Corky

Hi, first time here. I've got an 87 4x2 p/u that I bought new. It's got 319,000 miles on it now, and other than a clutch and a rebuilt carb, I've never had a problem. ( I'm ignoring the routine jobs). Using about a half quart of oil every 3000. To make a long story short, the head gasket blew about two months ago. Oil OK, losing the coolant through the exhaust. This truck has never been to a garage/mechanic. I'm having a lot of trouble reaching a decision on what to do-- experience tells me to find another engine or trash the truck. It was repainted about 4 years ago and looks new. Can't find a used engine anywhere around NC. What would you guys do? Thanks for comments.

jx94148

Did you get 300,000+ miles out of your original timing chain? That's truly amazing! Your motor probably needs a serious rebuild including water, oil, fuel pumps, valves and guides, timing chain and guides and of course all new gaskets, about $1300 including install. Or you can get an entire rebuilt motor for around $1300 installed. Your current one probably won't be worth much as a core. Add a clutch into the equation as well. 300,000 miles on one clutch is unheard of. Did you tow it around behind a motorhome for 10 years or something?

If I were you i'd shop around for rebuilt motors or sell the parts you have and hope to get 300,000 miles out of your next Toyota.

Corky

jx94148-- I've listened for a noise from that timing chain since the truck hit 100,000, but I've never heard a sound. As I said in original post, I replaced the clutch-- factory clutch went at about 110,000 and I jacked it up in the side yard and put in a clutch set from Auto Zone (still going strong). Where did you find those prices? The cheapest rebuilt I've found is at Auto Zone for $1700 plus tax. By the time I buy a clutch, gasket set, rent a cherry picker and engine stand, and can't forget buy a distributor. Although I've never had a prob, I'd want to put a rebuilt in. That's another amazing thing- I checked the timing every time I put in a set of plugs, and have never reset it. I'm retired, so I won't figure my labor, but the prices I find here almost make it not worth fixing. My indecision stems from the fact that the truck has been so great. I almost feel like NOT fixing it would be disloyal. (Can you feel loyalty towards a truck????)

mark from uk

how about just stick a new head gasget on it and see how it goes,
what have you got to loose espicaly if you can do the job yourself.

jx94148

I really understand your loyalty. If you drive one truck for 319000 miles you really bond with it. You can't send it to a junkyard to rust away for eternity. You love your truck and it obviously loves you.

I have looked into rebuilt 22R and 22RE motors locally and online and they all seem to be in the $1200 to $1500 range. Its hard to tell exactly what gets replaced on these motors and what quality the parts are. The very best rebuilt motors are made by LC Engineering and are $3,144.75 for a carbed '87 motor.

It sounds like you have the time and ability to do it yourself. Check your compression before you tear into it to see if you need rings. Built it right and it will last another 200,000 miles.

Desertrat

I'm going through the same thing on my 22R. I had a thermostat stick, with severe over-heating and head warpage. I started torquing the rebuilt head on, and the danged threads in the block started stripping! So, helicoil time.

Could be that your head-gasket problem came from erosion of the head. Any high pH water over time will erode the water passages. I had one head that eroded to the ring of the head gasket.

I'd suggest just pulling the head and have it fully checked out. If eroded, that can be rewelded and then the head is planed off. No biggie. The only real worry is warping. One way to check is with the camshaft: It should not have any "rocking" on the bearings.

Good luck,

'Rat

Corky

Going to let the old Toyota go away. Just too many bucks for the job. Even with the excellent body, etc, the truck just isn't worth the money. Bought an old F150 yesterday to do my truck stuff. I still have the Toyota car, though.

butnut

Welcome aboard Corkey. Hell, I had my Datsun 510 wagon almost 20 years. Went through 3 motors & trannys. I bonded with that car. Too bad about your Toy...at least she went a loooong way. I just got a notice in today's mail from ASC (Toyota warranty). I got the 100K extended waranty (I'm almost at 90K now!) and they offered to give me a warranty as LONG AS I OWN THIS VEHICLE....hehe, they don't know how long I keep my vehicles. I have to call tomorrow to see how much this is gonna cost. I'll probably get it since I plan to keep my truck a very long time.
butnut