I've got a '94 T100. It was handed down from 1 owner and I've driven it for 3 years. It started blowing white steam and smells like antifreeze. Pretty sure the head gasket is blown but it hasnt over heated. I cant find a mechanic that will change out the gasket, everyone wants to sell an engine. If the valves were tapping or if it burned oil or if ANYTHING else was wrong with the truck i would let it go but its a great truck. Any advice is appreciated!

 

Brother,
It seems to me you have three options at this point (from what you have said): just keep driving as is, dig into it yourself, or replace the engine. It seems to me that tearing into to it to SEE if you can do it yourself ((replace the gasket, sort the head (heads, as applies), change the oil, and move out)), you are no worse off if you wind up a mess. The question is not one of talent or skill, as head gaskets are not tough (caveat, they are also not FUN) but cost versus downtime. In my case, my T100 (433K) is my Home Depot, gun range truck, not something I have to depend on, although it recently did a 700 mile round trip without issue.

If you can afford to take it out of service for a bit, give repairs a go. I lived in Charleston for about five years, and the cold you have right now is much better than the biting gnats and humidity you will have from March on. Might as well do it now. That's my advice, worth what you paid for it. Best of luck.

 

I can think of one more option - try making a few more calls. I don't know why they don't want to fix it, unless they're all saying it costs more to fix than drop in a used engine... Good luck, these are great trucks

 

Flat rate, 15-25 hours just to R&R the long block at $100/hr (if you're lucky)

Can double that time to break down the engine.

If you think that's bad, try asking the local machinist how much per hour he's going to charge to break down your dirty ass engine. Odds are good its double the hourly rate the mechanic charges. And that's before the inspection fees even start. And if course there is the actual machine time on top of this.

No consumables, no flakey hoses replaced or wire harness mishaps, stuck bolts or any new parts..


Plus your local mechanics bread and butter jobs are $100 alignments that they can knock out in 20-30 minutes, and you want to tie up one of his bays for an average minimum of two to four weeks which assumes the machinist can start on it as soon as they get the block and head.



DIY will save you easy 500$ over the R&R time, and that includes buying a hoist a stand misc tools and a shed to work in. Which you then happily turn over to the machinist to hot tank clean and surface your block and head.

 

So what'd you end up doing? Don't be another one post wonder, forum is full of them these days, isn't it.

Step one is a leak down test. 3VZ head gaskets are a pain but nothing you can't handle, working off the many threads detailing how to do it here. Put the money you'd pay that mechanic into tools and next time you need them it'll be pure profit. I didn't pull the engine for mine, just heads, no problem.

 

Thank you to all that replied. Im gonna change out the gaskets myself. The ol' ghost is not a daily driver and can be down while repairs are made. I'm not a "great" mechanic by any means but I have done the same repair on an older Mitsubishi Mighty Max. This will be more complicated but I'm pretty confident I can do it. I also know no shortcuts will be taken and any replacement parts will be taken care of. Pix (& more ?'s) are to follow!!!


Gray 👻

 

You made the right choice! Youll learn a lot along the way and next time this happens, you will know exactly what to do.
which engine is it btw?

 

Thanx Swamped, It's 3.0L. I haven't had alot of time to tear down but I have started, no stripped bolts, slow & steady...

 

I have to say that as a mechanic myself, I know what kind of crap some of those guys do and add charges for. I really don't like it because it gives the rest of us look bad. I have a college degree in automotive technology and have been using it for 25+ years and even if I didn't have the experience I have, I would still tear in to it myself. That way you know your truck and who will do as good of a job than you. Very nice truck and looks it's worth the time and money. My advice is lay everything out in the order in which you remove it and maybe even take a few pictures along the way. Be patient and vigilant, it will pay off in the end. The pride you feel when you're driving it again is worth it. Good luck.

 

Hey Jig, how'd that head gasket job go? I like your decision to DIY & hope it worked well...although if you're like me, since it's not the daily driver, it might still be only partly done, taking up the garage space. Given the virus shutdown we're in, you might have more time to devote to it...