Pull the engine, or no...? (5 Viewers)

[manofthewoods]

If you don’t mind posting the link here, it may help others….again.

Your wish is...
My command!
Paying it forward, My LX450 "reset/complete rebuild" notes & lessons learned - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/paying-it-forward-my-lx450-reset-complete-rebuild-notes-lessons-learned.1305084/

 

[VAcruiser]

Your wish is...
My command!
Paying it forward, My LX450 "reset/complete rebuild" notes & lessons learned - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/paying-it-forward-my-lx450-reset-complete-rebuild-notes-lessons-learned.1305084/

Huge thanks.

 

[VAcruiser]

Your wish is...
My command!
Paying it forward, My LX450 "reset/complete rebuild" notes & lessons learned - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/paying-it-forward-my-lx450-reset-complete-rebuild-notes-lessons-learned.1305084/

So, I read your write up and I appreciate it. I've never rebuilt an engine. I've pulled heads, etc, but never full blown rebuilt one. While I completely understand your mindset, I have 2 questions for the quorum....

1) If a compression check and an oil analysis prove that the engine is healthy, is a rebuild "worth it" (read, necessary)?

2) Does anyone make a complete gasket kit, intake to oil pan, using OEM parts?

 

[manofthewoods]

So, I read your write up and I appreciate it. I've never rebuilt an engine. I've pulled heads, etc, but never full blown rebuilt one. While I completely understand your mindset, I have 2 questions for the quorum....

1) If a compression check and an oil analysis prove that the engine is healthy, is a rebuild "worth it" (read, necessary)?

2) Does anyone make a complete gasket kit, intake to oil pan, using OEM parts?

#2 first. Toyota makes a "overhaul" gasket kit. Definitely the way to go.
As to #1...
Most would say no. But, it depends on your intended use case, your wallet, and, your tolerance for putting your vehicle out of service, etc. Also, rebuilding a engine that isn't already in trouble is easier, cheaper and has a more predictable outcome.
I liked the project so much, I'd like to do it again; but I'd need another excellent specimen, which is becoming more rare as time goes on.

Happy trails

 

[VAcruiser]

#2 first. Toyota makes a "overhaul" gasket kit. Definitely the way to go.
As to #1...
Most would say no. But, it depends on your intended use case, your wallet, and, your tolerance for putting your vehicle out of service, etc. Also, rebuilding a engine that isn't already in trouble is easier, cheaper and has a more predictable outcome.
I liked the project so much, I'd like to do it again; but I'd need another excellent specimen, which is becoming more rare as time goes on.

Happy trails

That's great to know. I'll have to look that up.

I'd love to rebuild one. I'm a while you're in there type of person so I'm already going to blow the budget out of the water. Besides my lack of experience rebuilding, I don't want to add the expense of all the machine work and engine parts if unnecessary.

 

[truthdetector]

IMO, if you're already going to have the engine on a stand with the head, oil pans, and front cover off to make sure you address all current and near-future leaks, it's not *that* much more work to take apart the bottom end so you can clean up the pistons, install new rings, and have the machine shop hone the cylinder walls and polish the crank. You'll get to see the condition of your bearings too, which in my case were still in spec. at 205k so I just re-installed them.

 

[VAcruiser]

IMO, if you're already going to have the engine on a stand with the head, oil pans, and front cover off to make sure you address all current and near-future leaks, it's not *that* much more work to take apart the bottom end so you can clean up the pistons, install new rings, and have the machine shop hone the cylinder walls and polish the crank. You'll get to see the condition of your bearings too, which in my case were still in spec. at 205k so I just re-installed them.

I’m following your logic here mostly, but if you’re thought is that it’s not that much more work to replace XY&Z while you have AB&C off, good or not…why would you reinstall bearings with 205k on them?

 

[manofthewoods]

I’m following your logic here mostly, but if you’re thought is that it’s not that much more work to replace XY&Z while you have AB&C off, good or not…why would you reinstall bearings with 205k on them?

My 2 pennies...
There's a few different ways to get a stone cold reliable engine. The 7 main bearings are SO over engineered that if they are in spec, then they are plenty strong.
I replaced mine mostly because they aren’t expensive, so no biggie.

 

[alia176]

I have a new to me FZJ80 (with 336,741 miles on the clock) that I'm beginning to get familiar with as I begin my baseline. Here's what I know thus far.... I have....all the oil leaks and then some. The oil light is on, good pressure so I'm assuming the sensor or wiring. I got the P0401 code yesterday on a relatively short drive and the head gasket is currently unknown. I was down about 1/3gal of antifreeze however. Oh, and the A/C compressor locked up yesterday. So...........with that said, I'm going to run a compression test to see how healthy the internals are and continue driving it for a while to get familiar with it and figure out what else needs attention before I take it down for a while to fix everything but I'm curious....... with all the current issues, would it be easier/worth it to just go ahead and pull the whole engine and clean, re-seal etc. or no?

oh hell yeah, pull the whole engine with the ECU harness pulled through the firewall after disconnecting it from the ECU. I'd move the a/c compressor and lay it on the pass fender well. If you can pull the engine/tranny/tcase combo as one, that'd be ideal but not easy to do if you don't have the appropriate engine puller and enough man power. You can also remove the radiator, and lay the a/c condenser down if possible, otherwise, remove it also.

this is a good winter project!

 

[Azca]

If you pull the engine, do not cheap out on an engine hoist or engine stand. You will regret it if you do! I went the HF route for my hoist, went through two of them before finalizing my rebuild. Dumb.

 

[White Stripe]

Pull the engine. If the bearings look good, I would have the cylinders honed and install fresh rings. New timing chain and guides.