Brad's old '97 4Runner, Now Brady's

Looks really good! How tall is it side by side with Bradys? At the angle of the picture it looks quite a bit taller.

We didn't get a good side by side comparison but in the front I gained just under 3" and rear I gained about 4" as it sits right now. I'm debating about trying to get that other poly spacer to fit in the front on top of the spacer to get a little bit higher up there.

Yah that's why I put the poly spacer in.

Ty wrote:Yah that's why I put the poly spacer in.

We tried and tried but the strut was just putting up too good of a fight. So we put it in without it to see how it would be

Ty wrote:Looks really good!  How tall is it side by side with Bradys?  At the angle of the picture it looks quite a bit taller.  

The rear end on Brad's sits a good bit higher than mine.

So driving hone yesterday my truck decide to start idling very rough and even choked itself out. After inspecting everything in my driveway I am now getting a good amount of white, sweet smelling smoke from my exhaust.....I have a sneaking suspicion my head gasket just shit the bed. I am not happy. That is all.

Did you find a block test kit?

I'm at work all day and night today and tomorrow so my first chance will be Monday morning

Block test kit rented and performed......Just as suspected fluid got filled with visible bubbles and turned yellow pretty quick. Also I had my neighbors questioning why the hell my truck was billowing white smoke everywhere in the neighborhood..  
Now time to figure out which parts to order and how to tear my topend apart correctly. I found a machine shop in Bountiful with plenty of experience doing heads. That is all for now.


Edit: I'm thinking something along these lines but would i really need to replace all the gaskets it comes with or would I be fine with just new head gaskets? http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/moreinfo.php?pk=446849&cc=1272596 and then new plugs, wires, and milled heads.....any other suggestions?

That sucks.

I believe if you're going to go to the effort of tearing everything down, the last thing you should skimp on is fresh gaskets.  You'll teach yourself new swear words if you get it all put back together and find an oil or vacuum leak, so do it right the first time.  Screw Rockauto though, those guys suck.  Get a complete gasket set from somebody that knows Yotas and uses OEM parts.  I found this one, but I'm sure there's more: http://www.toyotatruckengine.com/toyota-3-4l-5vzfe-head-gasket-set-head-bolts/

Here's a link to the FSM on my Google drive, which will have step by step directions for removing and replacing the heads - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-WDEGabC63wNF9ZMGtWSVgyY0E/edit?usp=sharing.  Also get a copy of a Chiltons or Haynes for your motor, and between the FSM and the repair manual you should have all the info you need.  Go slow, take lots of pictures from every angle, drink lots of beer, tag every vacuum line and electrical connection, drink more beer, and put all your bolts and nuts in separate baggies with labels, that way you know what's what when it comes time to put it all back together again.  In addition to regular tools (sockets and box ends and drivers and a breaker bar) you're going to need at least a gasket scraper, a block sander, a straight edge to check the block, a tool to compress the timing tensioner, a great big ft/lb torque wrench, and maybe something to hold the crank pulley.

When do we start the tear down?

If memory serves, there should be a few threads on t4r that would be good reference.

Kevin wrote:That sucks.

I believe if you're going to go to the effort of tearing everything down, the last thing you should skimp on is fresh gaskets.  You'll teach yourself new swear words if you get it all put back together and find an oil or vacuum leak, so do it right the first time.  Screw Rockauto though, those guys suck.  Get a complete gasket set from somebody that knows Yotas and uses OEM parts.  I found this one, but I'm sure there's more: http://www.toyotatruckengine.com/toyota-3-4l-5vzfe-head-gasket-set-head-bolts/

Here's a link to the FSM on my Google drive, which will have step by step directions for removing and replacing the heads - https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-WDEGabC63wNF9ZMGtWSVgyY0E/edit?usp=sharing.  Also get a copy of a Chiltons or Haynes for your motor, and between the FSM and the repair manual you should have all the info you need.  Go slow, take lots of pictures from every angle, drink lots of beer, tag every vacuum line and electrical connection, drink more beer, and put all your bolts and nuts in separate baggies with labels, that way you know what's what when it comes time to put it all back together again.  In addition to regular tools (sockets and box ends and drivers and a breaker bar) you're going to need at least a gasket scraper, a block sander, a straight edge to check the block, a tool to compress the timing tensioner, a great big ft/lb torque wrench, and maybe something to hold the crank pulley.

I didn't want to really use rockauto so thanks for the link. Also you're going to be bringing all those special and awesome tools up to my house when you rebuild the motor right?

No clue when tear down will start.. I've been so busy and tired after work lately that my wife even just told me to go find a good shop and have them do all the work for me so I don't have to. haha

You're welcome to anything I have that you need.  I have all of those except the timing tensioner tool, the crank pulley holder, and the torque wrench - mine doesn't go to 225.

Hey if you need help with your timing belt let me know I have the crank tool and the tensioner is easy to do. Btw the crank but is only suppose to be torqued to 217 ft lbs

Loaded up and headed to the shop.

So what's the word?

Kevin wrote:So what's the word?

They agree that it's a blown HG and have started tearing it down. They're going to work on figuring out why the hell it blew since I never had any problems and it never overheated. Still waiting to hear back.

I get my truck back Wednesday and I'm pissed at the dealer I bought it from to say the least. I pretty much blame them for the HG failure. But that being said, I need to through that extra half inch spacer in the front suspension then wheel the heck out of it. Anyone wanna help with a small top plate spacer next week?

I will be up in Brigham swapping my t case. Bring it up I have a tool that will make quick work of it!

Ty wrote:I will be up in Brigham swapping my t case.  Bring it up I have a tool that will make quick work of it!

I very we'll may take you up on that offer.

Also anybody know a junkyard that has at least one 3rd gen parked there? I need new front sway bar links...

There's a guy on RME parting out a 3rd gen.

Kevin wrote:There's a guy on RME parting out a 3rd gen.

Good to know. Thanks for the heads up since I still haven't joined RME....

Kevin wrote:http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-suspension-wheels-tires/172014-end-links-new-pair-sale-%2475.html

Not bad but I'm officially broke after having my motor rebuilt. Have to stick with the cheaper way for now.

You might want to check Napa or Autozone, etc.. not sure what their prices would be though. There's usually 1 or 2 3rd gens at a yard in Bountiful.