NovaStar

Hi all,

I am a noob here with a 1987 Toyota Nova Star Motorhome with the 22re engine. I purchased it from an estate sale before the holidays, knowing it would need work/maintenance done to it. It has about 95k miles on it currently. I took it in to have it looked over and have a list of things that need attention:

-Valve cover leaks
-Oil pressure switch leaks
-Front crank seal leaks
-Water pump leaks
-Brake master cyl leaks
-Left rear wheel cyl leaks
-Needs rear brakes
-Needs exhaust manifold and new exhaust/muffler from the cat back

Granted, I realize that these are maintenance items that have been neglected... Minus the exhaust work and brakes, my mechanic quoted +/-$700 to fix it.

Not knowing what's been done, esp the timing chain, I wonder if the engine should just be rebuilt? A lot of the oil gaskets, seals, water pump, etc. seem to be included in the price of a rebuild. I've found a couple places that can do it for around $1,500 w/3+ year warranty. I'm not mechanically inclined when it comes to fixing things under the hood.

Thoughts/advice?

Thanks!

broncrider

those miles are nothing for that motor. and those parts are entry level to replace. i would just replace them and drive it. and for the exaust i would find you a good header to replace the manifold then have a shop put you on a good muffler. thats just my idea

NovaStar

it is low mileage for the engine, but these little motorhomes are carrying a lot of weight on the back, so that's why i am weighing both options. won't be driving more than about 5k miles a year, as it will only be actively used for 6 or so months a year.

yoder519

man thats a awesome deal $700 fro a complete rebuild. is that ressurfacin the head and everything?

NovaStar

$700 was just for the repairs listed above, minus exhaust and brakes. Total of repairs incl brakes and new manifold/exhuast system is about $1,400.

Rebuild the engine is around $1,500, which did (i think)include resurfacing the head.

Philbert

iTrader: (2)

you can also get a completely rebuilt engine from oregona engines or LCE. You'd need to install it, put on oil pan, valve cover, intake, header, etc (from the old engine), but it could be a cheaper fix, if you have a shot that would do it cheap....but that IS low miles on the engine....those can go for hundreds of thousands of miles....

1989toy4wd

Yeah that is low miles, but there is a lot of strain on that little motor with a motorhome behind it! Mine had 124k miles and it needed a rebuild, it got better fuel mileage than oil mileage!! It really depends on how it was taken care of, and from what you have said, I dont think it was...honestly its your money, if you want to spend the 1400 then do so, but you still have your brake problems! but if you rebuild it I would put a header and an RV cam in it if it doesnt already have one!

NovaStar

yeah, i think i am probably leaning towards a rebuild...since it will most likely need it sooner than later with the strain on the engine (and likely need for timing chain replacement). i need to shop around for some other rebuild shops.

if i go the rebuild route, should i have the exhaust/manifold work done after? i assume so. planning to have the brakes taken care of first.

broncrider

but when you rebuild it like toy4wd said but a header and a nice little cam in it to help get it down the road a little or rebuild it for a turbo!! that would be pretty sweet!! hahaha mmmmm-tttsss-mmmmm-tttsss-mmmmm (my shifting gears noise)

joltin_jim11

i read all the responses and isnt a compression check something he should do to see what kind of shape internally the engine is in?

broncrider

^^^ that is a very good idea!! brownie points for you haha

Lumpy

I wanna see some pic's of this little gem.

85TurboRunner

Why not hold off on the rebuild, fix the problems you are aware of, tune up the engine and see how it runs and drives. 95k is pretty low and theres no point fixing what isn't broken. Do a compression test and that will tell you a little more about the condition of the engine.

NovaStar

yeah, compression check is a good idea. they didn't do that when i had it in. i have request for estimates out to a couple other places now. this is a rare coach, only made for 3 years, and was top of the line in it's day--aluminum framed and fiberglass shell, which makes it lighter than a lot of the other toy motorhomes. i'm in the process of rebuilding the upper bunk now. posted some pics here:

https://www.yotatech.com/gallery/sho...=61391&cat=500

joltin_jim11

ok, curiousity has gotten the best of me...........how much additional weight has the motor home on the back added??? it sure shoots the hell out of the aerodynamics and this might figure in as much as the extra weight in how much extra work the engine has done.

85TurboRunner

Wow thats the huge version. I'm use to seeing the shorter ones. It's crazy that they built that thing with a 22re as a power plant. What is the gearing on it?

Lumpy

That's sweet!!!

NovaStar

I think the GVWR is somewhere around 4,500-5,000lbs (don't recall off the top of my head). I need to get it on a scale. Has the 1 ton axles, front and back (duallys). Automatic tranny (A43D I believe).

This was the biggest one made (22' bumper-bumper), but weighs the same, or less, than some of the 'stick built' shorter ones. Driving it, I can tell it's a lot lighter than my 21' Dolphin. The 22re was used on all of them until 1989 when they switched over to the V6. They are strained, but the engine does fine cruising at 60mph on the flatland. My 85 Dolphin has 71k miles on the 22re and has run fine (HD tranny cooler added).

85TurboRunner

So you have 2 Toyota RV's?

NovaStar

Yeah, I will be selling the Dolphin once the other one is ready to roll.