Old toyotas and head gaskets....

[Wiggy]

Whats the problem with older Toyota head gaskets? I don't think I've had one apart from maybe the 205 that hasn't had head gasket probs. OK, on a turbo motor that you've slightly increased the boost on you might expect it but now the bloody 162  
At first I changed the rad cap because it was knackered, and it worked for a while, I then changed the thermostat, which again was knackered, problem solved I thought....Erm no, a week later the thing started getting hot again. So, straight to the garage for tests and they confirmed my suspicions and said it was head gasket. They also did a test to check the pistons and bores as well but they were fine.
So, as Henry the 8th might say, off with her head....

Yep, gasket had indead gone on bore number 3, not badly but badly enough to be gone  
In the process of removing the head I also managed to break the fuel filter, the banjo wouldn't undo on top and it broke the welds from the braket, which in turn put a pin hole in the side of the filter from which fuel started leaking...
I then broke the VSV on the back of the inlet manifold, which Toyota then told me on visiting their parts department is now discontinued and they can't get them from anywhere and if they could it would be £85   but, being in Cornwall my Toyota dealer is friendly with TCB in Callington, they phoned them for me there and then and a quick chat over the phone and credit card payment of £23 got me a replacement  
So, just waiting for that new VSV to arrive, new filter arrived today and then get the head back from being checked for any damage and it should be good as new again...
Like I don't have enough to do.....lol

Still, the wheels will be back from Jerry soon in the new paint finish   should look sweet as then, maybe just need to lower her slightly to sit nicer on the 17's

Nice and clean though

[Coyoteboy]

I think you just buy lemons Mind you, at the age of a 162, it's not unfair to think it might need new gaskets!

[Wiggy]

yep, very true. And considering its condition everywhere else, I can forgive it 

At least I know when its done, it will be right and good for many more miles 

[Coyoteboy]

Better the devil you know, 'n' all that!

[ChrisW]

On the other hand, if there was nothing niggling to fix, you'd be constantly driving with your head out the window listening for 'that noise again'

[Wiggy]

This is also very true Chris, nothing is ever right and there is always  soemthing to get on your nerves inside the car, creek, rattle, knock, whistle......

Electric aerial next, need to fit a new one and treat myself to an MP3 head unit, but, I would also like an original 163 head unit if anyone knows of one for sale?

[Chris_de_Bear]

I used a motor factor one on my 185 as I was only running standard boost, and it went again within 6 months - seems they hadn't used waterproof cardboard as it was just 4 metal rings held in place by pulp :lol:

[mrdb]

If you had overheating problems that resulted in replacing rad cap and thermostat then your on borrowed time especially on an old untouched engine.. Damage was probably done when it first oveheated.

Had it on mine.  Rad cap went , followed by radiator splitting. Replaced rad / cap / and thermostat drove for about 200miles and headgasket went... was expecting it so already bought one...

[Wiggy]

Hiya mate, yeah it never actually overheated, I always made sure I'd stopped before it got up anywhere near the red. The only reason I replaced the rad cap and then the thermostat were because I always start with the easy cheap opions first and I wasn't getting other typical head gasket symptoms, mayo on oil filler cap, hard water hoses when running, bubbles in radiator when cap is off etc...
So, cap is easiest to see and the rubber had perished so it needed doing anyway. This helped but didn't cure it, anything over about 30 mins driving resulted in the temps starting to creep. So, next, check the thermostat and that was knackered, the plate had actually detached from the spring so it was all over the place.
Sorted that and if anything this made it worse by highlighting the head gasket failure.
Like I said though it wasn't majorly buggered, just a small section on cylinder 3 and it must have just been slightly allowing some gases into the coolant, which was how it was detected by the garage.
Had a call before to say the head is fine, which is great news. So, I just need to wait for the new VSV to arrive and I an start putting it all back. I am going to do the cam seals and valve stem seals while I'm at it as well. They came in the top end rebuild kit from Toyota so I may as well use them  

Going to give the chambers a good blasting as well with the pressure washer to make sure any crud is cleaned out.