The end ? (1 Viewer)

[RCWRX]

Hey all…!

Let me start by saying I’ve learned so much from this group of die hards over the last year. I need to thank you all for recording all of your cruiser knowledge in one place.

I’ve read a ton but now I need the wisdom of the crowd.

I think my 94 fzj80 may finally be dead?

I purchased her (maybe foolishly ) from a prior member who shall not be named at 271k miles
From the start she needed a lot of love but has made great progress
Baselined a lot of stuff
New cooling system , hoses, brakes, replaced worn out and shot suspension components, fresh fluids all around etc

Finally at 274k the head gasket gave out.
Knowing it is beyond my ability and time I took her to a trusted local shop for repair.
Unfortunately after removing the head they have claimed that my short block is toast and my cylinders have been previously sleeved and are no longer round and therefore cannot be repaired. Additionally my timing chain guide is broken.

Is this truly a time for a new engine block ?
Options ?
1. New block if attainable and figure it out on my own to save labor cost
2 fully rebuilt engine from a mud member
3. Sell for parts
4. Find a new fzj80 and start over

Thanks all !
Appreciate the gentle feedback ; )
RC

Where we started:

Current :

 

[Outsane]

I like the first two options the most....

Its a good looking rig, new motor will be nice.

 

[OffRoadScott]

Keep it and as @Outsane said the first 2 options are the best. 80 series Land Cruisers are getting harder to find especially as clean as this one appears.

 

[BILT4ME]

Hey all…!

Let me start by saying I’ve learned so much from this group of die hards over the last year. I need to thank you all for recording all of your cruiser knowledge in one place.

I’ve read a ton but now I need the wisdom of the crowd.

I think my 94 fzj80 may finally be dead?

I purchased her (maybe foolishly ) from a prior member who shall not be named at 271k miles
From the start she needed a lot of love but has made great progress
Baselined a lot of stuff
New cooling system , hoses, brakes, replaced worn out and shot suspension components, fresh fluids all around etc

Finally at 274k the head gasket gave out.
Knowing it is beyond my ability and time I took her to a trusted local shop for repair.
Unfortunately after removing the head they have claimed that my short block is toast and my cylinders have been previously sleeved and are no longer round and therefore cannot be repaired. Additionally my timing chain guide is broken.

Is this truly a time for a new engine block ?
Options ?
1. New block if attainable and figure it out on my own to save labor cost
2 fully rebuilt engine from a mud member
3. Sell for parts
4. Find a new fzj80 and start over

Thanks all !
Appreciate the gentle feedback ; )
RC

Where we started:
View attachment 3806603

Current :
View attachment 3806604


View attachment 3806601View attachment 3806602

Well, someone is pulling your leg.
That engine is not "sleeved" because it's a gas engine, not diesel.
I can still see the cross-hatching on the cylinder walls and minimal wear. There are no offset shiny areas within the cylinder walls.

Tell us the conditions of head gasket failure. What, when, and how that happened.

Yes, it's very possible the timing chain guides are broken.

Have the head reworked, install new timing chain and guides.

I would specifically ask for actual cylinder measurements on each cylinder (using a bore gauge) then you can determine if the cylinders are out of spec.

Of course, the person doing the measurements must know how to PROPERLY use the tools to measure them.

I always question shops when they automatically say you need a rebuilt engine.

If you need, order a new 1FZ short block direct from Toyota and all the timing chain and kit parts. About $4500 for the short block.

 

[CharlieS]

I've had the pleasure of meeting @RCWRX and he's a great guy. His 80 is in terrific condition (other than the engine). Any help we can give him will be awesome and I'm sure appreciated. Let's save this 80 and get him back on the road!

 

[banjo1981]

I just picked up a long long long block 1fzfe from a 1994. Vermont is a decent distance from New Mexico. But there should be a 1fzfe closer to you @RCWRX. Mine was in good working condition when the PO pulled it to do a LS swap

 

[mudgudgeon]

There's nothing hideous in those pics, but hard to say from two pics.

Option A should be . . .
Find a new mechanic for a second opinion.
Or take a heap of pics of the cylinder walls, the top of the block , the head & combustion chambers.
(I don't see where the head gasket failed??, although #1 piston sure looks steam cleaned)


Option B . . .
Clean it up, install a new head gasket and timing chain guides (4/5 of the disassembly is already done), and continue to run it.
The pics of the cylinders look pretty decent.

I guess the sump oil is probably already contaminated, but if not, an oil sample analysis could tell you if there's any signs of bearing failure.


Your options 1 & 2 will be getting close to $10k each option

 

[mudgudgeon]

Or, as mentioned above. Source a running engine from someone doing an engine swap, or a part out situation.

 

[JoeCova]

Can I have it?

In seriousness, find a new shop.

 

[efjayatee]

Get new rebuilt motor from @Fj80oregon and slap a turbo on it!

 

[Kernal]

RUN from that shop

 

[Broski]

Well, someone is pulling your leg.
That engine is not "sleeved" because it's a gas engine, not diesel.
I can still see the cross-hatching on the cylinder walls and minimal wear. There are no offset shiny areas within the cylinder walls.

Tell us the conditions of head gasket failure. What, when, and how that happened.

Yes, it's very possible the timing chain guides are broken.

Have the head reworked, install new timing chain and guides.

I would specifically ask for actual cylinder measurements on each cylinder (using a bore gauge) then you can determine if the cylinders are out of spec.

Of course, the person doing the measurements must know how to PROPERLY use the tools to measure them.

I always question shops when they automatically say you need a rebuilt engine.

If you need, order a new 1FZ short block direct from Toyota and all the timing chain and kit parts. About $4500 for the short block.

I second this the picture tell a different story then what the shop is saying.
That’s a clean looking 80 don’t give up on it.

 

[effjay80]

IMO that truck looks way too nice and clean to part out. I too would find a second opinion shop, but definitely option 1 or 2.

 

[AussieHJCruza]

Nothing there looks particularly alarming and timing chain guide broken isn't uncommon.

Are they assuming the head gasket which is still sitting on the deck of the block, is the deck and hence they think they can see sleeves?

To my knowledge, no Land Cruiser engine since ~ 1985 has had cylinder sleeves from factory.

Sounds like you need to find a new shop, I can't recommend anyone in your area but if you do want a rebuilt engine, @Fj80oregon would be worth reaching out to.

 

[scottryana]

Yeah find a new shop!!!

What they are seeing is the headgasket is not perfectly round for the valves. The cylinders still have cross hatching!!!

That shop is not one I would trust for major work.

 

[William839]

I have a complete motor and trans for sale

 

[Azca]

I echo the comments above, as soon as they said it had been sleeved before, you know something is wrong. Even if it had been rebuilt, these can be rebuilt at least two times before a new block is needed. They were meant to be rebuilt.

As stated above, more pics would be good and without the head gasket in place so we can see the surface of the block. The cross hatching in the cylinders are still easily seen. As long as there is no pitting where you can feel it with your fingernail, get a new head gasket and have the head rebuilt. It should be good for at least another 100k.

I rebuilt mine 45k ago with several people saying it was not necessary, just to replace the head gasket. Mine looked worse than yours does.

 

[CrabCake]

I haven't been inside of one of these motors (yet), but it looks to me like the crosshatching is a little random, so maybe rebuilt once already? Also, the water journals look a bit crust from the top at least, so I'd plan on a full rebuild (by someone else), or a drop in from a running truck to get you out of there without too much pain. That said, @Fj80oregon does offer a great option too, and if you look at what he does, for a very fair price in my opinion.

In my eyes, you've done a lot of great work already on this rig so you should know it pretty well, a new heart and she'll last you a lifetime from now on...starting with another truck, you never know what you are getting. Yours looks to be in great shape body wise and you've done the suspension refresh too...I say keep her rolling and in your name!

 

[BILT4ME]

They are counting on you not knowing and the fact that the engine is already blown apart, so they have you by the balls and it will be difficult to transport for a second opinion. Also to prep for transport, the loss of parts or the issues of someone else putting it back together and not getting everything correct.

These tactics really make me upset and how some will prey upon those that don't know.

 

[mudgudgeon]

.

They are counting on you not knowing and the fact that the engine is already blown apart, so they have you by the balls and it will be difficult to transport for a second opinion. Also to prep for transport, the loss of parts or the issues of someone else putting it back together and not getting everything correct.

These tactics really make me upset and how some will prey upon those that don't know.

At this point, sucking it up, and paying the cost of towing, and dealing with a couple of lost parts could be the least painful route.


Based on the OP, I wouldn't want this shop doing it, but a clean up, new headgasket, timing chain guides and seals etc is still gonna cost several thousand.

There could be close to $1000 in parts and seals etc, plus shop time. 2 days at $100+/hr
That's $2.5k already