I have a 1986 Toyota 4Runner with 150k on the clock. I have the problem where coolant is leaking into the cylinder that is closest to the front of the car. Supposedly that is the timing cover or something like that. Well to take off the timing cover you basically have to take every single thing apart in the front of the engine off.

So, since everything is off should I just buy the $300 rebuild kit from http://www.22re.com so just do everything while I am in there? It would be much easier to do everything while I am in there. I also have done this stuff before so it won't be a big deal for me.

So what do you guys think?

 

you might as well do it while your in there

 

I'd check out engnbldr.com for parts. Ted is a awesome guy, great customer service. And if you have any questions, he gets back to you real quick.

 

Your right its not that big of a deal. What's included with the $300 bucks? I suppose all you need are a complete gasket kit and new head bolts if your just worried about a leak.

 

x2 ....

 

do it right

 

Personally, I'd run a compression check, make sure it's OK and then replace the timing chain, timing guides, do a headgasket, and have the head checked.

If you want to rebuild it - I also recommend Ted (engnbldr) but your costs are just getting started at $300. You're probably looking in the neighborhood of $400-$800 for machine work, depending on the condition of your block.

Dropping a rebuild kit into a used block and well used crank makes no sense to me.

 

DOnt forget that just cuz the rebuild kit is cheap doesnt mean that the machine work is cheap. You will have to compleatly remove the block from the truck, take it to a machine shop, get it machined, then you can order your rebuild kit since its not unitl after the machining that you will know the size piston to get.

I blew a HG on my truck at 160K, and was debating the same thing you are. The more I think about it the more I am not going to rebuild, just going to slap it back together OE style. Its not that much work to pull a head and timing cover, put a new chain and HG on and get it running again.

 

http://www.22re.com/main/toy/complete_22r_kit.htm

That is all that is included in the kit.

I think that I am just going to replace the head gasket and then replace everything with OEM stuff. I am not really interested in doing the whole rebuild kit anymore. I took apart the engine and the timing cover looks fine so I don't think it's that. I am thinking it is the head gasket so I am just going to go ahead and replace that. I will give that guy Ted a call and see what he can do for me

 

Have your head checked out by a machine shop - makes sure it's flat.
Ted's stuff is cheaper than OEM and has a great reputation.

 

Good call...

 

Well I took everything apart and this is what I found....





I have the timing chain kit and the engine gasket kit on the way. The head is being taken to the machine shop tomorrow and the truck should run great by next weekend.

 

Green coolant??? I thought green coolant was very hard on aluminum heads???

 

I have no idea. I didn't put that in there, I have only been putting water. I guess the previous owner put that stuff in there.

 

Did toyota actually have a non-green coolant back in the early 22r days?
I've been using it for years...

 

never heard that one before, and ive run green coolant in stuff with alum heads before with no issues.

from what ive read it depends on the additives that are in the coolant. Phosphate is added to a lot of cars to prevent corrosion in aluminum heads.

 

me either. ive been using green w/ jap AL heads for 15+yrs w/o probs

 

I have heard from numerous sources that its not good on the head, and that switching to red is way better... Yes it did come OEM, but there is better stuff available now.

 

My toyota parts guy says the orange coolant is simply certified silica free, easier on the water pump seals.
Looks like a textbook headgasket case there. Get the head to a machine shop for a rework, clean it all up, reassemble. I like to put all the stuff (plenum, water tubes egr) back onto the head before dropping it onto the block.
If you're thinking about going into the lower end, just pull the whole engine, plan on spending $1200+, replace the clutch, etc.

 

Well I took the head into the machine shop and they said it was warped. Womp womp. So I got a new head, valves and everything plus a 261 Crawler cam while I was at it. I have the engine gasket set here already and the metal timing chain kit will be here anyday. It should run like a champ once everything is put back together again!