Replacing the head gasket and stuff on my '88 22-RE pickup, and have a problem finding some little parts.
1) The square wire clips that hold the electrical connectors in. Little springy things that easily fly off into an alternate dimension, never to return. Where to find them, or what to use as an alternative? Tape the connectors?
2) Copper gaskets for the fuel line. Replaced the filter, and that came with new gaskets, but the head gasket set doesn't have them for where the line connects to the intake manifold. Shop manual says not to re-use the old ones, local parts stores and Google don't show them...

 

The crush washers on the fuel line attaching to the fuel rod can be replaced from the dealership. Just did mine and it was under ten bucks for both. Takes on on top and one on the bottom.

 

I know you'd feel better getting new ones but I've re-used the copper crush washers plenty of times without issue.

 

I'd rather avoid the drive into the city if possible. Ten bucks for the washers seems a bit pricy, but not a big deal, but then add $4-5 or so of gas, and an hour of my time :-(

 

My dealer doesn't charge that much! Maybe $10 for a pack of 5 washers...

Anywho, my dealer (the one that's local to Klamath Falls, anywho), will mail them to us. We just call up the parts dept. If we know the part number, all the better, but if not, they will look it up for us. Doesn't cost us anything more to have them mailed to us than to go pick them up. Did that for the cold start injector crush washers. Had a leak after my mechanic worked on the truck, replacing the timing chain, and a few other odds and ends. Smelled gas when we got it home, a 40 minute trip one way.
Tracked it down pretty easy, this time. It happens. Just called the local dealership, had the washers in two days. One to get them to the dealership, one to mail them to us. New washers and away we went! Runs like a top now.

I know a lot of folks say they reuse the crush washers all the time with no trouble, and that's great for them. I won't take the chance. The rule of thumb on crush washers is never ever reuse them, for me. For ME. YMMV.

Good luck!
Pat☺

 

I'll see about having them mailed. As for reusing them, the old ones have been reused at least once already, when I had the engine out to do timing chain, clutch, and stuff a couple of years ago. And who knows what might have been done before I owned it. Figured I might as well do it right this time...

Any thoughts on the connector clips?

 

I’ve seen guys just use small zip ties across the connectors to hold them in place. I wouldn't hesitate to try that.

 

The zip tie idea isn't bad. The only option I know on them clips for the connectors is new connectors with the clips on them. I did that for the injectors because they were falling apart anyway but the metal clips fit other connectors. I've seen both connectors for the TPS and AFM for sale.