3RZ-FE! Replace? Rebuild? Repair?

They want that BECAUSE three different surfaces all come together....

head/block/ and timing cover.....Trouble with 'T'......

If you dont understand.........you differently need to watch a few more videos.....

you need to get this one right...


and that sealant has to be applied fresh in real time you put all that together...

Its same on the half moons ....do exactly as they say on the videos....


If somehow you have redo the valve cover....always redo the half moons....
just to be safe.....

 

I also really appreciate this info. I just picked up my cylinder head today, and I'm also following this thread. Out of curiosity.....do you (O'Silver Taco) have a video on YouTube? I've watched it 3 or 4 times and had written down and copied most of the part numbers, contacted LC Engineering, etc all from that video. It was super helpful. If that was not you......it is a SUPER small world......

 

Here's a bunch of your answers......

take your time.....do a lot of research........shit load of questions...
expect half those answers to be wrong.....

this will help....

 

O timmy the toolman.......and the carnut......

both are ex- toyota dealer mechanics....

carnut tears down and rebuilds a ton of toyota and lexus engines...

he's got a ton of videos on em....


timmy is the one you zero in on specifics....





Even tho this is an AZ its very close to what we have.....

(101) How Does a Toyota Engine with 300,000 Miles Look Like On The Inside? - YouTube


(101) 3rz head replacement - YouTube

(101) 2rz head replacement - YouTube

 

Ha! - It's just a shame these engines are only 4 bangers, less room to hold beer

Also - for head bolts.....???

LC $36
https://www.lceperformance.com/2RZ-3RZ-2TR-OE-Head-Bolt-Set-95-2017-p/1024072.htm

Yota shop $80
https://www.yotashop.com/head-bolts...head-bolt-set-with-washers-1995-2004-gs33402/

 

Yeah I spent a lot of money on head bolts....felpro was like $30 at a-zone...

but I ordered a $80 set thru advance...

I wanted good ones ......


In fact I have a $30 set that came with another $60 gasket set sitting on my workbench still in the box.....
wouldnt touch em with a ten foot pole.....

 

I love the youtube! It's a bummer, all of the videos for the 3rz is removing the head only, not install.. The two videos online of the 3rz with head install skipped all together the seal packing step, and spark plug tube step.

I found this video, at 4:14 timer, he applied the seal packing on top of the head, not below, but i'm assuming its the same location both times..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr8hDWT4A_k

 

I just wanted to weigh in and give you encouragement to do the head yourself. My daughter’s 250,000 mile Camry 4 cylinder overheated and warped the head. It also pulled the threads out of the aluminum block. With a lot of patience and my computer right next to me, I got the whole job done in my driveway an hour or two at a time after work over the course of a Monday-Friday. It was a great feeling when it fired up and ran flawlessly. She got another 18 months out of it before someone ran a light and totaled it for her. Think of the bragging rights! That alone is worth the effort! Especially when your original engine with your major repair hits the 300,000 mark!

 

The good thing about taco's is standard engine in the 3rd gen 4runners use same 3rz....

so there are an immense amount of footage available.....just got to poke around a little....

The Rav4 base also came with these in early models....


I enjoyed researching the videos of all the different stuff I've tackled.....
the truck has really been a joy to work on, and great satisfaction from everything....

 

Im curious now if I should buy a jdm motor, yota1 or rebuild my motor now. My dry compression numbers were. I don't have access to the truck for some time now to do the "wet" compression test.
1 155
2 135
3 140
4 120

 

I’d look around for a used engine if I were you. There’s a lot of good parts trucks around with rusted frames. Just gotta find an honest seller.

Im curious what’s causing all these cracked heads. I suspect a lot of them are the result of an unnoticed coolant leak that causes overheating. It seems unlikely that the head would just randomly crack, but I could be wrong.

 

I thought I read somewhere the exhaust manifold often cracks near the exhaust valves causing them to heat up? Dunno for sure

 

That's a bummer woad4. After you posted I went and looked at rebuilts. Wow. They're not cheap. I know if I was in your shoes I'd piss and moan for a day or 2 and then just get a new motor from Yoda. Buy once, cry once. And there would be crying. Well, I take that back. I would call a few of the rebuild shops around here and see where they come in. But they're would still be crying. Good luck with whatever you choose.
John

 

Yeah the egr keeps the heads cool'er at highway speeds......

As these get past 100k its important to decarbon and clean all that..
make sure that valve is cycling correctly using live data scan.

Fresh anti freeze .......sooner than later....


anybody with the older cast iron headers should think about upgrading....

 

When I put my timing chain cover back on, the head will not be off since I took the shortcut. You say "that sealant has to be applied fresh in real time you put all that together," and that I cannot do.

Other commenters have said that taking the shortcut puts you in jeopardy of getting oil leaks when you put back the timing chain cover. Am I just SOL, or is there a way to prevent oil leaks, having taken the shortcut?

I ask because there are people who have taken the shortcut and survived, but I just don't know how to do it correctly, assuming there is such a thing.

 

Congratulations on replacing the head in one normal work week! I am curious to know how you fixed the messed up head bolt holes in the aluminum block?

 

Your overthinking it.....that first seal is intact..between head/block...
I'd just smear little more right there on each side when you stick the time cover on...
no big deal.

If you ever take that time cover off again...you would replace that timing gasket anyways...

everywhere three different surfaces come together...dab a little rtv...half moons, ect....

alot of mechs do the same to that thermostat gasket.....smear a little rtv...
their past lessons learned.....

 

While I have your attention, I noticed that you replaced the cast Iron exhaust manifold with something different, looks like chrome pipes coming out of the side of your engine going to the exhaust pipes, in the picture of it while it was on the stand. Do they solve a problem? What do you call them. What do they do, and are they effective?

 

You mean the stainless steel headers.....

the cast iron ones eventually fail.....

they crack where you cant see it.....and leak for years...

There's probably 200 different companies that make these to fit what ever year taco and engine size...



When you replace the cast iron....its like $60....cheap cheap cheap...

and generic stainless ones start at $100...

toyota 2001's new design ,,, me thinks fits older ones...

even toyota dumped the cast ones after 2000......they're not going to spend that extra on BS....not a charity....

 

The exhaust manifolds cracking could have something to do with it, although the 2uz also loves to crack the exhaust manifolds, and doesn’t have issues with burnt valves. Maybe the exhaust valves tightening up causes the heads to crack.