Was trouble installing cams. Now restarting HG job.

NEVER use roloc discs on the block. Even the light grit. Even though it’s iron you’ll create a low spot that will lead to a blown gasket. The MLS is sensitive to straightness


Not to mention the grit getting in and you not having it hot tanked will burn bearings up

 

So in this situation do you just keep scrubbing it? I'm thinking that scotchbrite pads are almost as bad as a high rpm roloc spinning around. But I'm seeing a lot of documentation online about using wet and dry sandpaper?

 

Looks clean to me. Finger tips are pretty trustworthy.

 

Seems clean enough to me if you can’t feel any ridge/high spot of material. Trust your fingers, what you see doesn’t matter, it doesn’t need to be shiny clean, just smooth/flat.

 

Yeah so there are a few tiny areas around each cylinder that are barely noticeable with my bare finger. They’re small but definitely there.

And sorry for hijacking @Logans2001 just figure the 1st gen lunch table is tired of me and I don’t want to torture the 1st gen section with two of these threads.

 

razor blade should get the thick buildup off. scotchbrite will leave grit behind. sand paper is worse. is the engine in the truck or did you pull it?

 

It’s pulled. Razor blade got 99%. But when I got to these last little spots the blade wasn’t enough. I’ve gone through 15ish blades so it’s not like I’m working with a dull blade.

 

might be worth buying a really nice carbide scraper. thats what i use at work.

IF you need to do anything to it... a wire wheel is probably safer than a roloc on the iron block.. but i still wouldnt advise

 

buy a straight edge and check flatness.. good chance what you see isnt going to affect anything if its left alone

 

I’ll start there next week. Not likely something I can source locally. Thanks.

 

It’s all related anyways!

 

A carbide scraper was the right move. Just applying enough pressure to lift any high spots of baked on stuff that my finger could detect. I've definitely left a few tiny scratches from my razor blade attempts but they're not detectable by feel. Figure they're not any worse than all the imperfections from the old gasket.

Going to check for flatness with an OEM tools straight edge. Should be fine since my engine didn't overheat, but I figured why not since I bought it.

 

Logan, may I ask where you sourced your reman heads? I just pulled a cracked head off my truck and need to replace it. Was looking at the same yotashop gasket kit too. Thanks!

 

https://www.shop.headsonly.com/TOYOTA-TACOMA-5VZFE-34-REBUILT-CYLINDER-HEAD-TACOMA-5VZFE-V6.htm

These guys based out of Texas. Spoke with them over the phone a few times too, very helpful people.
These were also the best priced heads I could find. Shipping was pretty quick if I remember correctly and the packaging was top tier lol. I had to fight just to get it out of the box. 2 months in with great results so far.

 

Thanks, Logan. I was looking at them, obvious they do a lot of volume and reviews are decent. Glad to get a recommendation from here though.

 

1 year update:

So far so good with these Felpro head gaskets and reman heads. Runs strong with 309k on it. Hoping these will last me at least until I have my own garage/area to do the job again. Now just gotta get rid of this damn p0420.

 

I have the same code. I really don't want/feel like replacing the cats. I may just delete the rear one.

 

I’m probably gonna go with some cheap ones eventually