First 4 stroke cylinder head removal

Okay, been working on 2 stroke waverunners for a couple years now so I decided to pull apart my first 4 stroke waverunner (dual overhead cams...3 intake valves per cyl and 2 exhaust valves...shim over bucket).

My 2002 Tacoma 4cyl 2.7 automatic has been getting decreasing fuel economy for the past year so I'm thinking about doing a valve job and checking compression (first). The motor is a 3RZ (fe I think).

The original 2002 motor only made it 51k before I carved out cylinders 1 and 3 (egg shaped them due to constantly maxing it out on my way to work on the tollway...and then pushing the OD on/off to drop a gear at top speed to milk another 5mph out of it). it would top out at about 102mph doing this. Yea...stupid...but I was constantly running late to work nearly daily and had no competing traffic. Yea...stupid I know.

Anyway, after getting a new 3rz short block put in under power train warranty, I have absolutly babied this thing since and am now at 190k (139k on this short block). When this gutless, over-weight-under-powered truck tries going up a small rise in the highway at 70mph it always wants to drop a gear. I don't let it do so. I always tap the brake to get out of cruise control and let it slowly climb in 4th gear (pretty sure this is only a 4 speed?). Suffice to say, I really do baby this thing. Synthetic oil every 5 to 6k. The rest of the maintenance...well...only 1 transmission fluid change at 45k and some 02 sensors about 125k and new spark plugs at 100k. Never have changed the spark plug wires out???issue???

Oh yea, and yesterday I checked the oil and it was down nearly 1 quart for the first time ever. I may have underfilled it on last oil change but I did check it after I was done. Maybe I should have checked it after a few minutes of driving. Yesterday when I found it to be low...it was after having it running at idle for 5 min and then turning off the truck to check it. The oil was at the LOW line. One quart of synthetic put it back about 1/4 below full.

Now for the questions:

1. Is this head going to be similar to my waverunner in having two cam shafts (one for exhaust and one for intake)?

2. Once you have the head cover off...are their marks on the camshafts and the camshaft covers to easily align timing when I'm ready to strap this head back on?

3. I assume that I put cylinder #1 at top dead center, then line up the cam timing, strap on the timing chain and I'm in the money?

4. BIGGEST QUESTION: What is the compression supposed to be on these cylinders for a newer/healthy 3rz 2.7?

5. When putting down the new head gasket, (any recommendations on the model/type of head gasket to use?) do I need any sealant if I do not do any damage to the factory surfaces? I often spray my other metal head gaskets for the waverunners with Permatex copper aerosol spray (3 thin layers each side).

6. Does anyone have a digital repair manual with torque sequence/specs for the 3rz?

7. If all I do is pull the head, are their any other gaskets that are a MUST to replace before re-installing like exhaust, intake, tensioner etc?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give on this. I just want to make sure I'm prepared for this project before opening the head up to minimize my down time. This is my daily driver.

 

Not sure why your 1st engine caved like that. I have had my girl up like that many times and she doesn't even break a sweat!

In answer to your questions:

1. yes, it does have 2 camshafts. One intake, 1 exhaust.
2. Yes, the cams are marked easily to get them aligned. Even the cam caps are marked to make sure they are installed in the right place.
3. You want to get the cams set to the proper location before you take the crank to TDC of #1. The proper procedure is in the manual. I suggest getting one before you tackle this one.
4. You would like to see it in the 180s
5. No need for additional chemicals. I personally like to use Felpro gaskets.
6. use the search button on here. You can find a manual in many places in this forum.
7. I suggest getting a head gasket "kit" that will come with all of the required gaskets to do a head rebuild, including the valve cover, intake, exhaust, and all others.

Good luck! and if you search my threads that I have started you will find one entitled "partial restoration". In that thread I show you exactly how the entire process is done.