Cracked valve cover + engine overhaul

Hey y'all.


Prepping for a big job. Timing belt, water pump, thermostat, valve cover gaskets, cam plugs, intake plenum gaskets. Has no exhaust currently too lol

I have a hairline crack on my left valve cover. Not sure if it was there before or if I'm the idiot that cracked it while I was tightening a valve cover bolt. Probably was me. At any rate, it's cracked.

Ordered a Dorman replacement. Made in China, just got here today. The thing feels like shit. Covered in aluminum burs. It just feels cheap as hell. It was $200 and the OEM is $400. I'm thinking about biting the bullet but the costs are just going up.

Truck has 183k on it. Got it for $3,500, just got the frame replaced for free. I'm wagering that all this is going to be ~$2,000 of work. $600-800 for parts depending if I get an OEM valve cover. Think I'm still in the black with this thing? Should I go OEM valve cover?

 

Maybe spring for a recycler/junkyard part?

It's oem, just used.

 

One of our members here is parting out a first gen and might still have his valve covers. It's worth asking. He hasn't posted in a while so I would message him.


https://www.tundras.com/threads/2001-tundra-ac-sr5-v8-part-out.65917/

 

Not a bad idea. Doubt a junkyard would want to brick an engine by selling just one valve cover, but who knows.

Found this on ebay but ebay motors says it isn't compatible.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/325181607112

It's saying for 4Runner (96-02) and Tacoma (96-03)
5VZ
V6 3.4L

Sounds about right... are there some small differences?

 

No idea. Maybe check the part numbers on parts.toyota.com?

Also you can check on car-part.com for a used one.

 

May I suggest you add your Vehicle One-Line Description: in your Personal Details | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

That said @lsaami has a V8 and you have 3.4 V6 if I remember correctly !

2001-tundra-ac-sr5-v8-part-out

 

Found a guy on ebay. Got a used OEM one for $100. I think I'll be much happier.

Man, I can't express how crappy that new Dorman one was. The machining was just so bad. It came with sparkplug seals and a gasket too and it all felt so awful.

 

Glad you found one. I was going to suggest Japanese Truck Dismantling in California. Lots of 1st gen parts to be had...

 

I LOVE Japanese Truck Dismantling!! However, their website has been down for the last ~ month, and they don't answer the phone or email

 

Jeez... had no idea.... Well that blows...

Their Faceboob page is working, but the link to the website is dead, as you stated.

 

Sounds like my prom night.

 

You got quite the workload ahead of you OP, but I bet the truck will be good for another 20 years after you're done.
It sounds like you're all-set on the valve cover. Used parts are a great option. Sometimes you can get lucky and find some real low mileage parts for a bargain.

 

Used OEM showed up... feels really solid. Much heavier than the Dorman part. Looks great.

 

True. Pity is I returned the Dorman so fast I never took a pic! Hah!