Hello all,
Brand new noobie to this site and loving it. I've been reading the builds every day and it gets me so excited to start my new project. I'm looking for a 1st generation 4runner and am looking at one today. My question is: The owner says it has a blown head gasket on the 22re and has been sitting for 2 years as he doesn't have the money to fix it. Is it safe to say that water has been sitting in the crankcase for two years? And if so, might the internals of the engine possibly be rusting? Original owner from '86 and nice guy, but am I looking at something that needs a new long block? I wanted to rebuild the existing 22re as it has never been rebuilt.

 

It depends how bad it is. It might be locked up if the water got on the rings or the bearings before it sat. If you go look at it take a socket set with you and try to turn the crank over by hand. If it moves then it's probably not as bad as you think.

If you decide to rebuild, take your time and do it right. Get the head and block cleaned and checked at the machine shop.

Search for engnbldr on here or on ebay and get his rebuild kit.

 

Thanks Bassmastry. I am definitely using Engnbldr's kit. I have read about him on here and it sounds like the reputation is second to none. I have nothing but time right now so I plan to take my time making sure it's done right. I'll hopefully be posting on the build thread soon. Engnbldr does the machine work too right? And did you use his machining or do it locally.

 

The smart thing to do is not assume it's the head gasket, even though the owner thinks it is. It could be the timing chain wore a hole though the timing cover, thus mixing the coolant and oil. The only real way to figure out what is going on is to start tearing stuff down. But you don't own the truck yet...so you must assume you need a new engine. Price accordingly.

Engnbldr is a great place for parts, but i would not trust a Rock headgasket on my truck. Use OEM for the head gasket. Also do a search for the issues relating to the rings not sealing on some engbldr piston sets. It seems a special hone is required to get the rings to seal right. Keep searching, you need a bit more reading it sounds like. Then make a decision on what to do...

 

I didn't know about his business until I bought a head from him, and I already had my motor together. But if I had to build another one I would go with his kit.

I used a machine shop close by that I've used before. If you were close by I would recommend them.

 

Thanks guys. My plan is to start tearing things down including the head and timing cover to check the guides as well as the gasket. Supposedly this engine has never really been "gotten into" so I'm assuming it could very well be one of the guides. Either way I'm assuming there is water in there and that is why I asked about the internal rusting issue. Is there anything else anyone suggests to check while looking at a 4runner that is not running?

 

repost..

 

Like snobdds said, don't assume anything first until you check it out. When the timing chain stretches and breaks the guides off, it usually takes a bite out of the timing cover and cutting a hole into a water passage. First thing before you rip anything apart is to take the valve cover off and shine a light down the right side of the timing chain. You will see if it did its damage.

If it has then change the timing cover. Just be careful with the oil pan gasket and the head gasket.

If it hasn't then figure out the real reason the guy parked it. And if it gets down to it rip it all out and build it back right. I guarantee that when you do, you will have a new found respect for these trucks.

Let us know what you found out. Did you already get the truck?

 

Going in a couple hours to see it. Had a '93 Toyota Pickup 4x4 Xtracab with the 22re a few years back. Much respect for these trucks and these motors. I'll let you know tonight how it went and looked. I'll take plenty of pics to see what you guys think too.

 

Well got back very late last night and wasn't able to post. The truck is in amazing shape for an 86 at first sight. Engine compartment/drivetrain is very clean and oil looked great. I could turn the crank bolt just fighting normal compression it felt like. Thanks for the replies guys I'm gonna pick it up this week and start tearing her down can't wait. As a sidenote he is not a mechanic and his mechanic said it was a blown head gasket two years ago then offered him $500 for the 4runner. What a crook. It's a gamble sure but for the price and the fact I'm rebuilding the engine anyway I'm going for it. Thanks again.

 

A crooked mechanic would say something like that just to get a cheap buy. If everything checked out, wasn't locked up, and the oil looked clean, then I would say it would be something else.

When you get the truck, we can start troubleshooting what happened.

Oh..PICS!