Head Gasket

[DNA]

How hard is it to replace a head gasket? I going to be looking to buy a truck soon and this one caught my eye. It looks like the gasket is only $30.


http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/cto/1581738597.html (http://fairbanks.craigslist.org/cto/1581738597.html)

I don't know if this truck would be heavy duty enough either. I'm looking to get a 325 gallon tank to start hauling water.

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Just looked up the max payload and it says 1700 Lbs, so that probably won't work.

[naturalbornmudder]

Dan,
when you go in to change a head gasket at 230K on a motor, you are going to find a lot of things past the head gasket that will probably need attention. The toyota 3.0L V motors were known for weak OEM head gaskets, most commonly the front left side outter portion closest to the passenger wheel wells.
The heads will likely need resurfaced, you've got 1/2 the motor apart by that time so I would recommend you having already done a compression test on all cylinders. The bearings will likely need freshened up, etc. What I am saying is that to do it once and do it right, look more towards $500 minimum (if you do it all yourself) to freshen up the motor enough to put it back together and get a substantial bit more life out of it.

[boostlesstj]

nate pretty much hit it on the head. If you do plan on doing just the head gaskets keep in mine you have to replace all the gaskets above them as well, i.e. valve cover, intake manifold, exhaust gaskets, etc

[DNA]

Thanks! I'm really inexperienced in all this so this sounds like way out of my league.

[boostlesstj]

it can be overwhelming the first time through

[rpiereck]

I did the head gasket on my old Ford Ranger years ago during high school and we had that truck down for two weeks doing it the proper way as Nate put it down: bearings, head resurfacing, etc, etc...

[DNA]

What it looks like is something that would be a fun project and a great way to learn how to do all this stuff, if I had time and someone to give guidance. If it were a full size pickup and a few hundred cheaper, i would probably do it. This would probably make a better toy than a work truck. I'm going to post in the wanted section once Uncle Sam and Uncle Arnold gives me back all the money they stole from me over the year.

[AKMark]

You need a bigger truck for a 325 gallon tank.

A 200 gallon tank will sag the back of a half ton when full. That truck isn't anywhere near half ton rated.

If you are going with a 325, get at least a 3/4 ton truck.