Recommend a shop for UZJ head gasket and resurface?

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LostAfrican

LostAfrican

10 Year
Joined
Aug 13, 2013
Threads
41
Messages
374
Location
Chandler AZ
Hi everyone, looking for a recommended shop to diagnose a likely head gasket failure on my 01 LX470.

I think I need a shop to remove the head and gasket, and send the head out for re-surfacing and reassemble.
At 259k miles I may also do the timing belt WP, cam seals etc. "while in there."

Previously I used Avid, but they are something else now.
Preferably east valley, but quality is more important.

Radiator cracked and overheated..but not sure which happened first - gasket or radiator.
Running rough, codes for cylinders 2, 4, 6, 8 (Passenger Side) and white tail smoke.

Thanks for any recommendations!
Andrew/Lost

( I did look at the club FAQ and those threads and posts are ancient now...we probably need to refresh a bit).
 
Steven at roadrunner wrench is my go to mechanic he’s uptown Phoenix though by camelback Toyota. Hes the most reliable and best mechanic I’ve met. (602) 676-5060
 
jzsx240 said:
Steven at roadrunner wrench is my go to mechanic he’s uptown Phoenix though by camelback Toyota. Hes the most reliable and best mechanic I’ve met. (602) 676-5060
Click to expand...
Thank you!

Update from my side.
After talking with several shops and having a "hard think" I have chosen to replace the whole engine, rather than repair the existing engine.
Several quotes seemed to arrive at the same conclusion, that its even more work to try and fix my engine (with 260k miles) than to replace it.

To replace it I had two choices, a remanufactured/rebuilt engine, or a used (low mileage - apparently) engine.

I chose the latter, because its slightly cheaper .... and its an actual landcruiser engine of the right spec (mine is a 2001), built in Japan with original toyota quality parts (vs. mystery parts for the rebuild).

Its still crazy expensive, but cheaper than buying another car. We are also doing a bunch of stuff while the engine is out. Timing belt, WP, heater hoses, crossover/bypass gaskets. I changed the contacts in the starter, and installed new gaskets and "dust covers". New oil pan gasket. New air intake gasket, throttle body clean, and so on.

One of the factors that scared me with rebuilding my engine was that we would probably be chasing issues for a while....since who knows what else got damaged with the overheat, gasket failure etc. The mechanic working on it is pretty sure that the radiator cracked...then overheated, then the head gasket. Which, to me...says I should have seen it overheating....which I didn't. But maybe I wasn't attentive enough. I generally watch my water temp and ATF temp on my scan gauge like a hawk!

I have also ordered a Scan Gauge 3, though... because it has a alarms! Word to the wise.

I am hopeful with a newish (low miles - I was told 71k on this replacement engine) engine, it will outlast the rest of the cruiser at this point...now 25 years old!? Crazy to be spending that much on a car that old...but we love it.
 
Richard Lillard 480-399-2310. He took over Kevin Pattersons Desert Tools(ToolsRUs). He's in Mesa. Honest & fair
 
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