Fix the HG. The reason the stealer says something else might blow out is because when they replace the HG, they replace the HG. Most of the people who do their own HG replace other stuff like various seals and the oil pump at the same time. As long as the bottom end is relatively solid and you replace other aging components also, you should be fine.

 

replace the head gasket...don't get a rebuilt. 146k isnt very many miles on a toyota.

 

The worst case the various repair places keep saying is that they'll do the work and then maybe something else (i.e. in bottom, like crank) will go...but my sense is like you guys are saying -- lots of folks here have engines running way beyond 200k before things get so bad that the whole thing needs to be replaced. so I am leaning towards taking it to a good shop and having the heads redone, etc...like you are suggesting. How about some of the moderator/sage elders chime in? Pretty please?

 

Righ now I'm in the process of rebuilding my top end. I have it in my gf's grandparents garage cause I live in apts. I would say. Just find a way to do it urself and just get a hg set from engnbldr. Its like 100 bucks and I have heard nothing bad about them. I am also going to get some arp head studs while I'm at it along with maybe mls gaskets. I'm also getting headers, weasy cams, pnp and o/s valves. I don't think that ima have another hg prob lol. Anyways you should deff do it urself, I can get you the fsm too. That makes everything a lot easier. And an impact gun will help a lot with getting the exhaust manifold detached from the exhaust downpipe and some other stuff. Anyways good luck.

 

This is why I just sold my 3.0L. Didnt feel that it was worth it putting any money into the truck when i have a feeling the HG is gonna go sometime soon.

 

Ahhhh, just back from a few days in Puerto Rico to escape stuff like this! Well, found someone with a great rep to do the work...details to follow. Fingers crossed!

 

Well, for all the reasons stated earlier I don't have the option right now of doing it myself. In any event dropped it off at a guy who comes highly recommended, and estimate now running 2000-2500. Frackin ouch, but way cheaper than dealer "$3000-5000), jackasses. This will include full head job including polishing and valve job, as well as new timing belt, water pump, etc. Updates to follow...

 

sweet!

 

...we hope...

 

I bought a 215,000mi '89 PU with a 3.0 last year and, of course, it wouldn't pass emissions. Low compression in all the cylinders and only 25 psi in #6. Amazingly, it still ran well and had pretty good power. The rest of the drive train and body was in great shape. I decided to have the heads rebuilt and and do a thorough job of refreshing everything involved with pulling the heads. It was a fairly involved job and took about 2 weeks total of about 4 hours a day during the week and 12 hours a day on the weekend.

I was amazed at how good condition the bottom end was in, with no scoring and virtually no cylinder ridge. I spent a bunch of time cleaning the block decks until they looked like new. The heads had badly burned exhaust valves, which were all replaced during the head job. The heads were milled to flat and cleaned. The cams showed no wear with the lobes miking to original specs and no other problems found. One spark plug hole was stripped and now has a heli-coil installed. I replaced all seals, gaskets, etc, and the water pump, thermostat, radiator, belts and hoses. A Felpro gasket kit was about $200, head bolts were about $30, and the head work was $200 per head. Other parts ran about $200 for a total of $800ish.

I have put 15,000 mi on the truck since the work (including driving up the Alaska Highway to Anchorage last week) and it runs great. Burns no oil and runs like a new engine. I couldn't be happier.

If you can find someone to do the work for maybe $2000 or less you would have a fair deal. There is a lot of work involved with removing the heads in the 3.0. I work slowly and clean everything well, but I put about 100 hours of labor into the project. Good luck

 

I missed your post about finding a guy to do it for about $2500 or less. That is a lot of money, but knowing what's involved, it actually is pretty fair. Good luck and I hope it all works out as well as mine has.

 

Bugs ... thanks for the info. Actually provides some good "morale" support! And also I think the only person to provide the input I was lookin' for!

 

Frack. Mechanic just called. Says that block isn't holding the head bolts, thus of course in order to fix he would need to bore and install helicoils, etc. He's not keen to do this; says he can if I want to but couldn't guarantee the work. Also thinks this is likely why the gasket blew again. So options now are a) do it with no guarantee for about $2000, b) replace with rebuilt with 2 year guarantee for engine and labor, for $4000, c) replace with used engine with no engine guarantee (but labor) for $3500. Thoughts?

 

thats not good news..

a rebuilt for $500 sounds like the way to go...in my book

 

OP I feel your pain. Bought a Runner only to have the HG go a week latter. I am now waiting on a rebuilt engine to arrive. 3300 plus some other parts I am giving the mechanic to replace, that he is nicely doing free of charge during the swap. Go rebuilt swap at this point.

 

Paiiin, so muuuuchhh pain. Anyhow, anyone have a preferred online rebuilt engine supplier?

 

sounds like a no-brainer... If you can muster up the dough go for the 4000 dollar rebuilt, otherwise, sell it.

 

That's da plan...new motor from ATK

 

plus you should be able to get some loot back from your rebuilt...i'm about to re do my engine too....i got a bad hg and just rebuilt the sob 2 years ago....sucks but i have to wait for nice weather so i can ride my bike...sportbikes + rain = busted up driver....good luck though man, i'd probably look around on c.l. and ebay and stuff like that, might even be able to get a whole new pickup for 2g's that you can drive and rebuild yours slowly and correctly, maybe overbore and do some work, then sell your other truck or car or whatever. just a thought.

 

have you thought about a rebuilt short block? the works done to the heads already so why not just replace the block? have you looked into that?