I posted up last week that I found an 88 4runner for $600 in awesome shape. The PO took out the engine, and started to rebuild, but it sat, and he got sick of looking at it, and I got a good deal. The truck had 24x,xxx on it, and the engine was rebuilt once before (not sure when). He said he wanted to rebuild it because an oil leak had started around the head. I got it home, and looking at the head and block, they appear to be in pretty good shape. No cracks, bumps, warps etc. So, what I'm wondering, would it be neccessary to bring it to a machine shop, get boared, and such. Then go and change out all bearings, pistons, cam....pretty much everything....OR just get a gasket set, timing kit, and put it back together.

I know pictures would be useful, but pictures from my cell phone arent that great. I have rebuild single cylinder dirtbike engines, but no car engines or engines this big, thats why I am asking for some other opinions.

As for now....I'm leaning towards just having everything done. I dont really have a tight time limit, as I have my 95 to drive, money is an issue, but I did engnbldr has a kit with everything for an awesome price. I would also like to keep this runner around for a while....

Thanks ahead for any input
Dan

 

if the bottom end looks good i would go with the engbldr street rv head.
on mine i did the head, timing chaing w steel rail oil pump, water pump, fuel filter (real easy with the head off) and new belts and hoses

 

You can't "eyeball" a rebuild - especially if there was an oil leak at the head, you need to get a straight edge and check for warps... Maybe have the head inspected.

I'd at least pull one bearing on the bottom end and verify that the bore still shows cross hatches. If not, I'd go through all of it - too much work to install it and not have it be right.

 

I dont think Im gunna go with the street head, just dont think its worth it.

I did check it with a straight edge, and all seems good. I think I still will bring it to a shop and have it looked at, just to be sure. The more n more I think about it, as long as its all apart, I think im gunna do the entire deal.

Any other opinions?

 

I rebuilt my head at 250K when the head gasket went.

Its got 350K on it now but the rings are kinda loose.

Now I have more money NOW than then (10 years ago) but I kinda wish I had the bottom end rebuilt too.

Take it to a REPUTABLE machine shop and explain what your goals are (DD use - reilable - fuel economy - stock ish to like new power etc).

I had a 3 angle valve job - new valve guides, head skim cut 0.012" (two passes on the mill) - BTW it check pretty flat to me... tells ya what I know.

 

Ditto, ditto...

 

Looking through the paper work he gave me, I see the engine was rebuilt 70k ago: "fully remanufactured factory engine" on receipt. The PO never mentioned this, until I called him today and said that it had been done. He said he was doing the rebuild now because of a leak between 3 and 4 cylinders on head gasket.

Now....I'm thinking I only want to do the head....with onjly 70k, the pistons, rings, ect, should be good....Right?

Thanks

 

I'd at least check the bottom end. It would suck to get it in, and have an issue a few thousand miles down the road. the worst part about rebuilding an engine is getting the engine in and out.

 

get the deck checked by machine shop to make sure its not warped, if all is good resurface the head new timing chain kit slap it back together and your good to go. the re assemblie should only take a couple hours, id check the clutch too while the motors out

 

and lets see some pics

 

i just received my 22r head today from enginesus.com. it is a new head and camshaft for $300.00 no shipping cost. let you know in a couple of weeks how it is.

 

Well, I ended up bringin the head and block to a machine shop. My local mechanic refered me to him, and said he did good work....I showed him the block, he said if it were him, he wouldnt put any money into it as bearings, crankshaft, checked out good. He took the head, shaved it down, did a valve job, and I got it back for about $250 nice and shiney, with some new valves.
I'm hoping my new cam, gasket set, timing set should be in tomorrow from engnbldr.....I ordered last Tuesday so hopefully it can make it from OR to NY in a week. Then we can start puttin everything back together.

I also did get a clutch from WabFab....hopefully itll be in by the end of the week.

Maybe we'll be runnin by next week??

next update with pics