Head Gone - questions!

[Nick V]

Looks like the head on my 3.0L has gone - unless I'm lucky enough that its just the gasket - cos I've got the usual symptoms, loss of water, exhaust gas and 'fizzing' in the rad etc, etc.

So I have one or two questions for those that have had this problem themselves:

1) I have no problem with the mechanical side of things, but are there any problem areas which I need to look out for or any part of the job that may need specialist tools - not that I can think of anything at the moment?

2) Ball park time for doing the job?

3) When you have got the head off what's the general state of the bores been although I suspect the engine wear is very good?

Oops that's three questions

I have had my truck for 4 years, it was born in 1993, NEVER let me down, its in very good nick, has always gone through its MOT with no major failures, has OME suspension, BFG's etc and I love it, but I am trying to make up my mind whether to do this job or to say sod it and go for a 3rd gen. Of course if I do that I could pick up one that needs it's head done!!

So one final question - oops, that four - should I forget the repair and go ahead and buy a newer 3rd gen, or should I change the head and spend a decent amount of dosh getting mine up to scratch - body lift, new wheels & 33's, recover front seats, some tubular bumpers, etc - and keep it forever!! What should I do???

Cheers, Nick

[BioHazard]

Looks like the head on my 3.0L has gone - unless I'm lucky enough that its just the gasket - cos I've got the usual symptoms, loss of water, exhaust gas and 'fizzing' in the rad etc, etc.

So I have one or two questions for those that have had this problem themselves:

1) I have no problem with the mechanical side of things, but are there any problem areas which I need to look out for or any part of the job that may need specialist tools - not that I can think of anything at the moment?

2) Ball park time for doing the job?

3) When you have got the head off what's the general state of the bores been although I suspect the engine wear is very good?

Oops that's three questions

I have had my truck for 4 years, it was born in 1993, NEVER let me down, its in very good nick, has always gone through its MOT with no major failures, has OME suspension, BFG's etc and I love it, but I am trying to make up my mind whether to do this job or to say sod it and go for a 3rd gen. Of course if I do that I could pick up one that needs it's head done!!

So one final question - oops, that four - should I forget the repair and go ahead and buy a newer 3rd gen, or should I change the head and spend a decent amount of dosh getting mine up to scratch - body lift, new wheels & 33's, recover front seats, some tubular bumpers, etc - and keep it forever!! What should I do???

Cheers, Nick

Get the coolant tested for gases to confirm before you rip it apart (just incase it's a spilt in the rad or something esle as stuipd)


If you do replace the head do the water pump, thermostat, and renew cambelt tensioners as well as a new belt

[Nick V]

Get the coolant tested for gases to confirm before you rip it apart (just incase it's a spilt in the rad or something esle as stuipd)


If you do replace the head do the water pump, thermostat, and renew cambelt tensioners as well as a new belt

It's definitely the head/gasket unfortunately Having done quite a few head/gasket changes, I would do all of those things you suggested as a matter of course, but many thanks for the suggestion anyway - I may be old but not too old to be given good advice .

Cheers, Nick

[Nick V]

Forgot to ask, is there a possibility that the problem is more likely to be the head gasket as it is a 3.0L? Its never overheated or lost water up until this point,

Cheers,

Nick

[darkdezigns]

Forgot to ask, is there a possibility that the problem is more likely to be the head gasket as it is a 3.0L? Its never overheated or lost water up until this point,

Cheers,

Nick

id say v unlikely,mine was v similar to yours,same age too,every one of my valves was cracked,and feww cracks between cylinder 3 and 4,i bought the roughtrax head,v happy with it,id say a must is,but atleast a litre of gunk and strip down inlet manifold when u do the head,and u will see the inside of the manifold will be thick with black sludge,my surf now needs less than a quarter throttle,even uphill

[Nick V]

id say v unlikely,mine was v similar to yours,same age too,every one of my valves was cracked,and feww cracks between cylinder 3 and 4,i bought the roughtrax head,v happy with it,id say a must is,but atleast a litre of gunk and strip down inlet manifold when u do the head,and u will see the inside of the manifold will be thick with black sludge,my surf now needs less than a quarter throttle,even uphill

Suppose I knew that really! How long did the job take you?

Cheers, Nick

[darkdezigns]

Suppose I knew that really! How long did the job take you?

Cheers, Nick

took a while tbh,but i changed everything,new built head,new gasket,water pump,cambelt,tensioner,pulley, stat,cap then rad as it started leaking once put together,i guess hours wise was about 20 ish hours,but i cleaned everything up as i only wanted to do this once lol

[Nick V]

took a while tbh,but i changed everything,new built head,new gasket,water pump,cambelt,tensioner,pulley, stat,cap then rad as it started leaking once put together,i guess hours wise was about 20 ish hours,but i cleaned everything up as i only wanted to do this once lol

Thanks again Andy. Anything that I need anything to look out for that may cause a problem?

Cheers, Nick

[Cant Get Right]

Fix head or buy a turd Gen, well as they say, better the devl you know, i would sort the head if i were u and put a lift and 33's on it

[Nick V]

TBH I don't have the heart to let it go, so it looks like a new head and some more money spent! Worth it in the end and I s'pose it won't cost as much as a 3rd gen - and as you say, "better the devil you know.......................!"

Cheers, Nick

[darkdezigns]

Thanks again Andy. Anything that I need anything to look out for that may cause a problem?

Cheers, Nick

um no not really,just common sense lol,had to use a da sander on my block lo,it was a tad skank,only a few things to watch really,get a good head,the roughtrax one is made by amc,they were the toyota supplier,and when u get new head,remember to remove the half moon at the back of yr cam shaft,the amc one doesn come with it,and its exchange so had to get it all out of the box to retrieve it,and make sure you do the correct headbolt sequence,takes ages but again peace of mind

[Nick V]

um no not really,just common sense lol,had to use a da sander on my block lo,it was a tad skank,only a few things to watch really,get a good head,the roughtrax one is made by amc,they were the toyota supplier,and when u get new head,remember to remove the half moon at the back of yr cam shaft,the amc one doesn come with it,and its exchange so had to get it all out of the box to retrieve it,and make sure you do the correct headbolt sequence,takes ages but again peace of mind

Cheers again Andy. I will be getting the head from Stevo off the forum all being well then I have to wait for some dry weather as my garage is out of action at the moment!!

Cheers, Nick

[darkdezigns]

Cheers again Andy. I will be getting the head from Stevo off the forum all being well then I have to wait for some dry weather as my garage is out of action at the moment!!

Cheers, Nick

no worries,def clean out inlet manifold tho,i even cleaned my rocker cover!cleaned the top so much i found the japanese warning stickers lol

[Apache]

Lexus V8?

Mmmmmm...

[goodcat]

Lexus V8?

Mmmmmm...

hahahah EVERYONE is saying this now! lol
pretty soon it will be common practise to advise anyone with head problems that the way to fix a cracked head is to put a lexus v8 in it!