91 4runner blew a headgasket. Removed the heads this morning and found one of the cyl's with a horrible looking crack between the valves(see pics). I have a appt on monday to take the heads in to be pressure checked and surfaced but not sure if this head is toast or not?? Any opinions?

 

Get out your favourite milkfat-based spread and have some breakfast.

 

I would not expect that head to make a full recovery.

 

The long and short of it is, that head is junk.

You have to replace the head. There is no other way around it.

 

I see a future for that head casting in aluminum cans. In six months I might be drinking my favorite beverage from a can made from that aluminum.

 

Another guy just posted up with some head problems, he says that he is going to get a set of reconditioned heads for $535 from National Cylinder Head.

Seems like a great price, maybe too good to be true. I paid close to 1k to have mine reconditioned in town a few years back. That was with new valves, valve job, but re-using the cams.

Good luck.

 

Definitely need a new head.

Or.. find a used motor with low miles and swap the whole thing in.

 

ugh....life sucks

 

I have located another engine locally with a 157,000 miles before a rod bearing went bad. I am thinking of buying this engine to salvage the heads. What is the average price of a valve job on the 3.0 heads?

 

I paid $200 a year and a half ago per head for:

new exhaust valves
new exhaust guides
new exhaust seats
intakes reground
head surfaced
all new valve seals
valves adjusted with proper fitting shims (I gave them the heads with the cams in place so they could adjust the valves)

 

Cool, i think i have found another set of heads, actually a whole engine that has no head gasket problems. Wish me luck this time around

 

I think this has been said plenty of time (I haven't read any of the other posts) buuuut.......HEAD IS SHOT BROTHA!!!!!!

 

WHAT? i paid $680 for mine to be worked on with new valves and cams.

 

Update - Located a used set of heads and took them in for a valve job and to be surfaced. Replaced the timing belt, idler pullies, water pump, cap, rotor, wires, etc. Took it in to be smogged and passed with flying colors, majorly relieved. All is good now.