7MGTE noisy cams

[quapouh]

Hi Everyone !

I have bought 1989 Supra Turbo 7MGTE about 4 month ago. It's bare stock and I've got all the receipts form the previous owner [Maniac put about $20K in the car for maintnance thru 15 years]. And straight to the point - He did change the engine [his favorite shop did] about 10K miles before I've bought it - The Body got 158K Miles and the engine supposedly 55K 60K. He paid a top buck for a change [2K engine + 2K labor - IDIOT] and the engine is nice and clean - Turbo seams to be about the same milage [maybe came with the engine]. My only problem with this engine seams to be a noisy valvetrain - just on the front of the engine.

NOW! It could be the shims or practicaly anything else in the head [mine ] - IT DRIVES ME INSANE. It is not a serious noise and it doesent seam to get any worse but I got the thing after my pops that everything need to be quiet as it should be

WHAT TO DO!

how to best diagnose it, how to fix the situation - Is it better to get new head [about $ 400 bucks rebuilt] and a set of gaskets [plus metal HG for future projects] or get the 7MGE engine cheap and repace the head [ and leave the rest for parts] or buy 7MGTE and put metal HG in it. All of the options are costly but I'm willing to go the distance.

How about leaving it as it is and wait until it eventually dies

Is the shim adjustment project doable [if thats the problem] for a decent amount of money or it's just a waste and I should go with any of the above options?

HELP and feedback greatly apriciated

Mike

[TcmaBoy]

Its probably the valve clearances. Check em out. The shims cost a few bucks each. To save some money check all the clearance. Then figure out which ones need to be replaced. From the group that needs to be replaced check to see if any of them will work in another location. Only buy shims for locations that don't have a shim that can't be reused from somewhere else. That will cut way down on what you need to buy. It takes some time, but its a lot cheaper for some shims and valve cover gaskets, assuming they need replacing as well, than a rebuilt head at $400. I would do it soon. Keep the revs down untill you do. If the gaps are sloppy you don't want to throw a shim and trash the valve train. I would also do a compression check to make sure there isn't a valve hung open. If the valve dosen't close all the way the cam will slap the lifter making some noise.

[quapouh]

Thanks for the info. So technically first I should chcek how bad it is eventually retorque head gasket bolts an the time of valve adjustment. If the valvetrain noise is repairable with shim adjustment do I have a reason to be concerned about the rest if I plan to keep it stock and build another engine on the side?

Mike

[TcmaBoy]

I would not do a retorque on the head bolts. Just check those valves. If you are building another motor on the side for that car then I wouldn't go very deep into the motor. Just try to keep that one alive long enough to get the other one built.

[jsbenami]

I have the same issue with my car.....its a 1992 7MGTE with 67k original miles......it had 55 when purchased it a year ago. The noise is very noticeable especially when the weather is cold such as it is now and I first start the car up. After it warms the noise is very light but still if you know what to listen for its there. The normal interval so I hear is about 60k miles for a valve clearance adjustment for these engines. The local Toyota deal and I live in the Wash DC area which is super bum F*ing expensive....therefore high dealer labor rates will do the adjust for about 500 bucks plus the gaskets parts ect so I figure about 700-800 worst case for me. Most side shops never worked on these engines, and treat the job as a pariah claiming it takes immense time and 'mathematical work' (ohhhh so hard for damn hicks) and want as much or more than the dealer and I wouldn't trust them anyways. So if the car is worth it take it to Toyota. There is a small chance your oil lube galleries are gunked up but its doubtful.

[Jeeves]

You can run some SeaFoam or MMO (Marvel Mystery Oil) through it. That GREATLY helped my old Subie when it had a nasty case of lifter tick. Otherwise I've never really heard a 7M w/noisy cams..