Well, I'm sure I'm not the first guy who wondered why he ever picked up a wrench, but the answer is probably the same....money. Just can't afford parts PLUS having someone else do it.

Yesterday my buddy came over to help me reinstall the heads on my '92 4runner. I had the new top end rebuild kit from engnbldr, all the tools, and plenty of coffee and good music. Ready to go!!! Ran into one problem, but worked it out just fine. The threads in the head for one bearing cap (#1) stripped out. Why? I have no idea. I know I didn't cause it, but that's another story...and probably a long one. Anyway...Fortunately, the threads go deeper than the factory cap bolt, so I stuck a longer bolt I had spare with four spacers so it wouldn't bottom out. It worked. Catastrophe averted. By the end of the day, we had the driver's side head on with the cam reinstalled and planned to finish the rest of the rebuilding the next day (today)......provided he got his butt over here early enough. Okay....that didn't happen! (Hippies...we're all the same ) Soooo, I started without him. As I began lubing the passenger side head bolts, I noticed something I did not notice yesterday....nor did he. There are NO WASHERS on the new head bolts. F@##%$^@$%@#$^%^K!!! You know what that means? Yep! We didn't put them on the bolts yesterday! Being this is first time I've ever tried anything of this mechanical magnitude and wasn't sure if I'd screwed that bad just yet, I decided not to hang myself right then. Chalk it up to learning experience. So, I proceeded to finish the passenger side up, and shortly my friend arrived. I told him the situation with the washers and decided to call a trusted mechanic for some advice. He, of course, said take it back apart and put them on. Okay, no problem. RIGHT!!!!!! The head on #3 bolt twisted right the f$%k off!!!!! OMG!!!! I WANTED TO DIE!!!!!! I just knew I was completely screwed. After calling around locally getting answers I was not at all happy with, I called Ted at engnbldr...I heard he was a pretty nice guy. TED RULES!!! Good guy! He said take the rest loose in sequence, pull the head up off the broken bolt, and then pull the bolt. Beats drilling and helicoils.....(that was Ted's reply, too) I was so happy I wanted to kiss my pig. My friend and I were pretty sure other bolts would break too, but hoped for the best. In the end, only two broke (including the one already mentioned) and one almost broke. You could see the head beginning to twist off the shaft. Ted said he would send some replacement bolts, so no big deal. One thing Ted mentioned, though, was to be sure and put some oil on the washers so the bolts seat properly and....if I understood correctly...get a proper torque reading. CRAP AGAIN!!! I did NOT put oil on the washers for the passenger side. I was following the Haynes manual and it mentioned nothing about it. All I knew to do was oil the bolts themselves and used the packet of lube that came with the kit for that. Out of complete embarrassment, I did not tell Ted this. But, now I'm not sure what to do.
Soooo....here's my questions. Since I'm afraid I've torqued the passenger side heads down too tight (after what Ted told me) should I back the bolts out, lube the washers, and then retorque them? And what does this mean in relation to the head gasket? Will I need to replace it? Also, will I need to replace the head gasket on the driver side since I KNOW that was torqued down improperly?
Man, what a screwed up day...:cry:

 

Anyone with any feedback?

 

sucks dude!!!!!!!i think you will need new bolts and a gasket

 

wow gotta love working on the 3.0

 

We all have to start somewhere.

My first goof (at age 8) was when my dad was showing me how to change the oil on our Ford pickup, I forgot to replace the drain plug. So I poured in the oil and my dad started it up. He must've knew right away since he immediately turned the truck off. I though he was going to be pissed. But he was just happy that I was interested in helping him out. I spent the next hour or so soaking up the clean oil.

I would have to say start over and do it right. That'll make you feel good once you're driving it and you won't be worrying if it'll blow up.

 

That's what I was afraid of. Poohey! I knew the headbolts would need replacing on the driver's side, but do you really think on the passengers side, too? They do have the washers on them. I had hoped the gaskets would be okay, but...hmmm...wishful thinking I suppose. Atleast I've learned something....the really hard way, even.
Thanks for the morale story, '95. You could have easily had a job at...dare I say it?..........Wal-Mart Automotive!

 

So at this point you need X number of new headbolts and 2 gaskets. Its unlikely that you overtorqued without lube on the bolt, its more likely that you would undertorque in that situation, the lube is there to overcome friction giving you more even torque on each bolt. Still be sure to check the head to ensure you didn't warp it though just to be sure.

 

Play it safe, go ahead and get both gaskets and bolts for drivers and passengers, and redo both side. You'll be glad you did with the 3.0

 

The bolts were lubed...just not the washers...atleast on the passenger side.
Yeah, I would like to check the head for sure. So, I can actually do this myself? Do you have to use a special tool or would something like a carpenter's level work? I've got feeler gauges....brand spanky new! (TPS nightmare education...remember?..hehe)

Okay, I'm about to call Mr. Ted in five minutes 'bout parts. My toes are crossed! (I'm using my fingers at the moment)

 

BTW, any other tips I haven't mentioned before I start into this process again?

 

it really sucks that our havin all these problems but think of it this way. You can get the headgasket set and bolts on ebay for around 140 shipped. Im assuming you are getting another one of the kits again so that is around 300. You are still coming out 700 dollars cheaper then I am and 1700 dollars less then most. Just spend the money, do it right, and laugh at the rest of us pansys who took it to a shop to get it done.

 

Well said, mate...well said!:bigclap:
Believe it or not I had thought of it in a similar light as that. Now I am hoping there's no warpage to the head. I'm actually not terribly concerned, though. From talking with Ted yesterday, he didn't seem to be alarmed. He said,"Now if that were a Honda, it'd be different!" Ha! But, I'm feeling better about the whole thing today. Went to the dentist, had pizza, and forgot about the whole thing for part of a day. Now, I'm just looking forward to starting again with more knowledge and doing it well. You may not know this, but it's been over a year since I've been able to get this vehicle running well. ...but it's true. Oh the anticipation!

 

Yeah man! Ted is a downright good fella. He's going to send me 8...count 'em...8 replacement bolts for the driverside. I pay shipping, but so what. He's also giving me a gasket at cost....$25!!! You guys (and/or gals) give him business! Make him rich! Haha! Anyway, I guess I'm a little excited. I'll just start over on the driver's side. BUT! On the passenger side, it looks like all I'm going to have to do is back the headbolts out...going one at a time...lube the washer, and retorque it correctly. This way the gasket is not disturbed. He seemed to think since the motor was not fired, I lubed the bolt itself, and the fact I won't be pulling off the head then the gasket ought to be fine. In fact, he said the driver's side may be okay, but we won't know until I pull the head if any of the gasket material sticks to the bearing surfaces. Regardless, he's sending a gasket just in case...so I might as well replace it.
Yeeha! I'll post latest developments as they occur for anyone curious. Thanks to all for the input. God I love solutions!
(mmm...cream soda goood! ..gulp! )

 

>>>*Yer gonna give me a big head if you keep that up!...*LOL**. I found my WD files in the wife's disc stack, that gasket was less than I thought so I will pick one up tomorrow and get it on the truck.

*Be sure to clean any of the printed part of the gasket off the mating surfaces if that sticks and it probably will.

Then take your time, spin all the bolts all the way in and out with some light oil on the threads. to make sure nothing is sticking. Then bolt her up, see if she will run....Le' and I will be flying out over the weekend on my new heads project but we sent a computer ahead to the hotel for them to hook up for us.

If you need any more help, I should be back online late tomorrow.

Good luck!.....*EB

 

arent these torque to yield bolts? I would replace the passenger side ones as well if your loosening them up again...

 

Ted's bolts are non-tty.

 

You have a pig?

 

>>>*There is a controversy on that, I read the manual and Toyota claims them reusable.

*So we tried that, I remember walking into my shop, a nice 3V sitting there finished and ready to deliver from the day before. Then I spotted the head off a bolt on the floor, yep! One went flying. I figured it was a fluke until a month or so later, another engine was done and I heard a ping, looked over and another one had gone flying.

I calibrated all the torque wrenches, it wasn't that. We haven't installed a used bolt since in one, and I automatically add them to the kits....Maybe I am wrong on that but it seems to work.

These also stretch but then all bolts do, they just don't take a full set as easily......*EB

 

I have the bearing cap #1 strip also on both head ^^, due to the bolts was short and I torq. it to much down and it strip so I ended up buying both rem. head and was very careful now, I bought the same 1.25m thread bolts but longer than the original bolt so I use the grinder to grind it to fit perfectly inside until it touch the bottom and work perfectly, remember to adjust your shims to it spec., intake should be best at 0.007 or 0.008mm, exhaust should be at 0.009 to 0.010mm.

‹I would better off buying new head gasket through toyota but make sure it is FEL-PRO stainless steel type gasket ($40.00each) or the other kind but believe is racing type for $120each. Also you should always have to replace the head bolts at anytime when you replace the HG, the TTY work fine, don't really need studs. After you are giong to bolt it in make sure you put some bit of oil on the thread and bottom end and also you want to put some prematex anti-seize on top of the thread and bolt them in sequence one at a time, don't bolt one in at 33 lbs. then the other, go 10, 20. then 33 in sequence, and 90 degree turn in sequence at a time then another 90 degree in sequence than it should come all at a stop at 80 lbs. if its over then you have a bad TTY bolt...

 

DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!

go download the FRIGGIN FSM pages and follow the directions. step by step line by line tells you EXACTLY what to do in what order.

HAD you done that you would have averted all of your (up till now) stupid mistakes.

good news is your learning... just not the smartest way

new bolts, new head gasket, good torque wrench and start over...