I recently bought back my 92 Runner from a freind - missed it too much. Being now committed to this relationship, I've removed the intake to get at a valve cover leak.

Now that I'm in real deep, may as well cover all the bases. I'd like to adjust the valves before reassembly. Searching high and low, I cant find detailed instructions for this on the 3vze.

It's got 105K and the block was replaced at 60.

Pronghorn

 

Welcome to the forums.

I know the 22RE can be done, but I also have the 3.0, and to adjust them, you must use shims.
They don't adjust like regular valves do.

It's mainly a dealer job, or a good Toyota Tech at an import shop.
I paid around $200 a few years ago to have my drivers side shimed as they were noisy.
That also included new spark plugs all the way around.

 

Your first step should be to determine if they're out of spec. Your owner's manual may list clearance specs (some of the older ones do), if not I'd buy the FSM or a Haynes if you don't want to spend the $$ on the FSM. Next you need a set of feeler gauges to measure between the shim and cam. Measuring valve clearances is not hard (per say) but to do it correctly you need to have the FSM or Haynes and follow the directions for fully closing the valves.

Here's a write up for doing it on the 3s-gte, if you read through it and still feel comfortable go for it.


Valve shimming

 

IMHO.. this is not a perform it your self job... Send it to a shop to get it done... Ask them if the have a shim assortment is stock. If they do not, they will need to tear your intake off, and measure the spec's.. then order the shims (think a few days wait) This is a very hard job to do and very labor intensive.. Also you have to find some one familiar with doing this head..(Trust me... I had one set go bad because of an idiot who did not do it right.. now my new set has #5 intake valve not fully colsing.. Why?? soon to come..)

Figure about $250 to have it done...

 

Thanks to all for the input. I have found detailed shop instructions for this at www. net-impress.com/4runner/cd. Yesterday I went through the process of measuring clearances and thankfully found them all in spec.

A couple of observations. While I can't argue with the advice that this is too much to undertake, having gone through this I will say it is detailed enough that I feel MUCH better about my own attention to detail than can be expected of a mechanic on a pay per job schedule. It wasnt that bad with a little patience.

Finally, does anyone have tips on insuring a leak free valve cover assembly??

This forum is a marvel!!

Pronghorn

 

Make sure the valve cover and head mating surfaces are clean.Don't wrench the valve cover bolts tight,crunching the valve cover.Snug them up in a criss-cross pattern.In other words,snug the back left bolt first,then move to the front right,continue this pattern.If you have a torque wrench,set to specs.Good luck!!