Yeah... I know.. the 3.0 lacks power??? really???

but this is beyond the normal power to weight problem of the 4runner.

If you hadn't been following my saga, the headgasket blew out on my 4runner about a month or so ago, so I replaced it. Along the way I found that the genius that rebuilt the engine (before I bought the car) had placed head bolt washers under each lifter... on top of the valve. I don't know why.

I figured I needed to reshim the lifters, but I checked a couple and decided it was close enough.

Well, it runs now. But it sounds like a dozen little sewing machines under the hood. Could this be my power problem? Is it possible that the valves aren't opening as far as they should and choking the engine? or should I also look at other things?

The check engine light is offm so at least theres that.

 

it would have been a great idea to remove those washers....did they fit flush like an adjustment puck would?

 

Oh, I did take the washers out, and no, they didn't fit right at all, they kinda rattled around in there. I suppose it may have been the guys way of getting the valve lash set.

It idles ok, around 800 rpm, and I can get it up to speed on a flat road, but if I hit any incline, it struggles pretty bad.

One other thought I had was hte timing. I put a new belt on it, and when I did I lined up the mark on the crank at 0 deg and the two marks on teh camshafts straight up at the corresponding marks. Is that right? I set the distributor with a timing light around 8-10 degrees.

 

Did you jump the terminal pins when you set the timing?

Did they previous owner use head bolts versus shims for adjusting the valves? That's what it sounds like...

"Oh, I did take the washers out, and no, they didn't fit right at all, they kinda rattled around in there."

Uhhhh...you didn't leave them that way, did you?

 

When you did the belt and lined up the marks, did you turn the crank over at least twice to make sure the marks were still lined up.

 

Yeah, I turned the crank to make sure the marks lined up.

As far as the washers go, it didn't look like they were supposed to be there, so yes, I took them out.

I do think I'm going to re-shim.

 

I can unequivocally tell you that it won't run worth $h!t without them in. That's how you set the valve lash.

 

Ok... the shims are still in... I know that's how you set the valve lash, with different thicknesses of shims... There were actual headbolt washers under the lifters, and on top of the valves... all of them. That's not how you set valve lash.. correct?