recently bought a 83 toyota pickup has the SR5 package 5spd manual
got it from a lady who said it was her baby had it since she was a teen
which she provided proof that she has had the vehicle right from the dealer
my question is i think ive been duped i mean i drove it and it drove fine was in great condition gears felt nice it purred only has 116k miles on odom
so i give her the 1200 shes asking i drive it home everything seems fine i check the fluids alls well i drive it the next day and its blowing white smoke and radiator fluid is coming out the exhaust i know this is a common sympton of a blown head gasket / warped head or even a cracked block im wondering how hard is it to change the head gasket and how on gods great earth did it blow a head gasket that fast i mean it didnt blow smoke the day i test drove it and the oil was the right color i even changed the thermostat the day i bought it because she said it sat for a few years
ps. sorry for the big story im just kind of frustrated after this endeavor

 

It proabally is from sitting... its a prety easy job, just time consuming. Not too much $$ either... While your in there throw a new timing chain in it....

You could even call her and see if she will pay for the parts, or split the cost... you never know...

 

x2 on the calling her and asking for $$$ and the timing chain.

 

Sounds like you are very unlucky. I would not bother the woman unless you really think she knew it was bad when she sold it to you. Other than that just get to work changing it. ooh yeah, i also recomend replacing the timing chain while your in there... good luck

 

bum luck. the lady would have had no idea. at least you will know that the headgasket and the timing chain are new... i wouldnt make it the lady's problem, but to each his own. good luck.

 

yeah and while your head is out make sure its not warped, man that bites, i remember when i bought my runner it had a new head, then i found foam in the oil and i wigged, for ÅÅÅÅs and giggles i used a block sealer, and changed the oil, no foam, but it sounds like your head gasket is trashed, as long as you have the space and organization skills this is a very easy job.

 

If it drove home without those issues, you shouldn't assume she had any clue.

You didn't pay much for it, especially if it's in good cosmetic shape.
Fix it yourself for <$100 or pay someone $700+.

 

hay, no sweat man you scored on a killer ride. 12 hundred and you drove it home? Hush up and get greasy, part of the deal. If you replace the timing chain get a kit that has metal guides not plastic like from the factory. Dude will run for years with a little tlc.

 

well i took the time yesterday to rip off the head and low and behold they had used some kind of radiator stop leak to try to kill the leak i can see clearly where the gaskets blown took the head to a machinest he said theres no warpage at all its in great condition another thing i found strange though the engine has the double chain set instead of the 83's usual single chain
and are the stock pistons stamped with a number 5 on them?