New member + old truck + dead cylinder

Pics are mandatory. If you drop the pan and dont get pics of the naughty bits, we will heckle.

 

I think if it was missing the rings it'd be rattling like a 90s diesel, right? And if the valves were open when the piston came to tdc, that'd hit and make noise, right? I'm thinking a pan drop and look in the pan for pieces of piston.

 

You can roll the engine over by hand using a wrench on the front of crankshaft watching the camshaft to determine what stroke you're on to get compression stroke with piston at top. While doing the rotation you can also watch the valve stems to make certain they are moving properly or since you got major problems, just pull the engine to give you access to disassemble for repairing, replacing or whatever you decide to do. It would be work toward final repairs.

 

Going back a page since this still isn't solved. These are the winners:

And here's why. Time is money, and while other suggestions in this thread are technically accurate and sound advice, some involve opening a can of worms when fishing isn't necessarily something we have time or money to support (words I hope my wife never learns). You can get a wild variety of bore scopes/endo scopes on A-Zon for under $100. Hell, there's even a few 2-3mpx versions for $50 or less that are Prime-eligible.

Why is this the best solution? It checks a MAJOR box, and the only work required to achieve it is removing a spark plug. With one tool you can have as cheap as $35-50, or even borrow from a relative, you should know 100% if your piston head is chunked, maybe even if you have rings or drain-by problems. If you toss the scope on and find that is NOT the problem, THEN start doing the more rigorous and invasive stuff.

K.I.S.S. applies here, and I'm not talking about the band.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself and exactly why I suggested it. I believe I've even seen 2-3mp borescopes on there for ~ $25-30 recently. For that low of a price one could use it once if that's all they wanted and sell it and recoup their money.

 

OP should be able to get the piston to TDC and feel around inside the cylinder with a piece of wire to get an idea of the piston condition. Geez, you guys need more time with women.

 

Hey, you may like sticking metal things in spark plug holes, I think I'll stick to poking the ladies with appendages.

 

I know at least 30 who would disagree. Besides, I want to see the target also. I'm weird like that.

 

Just like in the bedroom OP, use your dipstick to feel around inside her.

 

MY MAN LIKES TO WAAAATCH! C'mon, OP! Don't disappoint us here! WE LIKE PICS @bmf4069

 

Instructions unclear. Got finger stuck in radiator

 

LMAO! I'm..."cultured", as @empty_lord would say.

Seriously though, if there is a hole in a piston I would like to see it. Catastrophic failure gets my attention also.

 

No real updates today. Shopped around for motors some, and did some more cleaning out the interior. Still trying to get the smell of mouse turds out.

On another note, does it looks like it has a leveling kit or something? The front struts look fairly new, and it looks a little on the higher side to me. Just trying to get an idea what tires I’ll end up ordering

 

Destruction pics will come sooner or later, but seeing how cheap used motors are, I’ve just accepted I’ll be doing a swap, so I haven’t been in a big hurry to dig into it. It’s still running/movable now, so I’ll probably keep it that way until I have to motor to drop in.

 

Wasn't really trying to spend any money right away, but my brother just sent me a running motor a few hours away for $350....
Might just try and get that on sunday.

 

350 is a hard price to pass on, even if you didn’t need it!

 

Well, it’s official, I just bought myself a motor. Picking it up Sunday evening. 300k miles on it, but it runs…. Kinda scary amount of miles, but the price was right, and I know these things can last forever. I’ll do the timing belt and water pump, and whatever gaskets it looks like it could use.

Already got brand new coil packs, plugs and a starter from my old motor. Other than that, I’ll probably run a can of sea foam through it, and cross my fingers for another 300k.

Didn’t plan on spending more money just yet, but hey. I bought the truck itself by accident too

 

300k ain't scary.




Sounds like you go a good plan. Keep us updated!

 

Subscribed

 

Someone on here posted wiser words than me on this topic recently: "It's a Toyota, not a GM, Dodge or Ford" (or similar)

Big thing for you is this: Test as much as you can on the new engine when you get it. At least test for good compression on all cylinders. And I wouldn't swap the motor until you scope your current one to at least try to figure out if the piston, ring, or cylinder wall is mangled somehow. Then I'd also scope all 8 on the new one too

 

It's hard to say for sure, but it looks like there may be a spacer on the bottom of the coil

 

If it was mine, it would probably see a total bottom end rebuild before going in. Plus the other planned items.

Since we are looking and discussing, kinda hard to know what springs those are and what rating. Secondly, no recent impact of bump stops on LCA. That tells me that OP might be blowing out a shock or two if they bottom before bump stop contact. Just sayin' OP should probably investigate a bit, might need some bump extensions.

 

I think there’s actually a couple relatively new parts on the front end. Upper ball joints look new. Lowers, not so new, but they’ve been greased recently. I’ll have to jack it up and see if I can shake things around a bit.

Dont think it’s a spacer on the bottom. Might actually just be a stock replacement strut. I was comparing it to more pictures of stock Tundras, and I don’t think it’s as much higher as I thought.

 

Actually it look's like the Monroe (or some other knock off) replacement. I had those when I bought my truck and they were absolutely awful. They also use some weird coil that won't fit on anything else so you'll have to get new coils to replace them.

 

I concur. Monroes are trash. I have them currently.

 

$350 later

 

I think today’s project is going to be getting my hands on an engine hoist…
Didn’t have time over the weekend, and I don’t really wanna commute all week with a 500lb anchor in the back of my truck.

 

Finally got it outta the taco, and started looking it over a little. Now to start ordering parts…

 

Any drips on the pallet?