Time to set valve lash?

167k miles bought at 140k, 3rz couple of basic bolt ons. Always run 5w30 stp changed every 3k miles since I’ve owned it. Starting to get some louder valve clatter when on throttle above 3k rpms. Don’t think it’s ever been set and I’ve never done it before any tips or tricks?

 

Timmy the Toolman's video on the process is really good. I'm about to undertake the same thing on mine. Not an easy or quick project, it'll have you wishing it was a Honda before the end.

 

So I did this job on 2 V6 (5vz) 1st Gen Tacomas. I found the Schley tools that Timmy the Toolman recommends in his video to be useless. Big ole' screwdriver to depress the valve bucket, and a small one to gently pry the shim out works much better.

I'd suggest going by a pick-and-pull yard if you can find one with any 90s/2000s Toyotas in there (with motors), and scavenging some spare valve shims out before starting this job. I was able to adjust 2 different trucks with a pile of 20 or so junkyard shims. And almost all Toyota motors from those 2 decades used these same exact shims.

Otherwise you'll have to pull all of your shims, measure them, play musical chairs with them, and then order whichever sizes you still need to adjust your remaining out of spec valves back into spec, and won't be able to complete the job until those arrive.

 

At the least give them a check, you may be good, then go from there. I would suggest replacing the PVC grommet (and valve) while you have the valve cover off. They get brittle.

 

Great idea to scavenge them from a junkyard. I was not aware that they were pretty common between motors, but good to know.

BITD when I had E30 M3's I belonged to a group were you could put a deposit on a set of shims then you would pay for the ones you used then send the kit back. Would be cool if someone did that for these.

 

I have the newer version of the 3rz with a screw in pcv that has already been replaced when chasing down a evap problem

 

We basically never set them, we only check them for issues, its rare they need adjusting.

Ideally you check for low clearance, noise means it has clearance which is good.

Because its such a pain to replace the buckets its just not a typical fun weekend job like they were on a honda engine.

 

so your saying the chattery sound in the higher rpm’s is normal? Maybe put a bit of Lucas oil stabilizer in there to help quiet it? I just get worried anytime I hear an engine noise on this thing as im trying to make sure everything is damn near perfect for the supercharger

 

Well its an older engine, checking clearance isnt a bad idea. Especially before bolting on the super charger. These trucks all have leaky valve covers anyway.

I used to use the stablizer a lot on the older 3.0 V6 trucks, but it never really helped with these bucket style lifters.

 

ok I’ll try to get around to it before I do the supercharger. Is there really anything I can do for the noise? Only thing is I’ve always had it but it’s seemed to have gotten louder. Dunno if that’s cause it’s cold or what.

 

Worry when the valvetrain is quiet. With proper lash they make a bit of noise. Not rattling or anything like that, but they tick.