The engine should be safe then, right? How could i check out teh passage? This just has me soo confused.

 

If it was my truck...I would find a complete left head from the junk yard.Buy a head gasket set from toyota(will have all the vavle guide seals,gaskets,ect) .Take the head to the machine shop,have them install valve giude seals,shim valves to the cams,clean head and cams,surface the head....remove the left side head,remove headgasket,clean out oil passages,can do with fine pipe cleaners and compressed air...install head and rest of motor,would do two back to back oil changes after running motor for a while.Remove valve cover after running on second oil change for a while and inspect/pull cam cap that had the problem.If it looks good,you are done,should cost under a grand if you do the work yourself and buy the head cheap enough...drive on....I highly doubt there is anything wrong with the rest of the motor,you would have heard other noises by now,and judging by the clean pictures you posted of the head I doubt its full of sludge.

BTW one other possibility could have happened,instead of the passages in the head/block clogged,you could have had a partial clog inside of that cam shaft,they are hollow and oil runs through them to lube the journals.If a partial clog at that journal/cap was clogged,thats why only that journal froze....since it dosent matter now that that the head is trashed,you may never know

 

I found a rebuilt head with oem parts for 500 bucks, im thinkin of jumping on that. Also getting the sparks changed, water pump, and timing belt. Found the gasket seals for 350. Anything im missing or over looking?

 

Sounds good to me,as long as the head comes with the cams pre shimmed....Don't forget to soak the exhaust bolts with penetrant the night before you disassemble the motor.And also clean the surface of the block really well,also make sure all the block ports are clear(coat hanger/pipe cleaners).And take your time when installing the headgasket,there is a left and a right side,but they will both fit on the block,so pay attention to that and also torquing the head bolts,pattern of tightening and also a paint marker will come in handy to mark the bolts for the last 90* turn....and last but not least do not over-torque the vavle cover bolts.....Hope it goes well.

 

Thanks, ive already ordered teh head gasket set, water pump and timing belt. Cost me 400 for those. All oem. Deciding between which head to go for. OEM Parts rebuilt for 500 with 1 year warranty. I like it more due to the oem parts and rebuilt. Sorta like brand new. Second is a Head Everdrive sells for 400 with a 3 year warranty. Im going to call tommorow to see if its used, rebuilt or what. Lastly which spark plugs should i use? Trucks at 94k miles again so anything else i should take care of? Its a 4wd. Let me know of any other ideas. I really appreciate all the help. Saved a grand by deciding not getting an used engine. Ive pampered this engine. Oil changes on time and all. First owner so i would trust this engine more then one im buying from someone which i have no idea of how its been driven. Ill be posting here for more ideas soon. Just found out such a great forums exsists for 4runners also. Only use to go on teh one for my tl and LEARNED A TON. Now time for this Thanks once again.

 

well bad news, other side piston is broken and engine turned out to be stuck. Now i gotta go back return ehad and otehr parts and get a used engine. 63k on it and getting it for 1800. 700 to install. I am putting up the truck for sale after this. Its disapointing that a truck i bought BRAND NEW and thought would last me atleast 10-15 years didnt even go for 8. Next truck i will look at getting is either a 03 lexus lx470 with 31k miles for 31500 loaded or a 06 range rover sport with 19k miles for 40k. I just wont be happy driving it around knowing i had to change the whole damn engine. Loved teh truck but time to move on. Any other ideas? What is a good truck to get. Prefer a 8 seater but NO AMERICAN. Dont seem to like gm or ford. thanks for your help guys. Wish i couldve stayed here longer and enjoyed it more.