New here, How hard to do a head gasket in a V6?

[bobsealover]

Hello, first post here. Co-worker gave me an 88 Camry V6 yesterday. (Actually, he sold it to me for a dollar)

It starts and runs nicely, however he says after a few miles it smokes pretty bad. Oil is fine (no water or foam) but the coolant is low. I assume it's a head gasket. How hard is it to do a head gasket in a Camry V6?

If anyone is interested, it's a pretty nice one, dark blue, sunroof, all power options, and it has 144,000 miles.

The last camry someone gave me had 276,000 miles on it and ran great (still does, sold it to my neighbor)

Any advice, stories, tips, pointers, etc. is greatly appreciated.
(with my luck, it's probably the rear head gasket)

-Rob

[augcam]

i wish sum1 would give me a camry, lol

[88 LE]

Originally posted by bobsealover
It starts and runs nicely, however he says after a few miles it smokes pretty bad.

White smoke?

If so a piston / pistons are drinking water = blown head gasket.

How hard is it to do a head gasket in a Camry V6?

Never changed one on a V6 Camry, but i've torn down a 3S-FE, 5S-FE, and helped a friend change a headgasket on a 7M-GTE.

The front cylinder head shouldn't be to bad. Back one might be a pain since its close to the firewall.

Any advice, stories, tips, pointers, etc. is greatly appreciated.
(with my luck, it's probably the rear head gasket)

If its a blown head gasket you might want to consider replacing other stuff too (water pump, cam seals, timing belt, etc..). Easier to do it while you have the engine apart then to tear it apart again.

[bobsealover]

What is the engine code for the V6 that'd be in my 88?

quad- OHC. fancy stuff! 2.5L I think.
I'll do a compression test when I get it home. I've never seen the smoke, but I assume it's white water smoke. Debating on whether or not to borrow car trailer and truck and tow it home, or fill it up with water and drive it home. (with a chase car)

Is it a timing belt or timing chain on the V6?

I'll do that and the water pump if it's cheap enough. It's essentially a beater car, to keep my other car in warranty a few more years. (03 Jetta TDI wagon, already has 33,000 on it -- I want to park it and drive something else)
Right now I have a 1988 Cutlass Ciera that's serving beater / snow car purposes, but it's got too many issues and no personality.


It seems like a pretty nice car. interior is very clean and in good shape, title shows i'm the fourth owner. It does have some rust in the right rear wheelwell, and the left front fender arch.

I'm an old-school bondo bandit, so that won't be much of an issue. the rear wheelwell rust is into the dogleg as well, but it doesn't appear to be structural -- yet.

Depending on the amount of smoke, i'm likely to just try some Stop Leak and see how far that gets me.

If there's no special tools or billion-dollar parts required to do the head gasket, I guess i'll make a project out of it.

Maybe a junkyard motor? I'm kinda strapped for cash at the moment, my fiance and I just bought our first house.

Thanks!!

-Rob

[Nick]

head gasket isn't all that complicated, but the rear bank is gonna be a huge pain in the ass, there's almost no clearance

i suggest taking out a couple motor mounts so your can tilt the engine fwd

getting the timing set up correctly is a bit trickier than a straight engine, but if you've done a head gasket before you shoudl be alright

[88 LE]

Originally posted by bobsealover
What is the engine code for the V6 that'd be in my 88?

2VZ-FE

I'll do a compression test when I get it home.

Thats an idea. If a piston is drinking water that cylinder will show crazy high compression (water doesn't compress).

I remember doing a compression test on my friends 7M-GTE when the headgasket blew. #6 was at 280 psi and you could see water shooting out the sparkplug hole while testing the other cylinders.

Is it a timing belt or timing chain on the V6?

Belt

[zoni]

pull the engine and do it, its a lot easier... then you can get to everything else too... everything thinks is so hard to pull the engine.. its not really that bad. just mark all the hoses so you dont mess them up.