Head Gasket Gone

[busyman]

I have a 94 Toyota 4x4 pickup. It has 120,000miles on a 3.0 V6 and just blew the 2nd head gasket. I am fighting with Toyota over a recall they did in 97 to replace the gaskets, but it looks like I will have to foot the bill. Has anyone ever changed one of these gaskets and if so how bad is it?

[justin22]

2nd HG so you had it replaced befor, because toyota does replace the HG they replace the motor with a short block

[busyman]

Toyota replaced both the head gaskets in 97' under a recall, but they did not put in a short block. I have considered buying a shortblock to fix it this time due to the cost of the gasket replacement.

[reb]

Sorry to hear that. Mine has 130,000. Was counting on it lasting quite a bit longer. I figure on keeping the truck until it can't be fixed anymore.

As I remember when Toyota replaced my gaskets during the recall, it was supposedly done with redesigned gaskets. Do the replacements have a history of failing?

Just curious--what prices are you being quoted for the repair and for the short block?

[Supra Spider]

The replacement isnt to bad, but keep in mind that the recal should be honored, mainly because that 3vze/3vzfe 3.0L engine had a serious problem with warping the heads and eating the gaskits like they were Chocolate chip cookies, it wasnt untill the 5zfe 3.4L came out in 96 that that problem was fixed.
so If I were you Id hound them a bit more about it and see if they wont do it, i mean in all honesty it is a cheap and quick repair for a dealer to get into.

[Supra Spider]

OOps I almost forgot, if your considering the short block for your engine you might be better off finding the 5zfe in longblock form and swaping it, it had a bit more Hp and torque but the kicker was it also had better fuel econamy, just remember to get the ecm to go with it oherwise itl do you no good, you would need to redirect some minor parts but Ive found that it for the most part will bolt right in to the truck, the manual "R box" trnsmission will bolt up to it just fine with the proper 5zfe bell housing, allthough the Auto will be a bit harder unless you can find a good bell housing that fits and dosnt have to bolt up since you can always drill and tap it to fit what you want.

[justin22]

go above your local dealership, try the distric office, if that does work try Toyota USA, if you get after them you have a better chance of getting what you want.

I know here if you complain to Goodyear Canada about your tires they will refund must if not all of your money and you keep the tires