Need an opinion on these bearings.

have a suspected head gasket, out of spec VVTI and various sprockets and timing cover leak. Before I pull the heads, are these bearings still good, I’m not experienced with understanding the wear patterns.

 

Look a little worn to me but I'm not sure. I'll find pics of mine if I can when I get home.

There was definitely some wear on mine though at 170k miles. Looked like yours but less pronounced I think.

Are those wiped down and cleaned?

The machinist will be able to give you a good verdict if you are taking your heads to a shop. Bring the cams, buckets, and everything for the valve job.

 

This one has 150k miles. They are probably a little dirty but I’m waiting until I get the head bolt extractor to remove the heads. I’m looking at close $700 for new chain&sprocket kit, VVT timing gears and a valve grind gasket kit.

 

Not catastrophic for high mileage but it's not great.

 

Looks like oiling wasn't too great, did it run low on oil or get so hot from HG's it burned oil up and starve the top?
Maybe water in oil?

 

Not sure. I bought the truck used about 4 months ago. It had a severe timing cover leak and the oil level was overfilled, and it Had a slight vibration when I got it. It never overheated on me but it started getting misfires on cold starts that got progressively worse and I literally saw it drink the last little bit of coolant in the overflow tank. I’ve parked the truck for the last 3 weeks.

 

Maybe consider sending the oil in for analysis, if it's still in the pan. And if you already drained it, how did it look?

 

I haven’t drained the oil yet. The coolant loss was very slow, I’m hoping most of it was just burned out the exhaust and not pooling in the sump.

Previous owner probably did not take good care of the engine, the whole lower block was covered in thick grease and the engine air filter was caked in greasy debris. The body is in good shape for a work truck and has the 6-Speed manual which was why I wanted the truck.

 

It's possible to run an engine out of oil and cause overheating too (although these would prob. be trashed)

Since you just bought it, no telling what they did. I'd be worried about the bottom too.

Like 'Are you better off just getting a junkyard engine?'

 

Im considering this. I’ve spent about $150 just in tools to get the cover off. What would be the best option for a reliable engine? A used or a reman? Used would be riskier but cheaper, a reman will have a warranty but more expensive. The heads and block cannot be resurfaced on these engines which I think most rebuilt engines will probably come out of spec already..

 

Those aren't bearings, they are cam caps and they're awfully scored up. One of the pics shows how deep the scoring is.

 

Is it worth it to put these back in for a little while do you think? I was hoping it would be an easy head gasket job.

 

I just remembered, the timing cover looks like it had silicone packing on some of the o-rings. Maybe I’ll take pics tomorrow.

 

Most people get junkyard engines. Parts to rebuild import engines is prohibitively expensive.

If an engine can be fixed ( new headgasket) it's fine. If buying enough to rebuild, well, just rings cost like 4x more than twice as many Chevy rings.

 

Prob. a while but I bet they accelerate in wear quick as there is no bearing. That little wiggle will just get worser and worser.

 

Definitely not typical scoring. I've only seen this cause an issue once on an old 3.0V6 3vz and it seized.

I would just do the headgasket anyway and drive it until it breaks, its very likely ok as long as you run a good oil for the rest of its years.

 

or that.....this is a tossup situation. If just around town, who cares. If your daily maybe you need it right.

 

I’m feeling sad right now. I bought this truck thinking it would be a good buy, body is in good shape, no frame rust, rare config (regular cab 6MT). Took it to a shop and they reported there was mileage inconsistency, odo has 152k but carfax reported 329k miles a few months before I bought it.

 

Individual or car lot? Car lot is in deep shit if misrepresenting mileage. If over 10 yrs. old and a individual saying "Who knows" then they can just claim that.

If you got it cheap, just get a junkyard engine. What engine we looking at and what year?

 

Was an individual. It’s an 05 Tundra, 4.0 1gr-fe.