I left the manifolds on and disconnected the exhaust.. half of it was already undone and it wasn't to bad to get the rest apart.. I think I need to bite the bullet and get the heads checked and tested..

 

Dude, i repeat, DUDE, it IS mandatory that you have the heads resurfaced and pressure checked. Don't even bother putting it back together till you can. It is kinda the most important part????

 

I'm not gonna call you out on this, but I am gonna say something. I have a '91 3.0 that had the substandard head gasket, and it never blew. The guy who owned it before me had them replaced under recall, but had no need to. So yes, some of them did blow regardless of the heat on cylinder # 6, but on several of them it WAS a contributing factor.

Also, yes, the forums can be slightly confusing, but with practice they aren't too hard to use. Don't pretend to try and be the OP's Oracle and Only Hope. There are plenty of guys on here with A LOT of info on these trucks who are more than willing to help.

 

First off, call me out all you want, I wasn't talking to you or about you. And what you said made no sense at all, they never blew but were replaced under reacall?????? Well no duh they never blew, they were replaced! And I speak on the troubles searching these forums from exsperience, not just off my head. Maybe you should mind your own, and think before you speak.

 

200% agree from experience. I tried to go quick and dirty style without getting the ehads resurfaced the first time I did mine. Let's just say theres a reason I had to do them twice Just give inand get em done up nice and get some new bolts in there (they are torque-to-yeild BS) and follow the torque sequence so you won't always have it in the back of your mind (or the front while dragging it up on a flatbed)

 

what part of "they didn't fail, but he got them replaced anyway" don't you understand? I said that in response you your comment about head gaskets blowing whether or not heat got to them. Heat does make a difference in the performance of gaskets, and sometimes excessive heat makes them fail. Don't discount what has happened to others based on what has happened to you. Also, I have had experience with the forums. I do searches. I have had trouble finding things. But as MT Goat pointed out, it can be done, you just have to fiddle with the options a bit. Seeing as this is a public forum, and the OP posted on it, doesn't that kinda make this whole thread the business of those who read it? All I was saying is that, whether or not you meant to, you sounded like you were trying to be the OP's saving grace, or something like that. Yes, the heads DO need to be resurfaced, but saying things like "Dude, i repeat, DUDE" makes you sound like you're about 16, trying to impress someone with what you know. Now, can we please ? I know I started this in a way, but still. I would like to see how this all goes.

 

The heads only need resurfaced if they need resurfaced. If the head gasket mating surfaces are still flat and free of defects, you'd be wasting your money trying to improve something that's in no need of improvement. And a poor resurfacing job can cause more harm than good. Don't do it if you don't have to.

Furthermore, the head bolts are TTT(Torque Turn to Tighten) not TTY. And Toyota does NOT recommend replacing them either. Another suggested unnecessary waste of money.

 

haha.. ill just say i didnt have a lot of time when i first started searching, and it seemed all i found where just a little info.. next time ill do more searching before asking questions... on another note....
as a mechanic i know the importance of sending the heads off to the machine shop, and everytime i have done a head job i have told people to spend the money and get it done...so i most likely will...i guess the hardest part is not being in the automotive industy anymore i know how much i used to get it done for, and now without the connections i use to have it seems like its alot more.. but im going to get it done... the good thing about it is that as of now i dont have anymoney into the runner (given to me by family) so there is really no need for me to cheap out lol.. im sure it goes through everyones head tho to go the easy route, but i know more then likely it will bite me in the ass.. now i wait untill i sell off some used parts, which hopefully sell quick, and if i make enough i will probably do headers too... esp since people say it helps avoid the head gasket failure problem.
Now on the head bolts, i have heard change them, and ive heard use the old ones... the runner came with new ones, and was was planning one replacing them..
i thank all for the info and help.. it has been a big help.. i am new to toyota world, mostly because all the other ones i have/had i haven't had to touch

 

been awhile since i have updated....well havent been able to do anything.. but this weekend i am towing to runner to my house so i can have more time to wrench on it, without being so far away from the family. since it will be easier to work on it at my house, i wont need to rush anything while working on it., and while im waiting for parts and what not i can mess with other things on it.. and more pics to come.

 

Long time again.. Had a few things come up but now I'm back to working on it again. I got the passenger side head surface cleaned up. Looking pretty good. I got my hands on a machinist straight edge and the surface is pretty true .. The feeler gauges I had at home started at .005" so I have to grab my other ones from work to get a real measurement. I got som insight from one of my uncles on the whole job. He worked at Toyota during the recall so he is telling me all the tricks and what to look for that most overlook. If all surfaces are good I'm still sending the heads in for a valve job ( not liking how they look) or I may just replace them all myself .. I also got a line up on headers so I think it's all finally going in the right direction