cruiser_guy
Out of Africa / North Africa
According to the P.O. the 2F engine was rebuilt in the '76 FJ55 we are restoring just prior to getting rid of it. It was not in a condition to start when we picked it up so we did not see it running. When we filled the radiator in preparation for starting it the other day it leaked badly from every gasket in the cooling system! I took the thermostat housing off and the water pump off and found large bits of the old gasket still attached to the parts! There were new gaskets as well but NO sealer.
Do I dare to start and run this engine without going through ALL the gaskets especially the head gasket?
I want to start it so I can check compression to decide if we keep this engine or do the swap, but if the head gasket is replaced with the same attention to detail as the remaining gaskets I won't get a true reading (if the engine runs at all).
We did get a bag from the P.O. that still had some gaskets left from an engine gasket set as well as a box of old bearings and other stuff that seem to indicate that something was done.
What's the opinion of others out there? Would you 1) start it as is, or 2) replace the head gasket and then start it or 3) give up now and replace the engine? I have an F engine that I can drop in or I have a 3B diesel that needs a rebuild that I can use in it.
Do I dare to start and run this engine without going through ALL the gaskets especially the head gasket?
I want to start it so I can check compression to decide if we keep this engine or do the swap, but if the head gasket is replaced with the same attention to detail as the remaining gaskets I won't get a true reading (if the engine runs at all).
We did get a bag from the P.O. that still had some gaskets left from an engine gasket set as well as a box of old bearings and other stuff that seem to indicate that something was done.
What's the opinion of others out there? Would you 1) start it as is, or 2) replace the head gasket and then start it or 3) give up now and replace the engine? I have an F engine that I can drop in or I have a 3B diesel that needs a rebuild that I can use in it.