it looks like i am in need of a new headgasket. bubbling in the overflow tank. i see alot of people recommend oem toyota, but i am kind of partial to engnbldr's set with the new bolts. any thoughts on that debate? plus - is there a good write up for doing the headgasket without taking the timing case off? chain was done last year. i figure i gotta hold the chain up somehow...any tips?

thanks

 

OEM and Engnbldr's kits are both good. No problem doing the headgasket without removing the timing cover. Like you said, just make sure the chain doesn't fall down! After getting the head off I used a piece of speaker wire to tie the chain to the underside of the hood so I know it won't go anywhere.

Rob

 

i take it engbldr's "gasket set" has exhaust and intake gaskets?

 

Engbldr is good stuff!!!

 

on my recent engin biuld i used felpro's to end engin gasket set. iv always had good luck with felpro gaskets

 

I asked Ted about his Rock headgasket, including specifics. He has seen no failures related to it (assuming the block and head are to FSM specs with regard to finish and flatness). I would challenge you to be able to tell the difference between the Rock gasket and Toyota OEM - except the Rock gasket says "Rock".

Toyota does not make their own headgaskets of course. Which means even OEM is aftermarket. I have gotten my share of bad parts in Toyota boxes, including two-in-a-row timing belt pulleys that were dry and noisy - pretty obvious faults. OEM is generally good, and I generally prefer it (or the same brand/PN in someone else's box) but no guarantees.

Anyway, I was satisfied with Ted's explanation and history and am using one in my rebuild.

 

does the head gasket go on dry? use any goo like copper spray?

 

Not only DRY, but with the surfaces absolutely free of contaminants of any kind.

 

I dissagree .

I have had 2 enginbuilders (Teds) headgaskets go .. warranty was of course looked after on one .. but there was still the expence of shipping the old gasket back , and re-doing the work that was not looked after . I have NO problems with the rest of enginebuilders parts , in fact I recommend .. But I also recommend that you DO use the OE head gasket . Ted sent me a whole new head set on the first one .. but by the time shipping costs were sorted out .. the second one I just replaced myself with out even contacting them .

2 much labor to do twice .. I absolutly recommend the OE gasket .

Toyota parts are not built by toyota .. but they ARE built to toyota specs . aftermarket , usually specs are less .

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and just to let people know .. on both engines .. 2 years later (1 my DD) no problems on the OE replacement gaskets .


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You could also just wrap a piece of wire (string, rubber bands...) around the chain below the cam sprocket so the sprocket and chain don't become separated....

 

Gross assumption.

BTW, TWO HGs failed in a row? The constant seems to be the block deck/head interface. Or thread conditions.