New Heads?

Looking to get some ideas/advice here.

I developed a small misfire recently, pulled the plugs, all drivers side were fine, and then there were some issues on passenger side. The middle cylinder had shot a spark plug a year and a half ago, and this will be the third time the repair has failed, will attach pics, (I had a shop do it as I was traveling with not many tools). The other spark plug had some oil on it. Bad valve seals?

I decided to just pull the engine, and rebuild the top end. I pulled the head off to find coolant in the cylinder (pic attached). Is that just from excess coolant in the internals or is that an issue i should address?

Sounds like I need new heads unless there is a way to redo the spark plug thread a third time?

If so for new heads, does anyone have any experience with a good place to purchase them from?

 

Head gasket leak would be my guess. You are going to have to take the heads to a machine shop to have them checked out regardless.

 

@FloridaAKM I think I might have to purchase new heads since the spark plug threads are shot. Its been tapped out for a heli coil type thing twice now and then failed again...

 

The coolant is most likely from when you took things apart.

If coolant was getting in the cylinder the top of the piston would look like new! How did the valves look for that cylinder?

Any idea what thread inserts were used on your spark plug threads ??

Anymore I only use Time serts for head hardware! Expensive but to me worth it.

 

@Bivouac I'm pretty sure the first repair was a helicoil, not sure on this second one thats failed. I read briefly about the BigSert. I am just concerned i don't have enough meat left to get into. Maybe I should look into that more?

 

If you were close I would be glad to help .

Do you have any decent Auto machine shops local.

Unless you have the skills to rebuild the heads your self.

I would look for a used set of heads local and rebuild them if you decide not to fix yours.

Good Luck!

 

https://headsonly.com/shop/ols/products/toyota-tacoma-5vzfe-34-rebuilt-cylinder-head

I got a pair of heads from these guys out in Texas. Best price I could find at the time for 400 a piece, fully built. Installed in January and been great so far. I referred them to @vettehigh too and I believe he just got some recently.

 

I blew out a heli coil threadcert thing on mine last year on #3 cylinder. Put another one in. Engine started to miss on startup and clear up and some of the debri must of got in there, melted the top of my piston and oil got past the rings. Caused all kinds of damage because of that damn stripped out spark plug hole. Now - getting a remanned engine (long block) put in because the old engine is shot because of it. Yotashop is quite reputable for cylinder heads. Kind of pricey but might be worth a look. Good luck!

 

I could contact a head shop in your area and get their opinion. They see that kind of stuff on the regular and probably have ideas on how to manage it.

 

I would never attempt thread repair with the head on the engine .

So easy to mess things up with the drilling and tapping on the engine as you seem to have experienced.

 

I talked to a few mechanic shops and apparently they do it all the time and especially on the ford engines. Flirtin with disaster for sure but it must work some as they do it all the time.

 

Because it is so common on Fords .

Why my choice is always used heads or head and rebuild .

 

Makes the most sense for sure.

 

Yeah I’m definitely skeptical about the thread repair methods. Especially after the couple faIlures I’ve had. I think I’m gonna go with remaned heads. Looking around for good companies to purchase from now.

 

If you were close for the right price I would buy your old heads.

I have no problems with doing thread repairs.

 

I talked with a machine shop today. He brought up the fact that I should look into a bottom end rebuild or getting a reman short block. So then once I’m done I don’t have to worry about any bottom end issues either. To my knowledge these engines are pretty bombproof and I’m not too sure if that’s necessary. What do you guys think? My engine has around 180k on it..

 

I think that you'd generally be correct. But in your case, with three spark plug tube thread failures, and you finding coolant in the cylinder this go around, yours might not still be as indestructible as most. I'd send it without touching the bottom end if you just want a few more years out of the truck, and you'd likely get more than that. But if you see yourself keeping the truck for the long haul I'd consider going the remanned short block and knowing you're good for another 300k at least. These engines and parts for them won't stay widely available forever

 

I personally wouldn’t bother with the bottom end.

 

Hard call to make .

is either of those options in the budget ??

My luck within 6 months if not sooner the engine would need to come out for bottom end work.

If I could afford to rebuild the bottom end without hardship I would going with all new heads.

 

I put a coil in an aluminum head VW Cabrio, it blew right out days later. Prompted me to take off the head, and had a machine shop put one in correctly, resurfaced the valve seats. If it's done right, thread repairs will hold. If you already have them off and the heads are level and have no cracks, I'd have them reconditioned and save the $$ for other repairs.