaches. Pan arch: jacking the engine up a bit and dropping the lower and upper oil pans and then resealing. Rear main: dropping the tranny. But if you're pretty sure it's the rear main, then you can attack both by dropping the tranny and removing the retainer arch and re-sealing and installing new rear main as mentioned above. Front crank shaft seal and pan arch: remove crank shaft pulley, jack motor and remove oil pans.

Pretty good chunk of work.


Rookie2

 

[RavenTai]

hmm, 47 pounds no valve train, I hate to ask but how much did that 47 pound box cost?

I dont think it would make 80 pounds with the cams vavles, spings, shims buckets etc, I overshot.

maybe 65? dono need to bring the scale out to the garrage.

doing a HG, rear main and pan and front seals? you woudl almost break even labor wise to pull the engien, trans and transfer as an assembly and work it out of the truck, but that could lead to some serious "wile you are in there" desease.

 

[John E Davies]

It's not getting the head off that is the problem. It's getting it set back in place without screwing up the gasket or scarring the head mating surface that is the problem.

You REALLY need to be able to level the head using a crank fixture, and _carefully and gently_ ease it into position.

While you might be able to not use a hoist, it would not be pretty.

John Davies
Spokane WA

 

[Big Jimbo]

Wow, I hope I don't find out I need a pretty looking box like that when I bring my head in to the machine shop!
I got an engine hoist I can use to pull and install the head as I don't think I will have any extra hands to help me with the job.
I talked to Cruiser Dan today and got all my parts. What a great guy! He sold me a tube of black Toyota glue for the arch sealing as recommended by Rookie2.
Thanks for all the help!!

 

[Tools R Us]

Give me a PM if you want help setting it back on, I live close to you.

 

[Lars]

Same here. I'm willing to help if you need it. I'm in NW Phoenix... and had the unfortunate experience of replacing the HG in my old 80.

 

[MikeB]

I would also be glad to help if you need it.

 

[Big Jimbo]

You guys are great! I have never had offers to help with a tough job like this. I got the head off last night with an engine lift and didn't have problems. The antifreeze sure cleaned the carbon off the #6 piston!
I will give a call if it looks like the installation isn't going well.
Jim