So after couple months of my 88 3.0 xtracab sitting in my garage with a bad head gasket(230000 miles) I noticed more and more fluids under the truck, mainly oil. Think its time I get to work on it since its leaking coolant and oil and steering fluid from who knows where. Checked rockauto and they sell a ITM engine gasket kit for only 3 dollars more than the ITM head gasket kit, and the DNJ full kit for 40 bucks more than teir HG kit, since its leaking from what seems to be everywhere now I figure a full gasket kit might be the better option(my garage floor soaked in oil). Anyone have any expierence with ITM or DNJ? Kinda dont wanna fork over more for the Fel-Pro kit if I dont need to.

Oil is still clean so is coolant, HG leaking externally, still driveable, no compression loss, no burning oil. May sell truck soon may build it up depending if I find a 1st gen 4runner where im moving to, cant afford new engine or engine swap.

 

Im also looking at the LCE and Engnbuilder kits, anyone know who makes their gaskets?

 

I used DNJ gaskets for my 22R. I have yet to start it since I am currently building my truck, but I've built dozens of engines before and I know good gaskets when I see them. The DNJ kit has very good, high quality gaskets (or at least the 22R kit does). DNJ is also the brand that Ted from Engnbldr sells with his rebuild kits. I have no experience with ITM and my experiences with Fel-Pro are not good. Personally, I feel that Fel-Pro sells the worst gaskets on the market.

 

I used DNJ parts on my 22r rebuild also, works as advertised.

 

I recommend the DNJ head gaskets all the time. That's what I have on my 88 3VZ-E. It also has ITM pistons and wrist pins. No problems with any of it.

 

ITM is garbage !!

 

I'm curious why you'd say that. Care to elaborate?

 

I always heard fel-pro makes good stuff. Ill have to check if they offer the MLS gaskets

 

i'm using a Fel-pro top end gasket set (including head gasket) on my 22RE after it overheated (warped the head, had to get it planed). the gaskets are holding up after about 3/4 months of driving back and forth to work, which consists of across town driving at 65+ MPH. plenty of power still, i can even get the rear tires loose every now and then. Fel-pro isn't that bad, but the Toyota gasket from the dealer is obviously the best one.

on topic: if Ted from Enginebldr uses DNJ, i would generally trust his choices. he knows what he's doing when rebuilding. if you want to, you can find him on the forums here and PM him with a few questions. he does have stuff for 3.slow engines.

 

They don't. But unless you plan on having the heads and the block resurfaced, they would be a very poor choice. Even if you do resurface everything, the surface finish needs to be extremely smooth.

I would definitely not go with the current OEM brand of head gaskets. Which are upside down, IMO. And neither would Ted, I wouldn't imagine. Since he most likely shares my opinion on that.

 

Their HGs are upside down and backwards.
Read a few threads about them blowing out within a years time on toyotanation.

 

Why do you defend Chinese knock offs ?

For instance the plenum gasket from ITM is only paper, very thin.
The same gasket from Fel-Pro is 3 times thicker.

 

My valve covers started leaking last month. No wonder, the gaskets are already hard as a rock, after 7 months.

 

How are the bearing from DNJ?

 

I have a fully rebuilt 22re I did myself from teds kit. DNJ parts on the bottom end as one of his pre-assembled heads with cam. About 5k on the motor now and all is great.

 

Which bearing specifically are you wondering about? I have no new input but it can/could make a big difference to know which you are interested in.

 

Crankshaft, rod, and thrust bearings

 

Go on Ebay and buy some King brand bearings. They are good as any. Shop for price.

 

The machine shop I ordered my bearings from got Federal Mogul mains and thrust washers and dnj rod bearings. Only 4000 miles in so I can't comment on longevity, but the engine runs really smooth with no knocking or other bad noises and no visable metal in the oil changes. The first rod bearings they supplied had the oiling hole on the wrong side. The dnj ones lined up right and fit well. They also make way oversized (+.030) if you need like I did.

 

https://forums.nasioc.com/forums/sho...9#post45033789

Sorry to revive this thread but I'm scowering the web posting to anyone asking about DNJ, the above post is another person who had the exact same problem I did, sadly I didn't find that post until after my belt snapped. I've also included a pic of my belt, looks just like the persons in that post

IF YOU USED DNJ PARTS STOP DRIVING IMMEDIATELY until you replace them! THEY WILL FAIL