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'97 3RZ Rebuild

Discussion in '1st Gen. Builds (1995-2004)' started by whiskyjames, Dec 29, 2018.

  1. Dec 29, 2018 at 12:23 PM
    #1
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Aloha all! This is my first serious project and first time posting on TW. This little black Tacoma had belonged to a few good friends before I bought it in April. Her last owner gave me an excellent deal, so I decided to fix her up and make it into a 4x4 beach beater.

    At 250k the truck had a slew of problems but would get around town. Felt like the engine was misfiring and there were problems with the ABS and transmission (automatic) but as a reliable Toyota she wouldn't quit. I ran a compression test and found less than 60psi in one cylinder.

    I'm not a huge fan of automatic transmissions and have a moderate amount of confidence with wrench work, so I decided to dig in and do a complete overhaul to make this little truck something special.

    truck-1.jpg truck-1-2.jpg
     
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  2. Dec 29, 2018 at 12:32 PM
    #2
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    I tore the engine down back in April. Pretty clean for 250k.

    truck-1-3.jpg

    Intake and injector ports.
    truck-1-4.jpg

    Under the valve cover.
    truck-1-5.jpg

    Cylinder head and camshafts removed from block.
    truck-1-6.jpg

    Intake and exhaust camshafts.
    truck-1-7.jpg
     
    rcracin likes this.
  3. Dec 29, 2018 at 12:44 PM
    #3
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    The block before removal. Really fun getting it off the transmission! I dropped the torque converter into a waste bucket and managed to get ATF on me, my buddy, most of the garage floor, ceiling, walls, etc. Still laughing about that one...

    truck-1-8.jpg

    truck-1-9.jpg

    After removal with the block on the stand and the oil pan removed. Main bearing caps!

    truck-1-10.jpg

    Pistons removed.

    truck-3.jpg

    You can see the balance shafts here. I'll be removing them using LC Engineering's balance shaft delete kit.

    truck-2.jpg

    truck-5.jpg

    Not too shabby.

    truck-6.jpg

    All loaded up and ready to go to the machine shop.

    truck-7.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    Boatbldr and rcracin like this.
  4. Dec 29, 2018 at 1:06 PM
    #4
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    The machine shop came back with good news- nothing cracked or warped, crank in great shape, few burnt valves (hence my bad compression numbers). I had him re-do the cylinder head as I'm not equipped to do the valve work and don't trust myself with the valve shim adjustment.

    Everything was cleaned, cylinders were bored out .040" (toying with the idea of forged pistons), crank polished, head and block were decked, etc. This work took a LONG time and I cannot recommend my machinist for timeliness, but the quality of his work stands.

    While I waited on my parts, I helped a few friends with other Toyota builds- installed a few lifts, did a 3.0 motor swap in a '91 4runner, a few clutches, brake work, etc. All new to me and all excellent learning experiences. Plus now my buds owe me big time when I need help in my garage.

    Finally got everything back from the machinist the other week. Went with black paint on the block, looks good with the brass freeze plugs!

    truck-4-2.jpg truck-6-2.jpg truck-3-2.jpg truck-2-2.jpg
     
  5. Dec 29, 2018 at 11:57 PM
    #5
    96degreesindashayd

    96degreesindashayd IG: @96degreesindashayd

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    Shaydon
    Kaua’i, Hawai’i
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    95.5 Tacoma SX 2.7L TRD Supercharged Single Cab
    17” Trail Edition wheels Toytec Boss 3” TC UCAs TRD Supercharger SplitSecond FTC1 AFE Dry Pro CAI LCE Short Throw
    Mayjah surgery! Right on! What island you on braddah?
     
  6. Dec 30, 2018 at 1:35 AM
    #6
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Yessah! Over on BI. How's that supercharger? Been thinkin boost.
     
  7. Dec 30, 2018 at 1:58 AM
    #7
    rcracin

    rcracin Well-Known Member

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    Sweet build. Very interested in seeing what you do to make more power with the 3rz.
     
  8. Dec 30, 2018 at 8:31 AM
    #8
    96degreesindashayd

    96degreesindashayd IG: @96degreesindashayd

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    Shaydon
    Kaua’i, Hawai’i
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    95.5 Tacoma SX 2.7L TRD Supercharged Single Cab
    17” Trail Edition wheels Toytec Boss 3” TC UCAs TRD Supercharger SplitSecond FTC1 AFE Dry Pro CAI LCE Short Throw
    Thing is good fun. I get little bit fuel tuning to do but she boogie!
     
  9. Jul 18, 2019 at 11:23 AM
    #9
    cmj

    cmj Well-Known Member

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    Oregon
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    Any updates? How's it running?

    Any particular reason you pulled the head and block separately?
     
  10. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:06 PM
    #10
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Tons of progress. I have been slow to update but have taken lots of photos along the way.


    tacoma-1.jpg

    Mic'd the crankshaft & things look good. I had my tools calibrated before doing this- didn't splurge on super expensive calipers. Still used plastigauge to check clearances in the end.

    tacoma-2.jpg

    Used some teflon cutting board in lieu of ordering better vice jaws. Worked fine.

    tacoma-3.jpg

    Main caps and main bearings before going in.

    tacoma-4.jpg

    I used the LCE balance delete kit, the silver triangular block is an oil jet that's part of that kit. I had my machinist install the bearings & tap the stuff necessary for the kit.

    tacoma-5.jpg

    Thrust bearings & clean journals.

    tacoma-6.jpg tacoma-7.jpg

    Both plastigauge and my mediocre Fowler set gave me good numbers for 3RZ oil clearance. I had my machinist handle the wrist pins. Here are pistons & rods before going in:

    tacoma-8.jpg
    tacoma-9.jpg tacoma-10.jpg tacoma-11.jpg

    This collar-style spring compressor was a total joke. I need to shoot pics of the tool that got the pistons in, but it was a flange sleeve compressor that was exactly the size of my oversized pistons. Highly recommend avoiding the above style compressor and getting with the right tool from the start. This is the anodized ring compressor I used: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/TSR-RC3-780-3885

    tacoma-12.jpg

    Timing cover, rear main & oil filter mount fresh back from media blasting. And some other old yotas for fun.

    tacoma-13.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  11. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:10 PM
    #11
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    tacoma-14.jpg

    Pistons installed.

    tacoma-15.jpg

    Setting up new oil pump rotor with red assembly lube.

    tacoma-16.jpg

    These screws had to be removed with an impact screwdriver & replaced.

    tacoma-17.jpg

    This is a R150 out of a 2004 Tacoma. I'll be using the 2TR bellhousing to put this behind my 3RZ (swapping from the original A340 automatic) with a marlin clutch kit. Need to replace oil seals & bushings but it seems solid. I managed to sell the automatic & pick this up for about the same price, just took a few months of searching around.

    tacoma-18.jpg

    New things from LCE

    tacoma-19.jpg

    Valve cover blasted (this was a mistake I later learn...)

    tacoma-20.jpg

    Oil pan blasted.

    tacoma-21.jpg

    Masking, priming, painting with high-temp...

    tacoma-22.jpg
    tacoma-23.jpg
    tacoma-24.jpg
    tacoma-25.jpg
    tacoma-26.jpg
    tacoma-27.jpg
    tacoma-28.jpg
    tacoma-29.jpg

    Water pump installed.

    tacoma-30.jpg
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2019
  12. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:20 PM
    #12
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Timing guides installed, used a bit of masking tape to hold things together while getting the head installed.

    tacoma-31.jpg tacoma-32.jpg

    Front end before really tearing into it LOL

    tacoma-33.jpg

    ARP head studs and MLS head gasket from LCE

    tacoma-34.jpg
    tacoma-35.jpg

    Getting there.

    tacoma-36.jpg
     
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  13. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:28 PM
    #13
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Before stripping the bed & cab off the frame...

    tacoma-38.jpg tacoma-37.jpg tacoma-39.jpg

    Rear main seal installed. Had to pop the engine off the stand to get at these bolts.

    tacoma-40.jpg tacoma-41.jpg

    After a bunch of BS we got the cab off. Took 4 of us to pick it up and get it settled on the ground. Not super heavy but somewhat awkward to get it off the frame.

    tacoma-42.jpg

    The frame after 250k, before getting all the nasty stuff off.

    tacoma-43.jpg tacoma-44.jpg tacoma-45.jpg

    Seriously cleaned the underside of the bed and laid down primer.

    tacoma-46.jpg tacoma-47.jpg

    Then paint. Here's the frame coming along:

    tacoma-48.jpg tacoma-49.jpg tacoma-50.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

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  14. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:35 PM
    #14
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    tacoma-51.jpg

    Getting the frame stripped down required a lot of different grinding & sanding tools. The real deal was the paint & rust disc on the milwaukee angle grinder.

    tacoma-52.jpg

    tacoma-53.jpg

    tacoma-54.jpg

    More of this rust primer. In retrospect I wish I had used something else, but I'm sure it'll hold up well enough.

    tacoma-55.jpg

    tacoma-56.jpg

    tacoma-57.jpg

    tacoma-58.jpg

    tacoma-59.jpg

    tacoma-60.jpg

    tacoma-61.jpg

    tacoma-62.jpg

    More fun scrubbing rust & dirt off metal...

    tacoma-63.jpg


    tacoma-64.jpg

    tacoma-65.jpg

    tacoma-66.jpg

    Engine bay looks gnarly. Pulled all of this.

    tacoma-67.jpg

    tacoma-68.jpg

    Cleaning up and painting front spindles & hubs.

    tacoma-69.jpg

    tacoma-70.jpg
     
  15. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:39 PM
    #15
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    tacoma-71.jpg

    Pressed new UBAs in even tho I might dump the IFS in the nearish future. Haven't really decided on the lift setup for this truck.

    tacoma-72.jpg


    tacoma-73.jpg

    Ready to go.

    tacoma-74.jpg


    tacoma-75.jpg

    Put the bed back on to get it out of the way.

    tacoma-76.jpg

    Put together a wooden deal with caster wheels so I could push the cab around the garage as necessary.

    tacoma-78.jpg


    tacoma-79.jpg


    tacoma-80.jpg
     
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  16. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:44 PM
    #16
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    I wrapped all the wiring stuff up in trash bags so I could go nuts on this with the powerwasher.

    tacoma-81.jpg

    tacoma-82.jpg

    tacoma-83.jpg

    tacoma-86.jpg

    tacoma-87.jpg

    tacoma-89.jpg

    Much better.

    tacoma-90.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:47 PM
    #17
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    tacoma-92.jpg

    tacoma-93.jpg

    tacoma-94.jpg

    tacoma-95.jpg

    tacoma-96.jpg

    tacoma-97.jpg

    For optimum results I like to leave everything in the pouring rain mid-job.
     
  18. Nov 14, 2019 at 8:48 PM
    #18
    fatfurious2

    fatfurious2 IG: great_white_taco

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    want to come do mine next? :cool:

    Nice work!
     
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  19. Nov 14, 2019 at 9:03 PM
    #19
    whiskyjames

    whiskyjames [OP] Member

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    Ha! Thanks man
     
  20. Nov 15, 2019 at 3:56 AM
    #20
    rcracin

    rcracin Well-Known Member

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    Damn, that's a lot of work. Looking great though!!
     
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