Illinois: Experienced Supra Owner Needed for Head Gasket Repair

[dugums]

Looking for someone experienced to guide me through HG replacement. So far, I do not think the HG has blown; just want to get this done as preventative maintenance.

Looking to use OEM HG, ARP hardware and to do the timing belt and water pump. I would also do anything that your experience has shown is a good thing to take care of while the head is off.

LMK if you can help me - I will pay you for your time as well as providing the requisite food and beer!!!

I have a vacation beginning 5/12 and going for 3 weeks, so I'd like to get this done in that time frame.

Alternatively, if you can't help me through the whole process, I would love to have an "oh shit, what did I do?" contact if/when I get stuck.

Thanks!

 

[starscream5000]

I would also suggest a new oil pump if you can swing that too .

 

[dugums]

I would also suggest a new oil pump if you can swing that too .

Thanks for the tip - If you have other suggestions about what I should do while I'm in there, let me know. I have a koyo radiator coming and am thinking hard about an intercooler, DP, high-flow cat and catback.

I have about three weeks (starting 5/12) to get this car into nice, reliable (as possible!) condition. All suggestions are more than welcome!!!

I think I will start a post after I have compiled the list of parts/tools I think I will need, so that you guys can chime in with suggestions!

 

[kikwear002]

no need for an oil pump.. dont waste money when u dont need to.

Bascially jut take your time, send the head to the machine shop to get checked and make sure its true flat, check to make sure threads are good in block. You will be ok.

Just drain the coolant, dissconnect the exhaust and hoses / wires to the head and pull the entire head off with turbo and everything that will make things faster.

before you pull the head I would put the car at TDC so when your putting it back together it will be there already.

 

[oscolivar1]

Why wouldn't you want to replace a 19+ year old oil pump?
You should replace every Hose that deal with oil/fuel.

 

[JustAnotherVictim]

I'm curious as to how he made that claim as well having no knowledge of the car.

 

[dugums]

I would be in favor of changing any recommended parts that are easier to do now than they would be at a later date. I would rather do more and be safe than do less and end up having to do it anyway.

 

[kssweeper28]

PM SENT!

 

[iwannadie]

Order basically all the oil hoses you are going to touch. Every oil, fuel, vacuum hose I had to touch ended up cracking(they were all rock hard). Cost me a week just waiting on an oil hose to ship.

Also, injector o-rings and insulators ended up being a problem for me. Napa sells an injector rebuild kit that has the rings and insulators for like 4 bucks(i bought 7 just to have a spare!).

Get all new gaskets again for anything you touch or can get to. Might as well replace gaskets while your in there they are cheap enough.

Get a bunch of carb cleaner cans and spray everything to get it clean as can be. Engine degreaser and brake cleaner come in handy too, clean every part you can get at. Then clean it again cause every time it gets cleaner lol.

Get foam ear plugs, when you have the head off stuff the foam ear plugs into the head bolt holes. That was one of the best tips I got while doing my bhg. The foam plugs keep the bolt holes nice and clean of debry and come right out(i used a pick).

 

[dugums]

PM SENT!

Reply Sent!

Keep all these great tips coming!

 

[tte]

Well if you find a guy to help you out, he would probably have all the tools so you would not have to buy them.

cheers,
Roy

 

[mdr40z]

use masking tape and a sharpie to label every wire and connection as you take it off, makes taking any motor apart and putting it back right a breeze ;<'

 

[DaSuprawolf]

hey im in Downers Grove and have done a head gasket/complete rebuild on my N/A. dont know how much help i could be, really busy with school and work, but would love to help.
let me know how close you really are.
oh yea, i also work at a local Toyota dealership, i can really get the hook-up on parts youll need:naughty:
so let me know.




this might be a long shot, but do you go to UTI??

 

[dugums]

Thanks, reply sent...

 

[1988SupraDreams]

I just thought I would point out to the Supra community that post format makes a night and day difference in post response. Post like a Kid, be treated like one. Post like an Adult, and be treated like one. Dugums is a perfect example of efficient post format. Kudos to you Dugums.

Good luck Dugums, and like I posted before, if anything goes wrong, we're here to help.

 

[dugums]

Well, I did have to grow up eventually!!! I think I'm regressing now though - 27 and I still haven't learned to stay away from these cars:3d_frown: :biglaugh:

 

[aljordan]

Replacing an oil pump.. while doing a headgasket is a stupid idea. It's not anywhere in the vicinity of the head gasket, nor do you touch it at all when dealing with the head.

I would advise dugums to helicoil the holes for the exhaust manifold studs. i would also advise him to buy new lock nuts for the manifold (and possibly turbo) if it has them. The old ones are one time use only due to the locking mechanism. ARP bolts would be a good choice. Stock headgasket will work just fine, as long as it it torqued to ARP's specs.

All new hoses would be nice and easy to work with comapred to the old rock hard hoses that are in place now. Test your BOV to ensure it's working correctly. Blow into either big end, if you can't blow thru it, it's likely good.

 

[TobyCat]

Well, if you have 3 weeks then you could at the least take everything apart and send it to the machine shop. Learn to *love* the TSRM, it gives you a step by step on exactly what to do:

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=EM&Page=32

The only special tool you'll need is a huge hex wrench of sorts...Everything else can be done with a 30$ socket/wrench set from your local parts shop. (You'd be surprised how much of a Toyota can be taken apart with a 10,12,14,17,19mm).

You will however need a good torque wrench for assembly, so maybe there are places to rent the hex/torque wrench?

So checklist so far is:
-Complete Toyota head gasket set
-Coolant hose set
-ARP studs (few bucks more than bolts but provide a more consistent torque)
-3 or 4 cans of Brake clean (buy the red labeled kind, doesn't live residue)
-Roll of blue shop towels
-Basic tool set (30 bucks or 70 if you get it from sears)
-rent a torque wrench,hex tool...sorry I can't remember the size
-masking tape, ziplock baggies (for bolts), sharpie

Read through the head removal section of the TSRM and see if you're up for it. You can give your machine shop the entire head w/ cams and they can plane it (70$) or do a 3 angle valve grind (350$). I think it'd be worth it to spend the few extra bucks difference (maybe tops 100?) and have them shim it and worry about valve/cam assembly. This way you also don't have to buy feeler gauges, shim tool, bottle of assembly lube, keep your hair ON your head ....

Last but not least start up a thread w/ pictures as you go and some of the more experienced guys will definitely chime in giving you pointers.

Cheers!
-Chris

 

[dugums]

Awesome! This is just the type of info I am looking for. I am definitely going to start a post as soon as I get everything together I think I will need. That way people can let me know what I'm missing.

I am really interested in having the machinist do anything that will be better for the vehicle (or my sanity). I was wondering if you could tell me what a 3 angle valve grind is and what having them "shim" it means.

Sorry, but like I said, this is the first time I have gotten into something like this, and it would be nice to actually know what I was asking them to do.

Again, THANKS!

Read through the head removal section of the TSRM and see if you're up for it. You can give your machine shop the entire head w/ cams and they can plane it (70$) or do a 3 angle valve grind (350$). I think it'd be worth it to spend the few extra bucks difference (maybe tops 100?) and have them shim it and worry about valve/cam assembly. This way you also don't have to buy feeler gauges, shim tool, bottle of assembly lube, keep your hair ON your head
-Chris

 

[iwannadie]

Dont forget the foam ear plugs lol, best advice.

Also razor blades, youll need them to scrap off old gaskets. And some sand paper and block. I used a small rubber block(3$) and a variety pack of paper (4$) and it worked great cleaning the block.

Well, if you have 3 weeks then you could at the least take everything apart and send it to the machine shop. Learn to *love* the TSRM, it gives you a step by step on exactly what to do:

http://www.cygnusx1.net/Supra/Library/TSRM/MK3/manual.aspx?Section=EM&Page=32

The only special tool you'll need is a huge hex wrench of sorts...Everything else can be done with a 30$ socket/wrench set from your local parts shop. (You'd be surprised how much of a Toyota can be taken apart with a 10,12,14,17,19mm).

You will however need a good torque wrench for assembly, so maybe there are places to rent the hex/torque wrench?

So checklist so far is:
-Complete Toyota head gasket set
-Coolant hose set
-ARP studs (few bucks more than bolts but provide a more consistent torque)
-3 or 4 cans of Brake clean (buy the red labeled kind, doesn't live residue)
-Roll of blue shop towels
-Basic tool set (30 bucks or 70 if you get it from sears)
-rent a torque wrench,hex tool...sorry I can't remember the size
-masking tape, ziplock baggies (for bolts), sharpie

Read through the head removal section of the TSRM and see if you're up for it. You can give your machine shop the entire head w/ cams and they can plane it (70$) or do a 3 angle valve grind (350$). I think it'd be worth it to spend the few extra bucks difference (maybe tops 100?) and have them shim it and worry about valve/cam assembly. This way you also don't have to buy feeler gauges, shim tool, bottle of assembly lube, keep your hair ON your head ....

Last but not least start up a thread w/ pictures as you go and some of the more experienced guys will definitely chime in giving you pointers.

Cheers!
-Chris