How Screwed Am I?

[youngandfoolish]

I a 1990 MKIII with the 7MGE and And 5 speed trans recently. Four days after putting plates on it, the thermostat got stuck on an 8 mile drive to a buddy's house. I limped it the last 2 miles and parked it there. It had a slight valve tick in mid rpm before this, but it was making all kinds of tcking and sad noises at this point. I got the new thermostat 2 days later and replaced it, and whatever oil had burnt off. I looks like the Head gasket may have blown during the over heat, and after limping her back home, the engine makes a ton of noise and refuses to stay running when not moving in a gear. (no, i'm not still driving it.) Oil level also went up. I'm guessing the mains and Head gasket are shot. So my question is, does anyone one know if the overheating could have caused all this, or just bad BHG timing, or both? And how boned am I in this situation.
Thanks for the help.

 

[hvyman]

putting plates on it? I dont understand.

How do you know that the t stat got stuck?

Was it in the red?

 

[youngandfoolish]

License plates.

Took it out and replaced it. the old one would barely move .o2o"/

Temp gauge said it was only halfway up to the red, but it was definitely overheating

 

[Dan_Gyoba]

Time for a 7M-GTE. I replaced my 7M-GE for a blown coolant hose.

 

[IndigoMKII]

If the oil level increased without putting oil in it, you've either got someone adding oil to your car or it'll become milky real fast.

 

[youngandfoolish]

It isn't milky, though. Oil pressure dropped progressively when I brought it back home from about 38psi to 15

 

[hvyman]

Is it knocking? If oil pressure has indeed dropped that much the bearings are not going to last long.

 

[Suprapowaz!(2)]

Dude, just pull the engine this weekend. Install new bearings, and a headgasket. That all should take about 5 hours. Right guys?

 

[hvyman]

Prolly not but you could do the whole thing in a weekend. If your going to pull the engine might as well get a gasket kit from dm for 100 and then a felpro or toyota hg. Tha along will take a little longer.

IF your fast at pulling the engine would take a hour or 2. Get everything off and the head off some more time. Take crank out and then put new bearings and check to make sure the clearances are right will take a bit. so all in all prolly a weekend.

And its best to machine the head if your going to take it off.

 

[Suprapowaz!(2)]

I was just kidding there, as if we all pull and freshen our engines like it ain't no thang. Quite a bit of us can though.

 

[youngandfoolish]

Is it knocking? If oil pressure has indeed dropped that much the bearings are not going to last long.

if it isn't knocking, then it has the worst valve tick ever. I've got all the intake bits and exhaust header off now. Head should come off tomorrow or Thursday. Not sure when I can pull the engine out. Two things, and bear with me herem i'm new to this. 1.) Can the engine be pulled out after the head is removed? Some blocks have lufting hooks, but I don't know if the 7M-GE's do. I've got a lift and stand so that's no big deal. 2.) About how much would bearings be, and could I pick them up at a feneric auto parts store such as O'Reilly's?

 

[supranewbie]

What are your long term goals for this car? That's where you should start. Decide now what you want it to become and from there choose your parts. Wayy cheaper, more funnerer and less stressful in the long run.
You can pull the engine without the head. But it's much easier to pull the whole thing and remove the head with the engine on a stand.

Number 1 thing to remember as a Supra owner: Short-cuts WILL fuck you. Do it right the first time.


I realize the above comments are just my opinion, of course

 

[hvyman]

The na will have hooks as we'll. can also use bolts in the head but the hooks are far easier.

Also FYI next time just remove the engine with everything attached including the harness. It's far easier to pull everything off with the engine out of the car. Also it's a lot easier to pull engine with trans.

 

[Nick M]

Not sure when I can pull the engine out.

I realize you do not do this professionaly, but it can be pulled in 1.5 hours with a lift. You separate the harness from the engine. Separate the motor mounts. Separate the bellhousing bolts.... coolant lines, etc etc. Some people struggle with the motor mounts and trans alignment and just pull them together. That is fine.

1.) Can the engine be pulled out after the head is removed?

It is much easier to pull the head while out of the car.

Some blocks have lufting hooks,

Blocks don't have lifting hooks. But the cylinder heads do. If the hook was on the block, it would flip over when you lifted it in the air.

2.) About how much would bearings be, and could I pick them up at a feneric auto parts store such as O'Reilly's?

Don't do the select fit bearings yourself if you have trouble following written directions, or can't read a map.

 

[youngandfoolish]

Okay, thanks for the help, all. Any idea where I could get valve shims other than online?

 

[hvyman]

Toyota dealer or junkyard or check in the forsake section or post in wtb section.