Rookie mistake installing heads

[dimebag]

Hey everyone I am a new member of TN and this is my first post, but I have been researching this site ever since I started looking into buying another Toyota P/U. This forum, along with the online FSM has provided the absolute best insight for any major repairs on my truck. I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences.

Well I am in the middle of a head gasket job on my 3VZE and just got the heads back on last night. This morning I woke up to realize that I forgot to put the freekin exhaust crossover pipe in place before I put the heads on

So my question is has anyone been successful at putting in the crossover pipe somehow without removing the heads? I was thinking possibly snaking it through the driver side wheel well, but I think I need to remove the torsion bar and maybe a brake line. Just want to ask before I do all this extra work and then find out that it won’t fit.

Another question is if I have to remove one of the heads to get the crossover pipe in, should I get another new head gasket to replace the one that I just installed? By the way, I have a 1994 P/U, Xtra cab with the 3VZE. Thanks for any responses.

[dimebag]

Ya I had a feeling I wouldn't get any responses.......... I'm gonna try getting that exhaust crossover in there somehow over the weekend. I cannot believe I did this! Just the thought of having to buy yet another head gasket to replace a perfectly good one is killing me. The good thing is that I have not yet installed the camshafts or exhaust and intake manifolds. Well I will report how my luck turns out in a couple of days. Wish me luck.

[heartdisease]

I don't know on that car, but I feel your pain. I put head gaskets on my 1997 Sonoma and it was a lot of work. As I said I don't know these cars but I would also look into the head bolts. If they are "Torque to yield" you will need new bolts also. Mine on my Pickup are, they say to go to x ftlbs and then x degrees more.

I am certain some one here can answer at least the head bolt question if you don't know.

[dimebag]

I think I'm just going to bite the bullet and get new gaskets and head bolts. The bolts that I got are D&J Rock bolts. I was told that they were 10.9 grade and reusable by the retailer, but I am not taking any chances. Thanks HD for looking out man

[chris_kolar]

Felpro will replace any gasket within one year of purchase. I got this info from oriley auto parts. That may ease some of the pain. The head bolts that you purchased, if the mfg says that they are reuseable why stress over that. The only reason to replace the origional ones was because of the torque to yield spec. If the new ones are also torque to yield you may have to replace them.

[Jayota]

why not do away with the crossover and make an elimination so the passenger side pipe comes down and joints closer to the trans

[sonofa]

I concur. Don't rip the engine apart because you forgot the exhaust parts. Cut and weld is an easy solution to an exhaust pipe problem.