Advice, please — rebuild this engine?

[Dave4255]

In '13 I pulled out the engine in my van to get it rebuilt. The van had 278663 miles on it and I couldn't get it smogged. I sent the engine to P&G Auto Parts & Machine Shop in Rialto CA. The freight there and back and the rebuild cost only $1243. I got the engine back pretty quick, but as life would have it, the engine sat until Nov '16 when I actually got around to putting the engine back into the van. And it started fine.

Over the past year I've had increasing cooling problems and did what I could to stop it including radiator test/flush, new thermostat, new fan clutch and it still had issues. I finally took it to a mechanic to help diagnose why, and he detected combustion gasses in the coolant. So, either a head gasket or a cracked something.

Here's my question:
Should I have it rebuilt again? Should I search for an existing functioning engine (thevanburenbys in Oakland)? If I have it rebuilt, who is reputable?

I thank all of you in advance!

Thanks

[AD2101]

Others here with a lot more (firsthand) knowledge will hopefully chime in but here are my 2 cents. It sounds like you've basically been having these problems since day one after getting her back on the road, and you also say that the rebuild cost you a little over 1k (anecdotal: The rebuild on the 22RE in my 4runner was over 2k about 3 years ago and that's a much more common powerplant. No freight shipping, installed the engine at home). Given the relatively "cheap" price of the rebuild and the problems from day one I would suspect whoever rebuilt it cheaped out on the head gasket and that's your failure point. Toyota OEM head gaskets are basically all that's ever recommended here for this reason alone, I can almost guarantee they didn't use an OEM head gasket on your rig at that price point.

I would replace the head gasket or at least get it looked at before I tore into your engine (or wallet) any further. Good luck :dance2:

[Ace MM]

I don't have any recommendations, other than a rebuilt Toyota motor should get a new radiator.
Had to redo a HG on a rebuilt 22re and get a new radiator.:wall:


If you installed it, a HG job should be simple.

[Dave4255]

Thanks for the advice. I'm planning on replacing just the head gasket. And, while I'm at it, I'm going to replace the injector connectors with Subaru ones . The radiator is not the original and in troubleshooting the overheating I had it removed and flushed and tested and it came out fine. My mechanic did share that it's possible that the radiator can show full volume flow and still have issues with some of the tubes, but, even before the rebuilt I never had any overheating issues <fingers crossed>.

According to Toyota, my 4YEC needs Gasket # 11115-73030.

Here's to workin' on old vans!:silvervan::silvervan::silvervan::silvervan:

[trestlehed]

And, while I'm at it, I'm going to replace the injector connectors with Subaru ones

I got brand new injector connectors from Amazon (also available from Napa Auto Parts).
They are cheap and work great. AS per Timsrv:
http://www.toyotavantech.com/forum/showthread.php?2307-Square-2-Pin-Connectors&highlight=fuel+injector+connectors

[AnnajoBanjo]

Hello Hello fellow van lovers,
Let me start this off by first stating that I am no mechanic, but I absolutely love love my '87 Toyota Van. But love doesn't fix some of the major mechanical issues it is experiencing, such as extremely low oil pressure (40%) and wornout pistons. I have been perusing this and other sites about next steps to take. and it has come to Engine rebuild or engine Swap.

I have found a few mechanics that might be willing (some reluctantly) to swap an engine.. but I have to find one. I had a few questions on that.... I know I can use other Toyota engines of the similar size, possibly from a toyota truck of a similar age. Any info or links on where I can find suitable engine substitutes? This will help me broaden my search because these vehicles are even more rare in rust rich Wisconsin ( I brought my Van back here from the West Coast a few years ago, so the body is good)

I have read that an engine rebuilt is preferred to a swap, because you won't inherit another engines problem, but i have yet to find a mechanic that 1) has the toyota know-how 2) I trust or 3) is not going to charge me a ton (and yes I know it will not be cheap either way) to do a complete rebuild. but... I do like the idea of doing it the right way.

So long post short (too late!) I guess what I am really doing is reaching out for a direction to go in, trying to make sense and avoid the technical overload of reading forums and a few pointers to be aware of in this upcoming journey of getting my baby back on the road.

:bluevan:Thanks!
Lost, but Hopeful in Wisconsin

[VanCo]

Are you referring to an engine swap like putting a completely different engine type in the van (eg 3rz, 2jz, 22re, LS, etc)? Or keeping the 4yec just using a different 4yec from another van?

If you want reliability and don't want to spend $10,000 on a proper swap (or you don't have the skills to do it properly yourself), I say leave it a 4yec.

If the engine still runs, and is just a bit tired, rebuild it. The parts to rebuild the 4yec are easy enough to find. The process to rebuild it is just like any other push rod engine.

[VanCo]

But, it would be awesome to have a flex fuel turbo 3rz...

[ncbrock]

The concept is pretty simple on a RWD van if you're mechanically inclined, can weld, and are just an all around car guy. Find a new engine/tranny combo of choice, fabricate motor and transmission mounts, get a custom driveshaft made, and figure out the wiring. In reality, a shop will easily charge $10k plus, and if you were attempting it yourself (maybe I'm speaking for myself) it's going to take months and months of figuring things out. Just rebuild the 4y in my opinion.