Compression test tomorrow will confirm, but I'm pretty sure the headgasket is toast. Went to school this morning and about 1/8 mile into the drive it lost all power and when I pressed in the clutch it died. There was a huge cloud of white smoke when I started it back up, and it sounded like it was hitting on 3. The oil is really thin. Sounds like a head gasket to me

Though I can't see how it happened. It overheated a little the day after christmas cause I popped a hose, but it ran fine after I replaced the hose, just fine. Then all of a sudden BOOM. Still trying to figure out what to do, comments/suggestions welcome

 

First of all, sorry to hear about that. But, can't understand how it happened? Was it recently replaced? My '86 had 240,000, never had the head gasket replaced, never overheated until one day...wanted to stall, started overheating, died, started back up but was overheating & wanting to stall. Parked it & checked the oil and it was all the way up the dipstick & milky.

You may or may not have had a very small leak or two for a while, but they definitely can & will just go out catastrophically.

That sucks! Hopefully you'll be fixing it? I like that little truck.

 

sorry to hear, get er goin again soon!

 

that sucks!!

mine has overheated a bit last couple times i drove it and i feared blowing the head gasket. somehow it held through. maybe its because its been rebuilt 35k ago.

hey, if you want to tow it up to my shop we can replace your head gasket. i gotta yank the head off mine because some DSPO cross threaded a spark plug so bad i need to tap it from the back side.... 2 brains are better then one, right?

Al

 

Well one cylinder has always had low compression, so maybe it wasn't as bad until I pushed it over the edge? I don't know, original engine so its probably due for a rebuild.

Now I just gotta figure out what to do. Whether to fix it, have it fixed, or sell it and use funds to get jeep on the road. Also I got laid off a week ago. When it rains, it pours I reckon.

 

you gotta rebuild your head..Gas prices are starting to creap back up...How can the Organizer of the Oregon Yotatech Meet up show up in a Jeep?
that offer from Al sounds like the ticket...

Sorry to hear about you getting laid up...that sucks.

 

Guys
Good news and bad news. Good news is my mom has agreed to co-sign on a 1998 tacoma 4wd. Still have to test drive but it seems like a good deal.

Bad news is I think Ol' Blue will be sold. I just don't know about the bottom end of an engine with 346,000 miles and frankly I don't have the time, money, equipment, or facilities to do a rebuild. Plus I need a more reliable vehicle when I'll be off to college in a year and half. I have a friend who really wants it and will pay 500 (what I paid for it 14,000 and a head gasket ago lol), but I will be keeping the lumber rack, which reminds me.

Anybody in the Oregon area want a lumber rack? Fits a short box toyota and is built stronger than hell. Newish paint, 2 CB antenna brackets, removable rear bar. Make an offer


Oh OC, I will have the jeep regardless. The 4wd on the taco ain't gonna be used unless I need it to get home. No way will I risk body damage on a body in that good of shape lol.

 

I would say that 346K qualifies in the realm of being able to retire your old truck.
Cool about the Tacoma.

And don't worry, I told this same thing to Al: i am more than willing to lend a tow to a Jeep (and take crap for getting a yank from a Jeep)

 

Sorry fellas I forgot to update this.

Anyway got it into the Autoshop and did the headgasket in a couple weeks, cause I only had 3 hours a week to work on it. Nothing special, just a head R & I, everything looked OK (well as good as it can for 346,000 miles), so I left it alone. Did get the head machined though. Got it out and was driving it and the water pump went belly up. Luckily the bearings went before it got hot so 30 bucks and 15 minutes and she's as good as new.

I enjoy having this truck back on the road and even though I love the 4wd in my tacoma it's nice having a beater to just cruise around in.

 

Awesome to know you still are plugging away at it. That new pump sure looks purdy

interesting seeing the differences in your '82 22R and my '81 22R...might be the 4WD deal but i have two lower radiator hoses instead of the big curvey thing you got going on there...$10 cheaper for you with on less hose

 

Weird. May also be stock config versus aftermarket.

 

actually I just realized it might be the difference could be due to my '81 having powersteering...