I am rebuilding my son's 3.4 that blew a head gasket. While breaking everything down so I could send the heads off to be decked and reworked, I took out the cam shafts without realizing they were tension loaded. How much tension needs to be reloaded on the exhaust cam shaft before I reinstall it. I assume I can put the cam in a vice and turn it but I am not sure how much to turn it. I also read that I can use a valve cover bolt to hold he tension in place while I install it back not the cylinder head. Thanks for any help.

 

Are you talking about the spring loaded gear on the exhaust shaft that you put a bolt through to keep from unloading?

If that's what your talking about, I'd just turn enough tension into it until the small lock hole lines up and put a 6x1.00 bolt through it to hold it.

 

Yeah that's it. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to turn it more than 360 degrees or not?

 

Well at least it doesn't sound like I really screwed it up anyway.

 

They will be taking them off to do the heads anyways....

 

True, but this is what he was talking about. He forgot to put a bolt in the small hole that holds tension on the exhaust cam gear so the spring doesn't come unwound.



And stinger, I honestly don't know how much you will have to turn it. I've never forgotten the bolt so thus I've never had to rewind the cam gear...

 

Thanks for the help. The machine shop guy says I didn't screw them up. Whew. I was scared there for a little while. The machine shop,also says my heads are ok. There is a very tiny micro crack in cylinder 3 but it isn't leaking so he will tig weld it up and close it up. I just negs to order the gasket set so I can get the valve seals to him so he can do a valve job on them and I can get them installed. Any ideas on what gasket kit I should go with that is the best for the money?

 

Factory Toyota. That's all I would trust in such a crucial position.

 

What would be a fair price if I get a complete set from the dealer for oem parts? Or can I order them online from a reputable dealer. This is my first toyota rebuild and I don't know what site so trust. Both of my boys got 4 runners (used ) when they turned 15 and both have head gasket issues. I just parked the oldest one, a 1995 3.0 3vz and go the oldest boy a new 4 runner last year. Now I am rebuilding the 1999 3.4 and I may tackle the 3.0 next and drive it a while myself. They are both still pretty nice rides. Yes I know what many of you will say too, swap the 3.4 in for the 3.0 but I don't want to do that much work by myself.

 

toyota headgaskets are pretty much mandatory in my opinion. the rest....whateva...check rockauto.com for the rest...

If you have it that tore down....timing belt. tensioners. waterpump.

You be good for 120k then.

 

FYI: Use an oil filter wrench (the pliers kind) to grab the gear and wrench it into place. I have a pair I got from home depot channel lock brand.

 

Oh it is definitely tore down. It is sitting on an engine stand right now minus oil pan, still with the crank and pistons and ready for some tlc. It has some rusty freeze plugs that will get replaced after I clean up the block and paint it. It's obvious that the head gaskets were leaking for a while. They just weren't leaking into a cylinder until recently. I may look for a good basic cheaper set of gaskets and get a good set of head gaskets from toyota. I planned on putting on the new timing belt and water pump too. The tensioner and pulleys were changed out about 35,000 miles back (as was the tb and water pump). I think they will be ok for now

 

Youre gonna have a brand new 3.4 !! Be sweet to see someone powedercoat the valve covers intake or at least paint em cool looking. I want to see a pretty 3.4 someday.

 

I will see what I can do to make it look nice .... Thanks for al the help ..... I ordered the Feel-Pro gasket set today and I will pick up a set of Head Gaskets tomorrow from Toyota and probably chunk the Feel-Pros. I also ordered the water pump, timing belt, head bolts, rear main, and an oil pan gasket (since it doesn't come with the set). A little over $400 bucks so far .....still cheaper than replacing. $175 bucks to have the heads decked and valves ground. My son better appreciate me for this ! LOL

 

He will...if you make him help!! Work him till he has blisters. Best thing for them waskilly kids. Yes I said waskilly. Its safe to now.