....and I'm just as p'oed as I am happy. After letting my '85 4Runner sit for months getting up the conviction and the cash to have the engine pulled apart and likely rebuilt after having a brand new headgasket come apart I finally took it in this week. I had taken the truck to a few different outfits and had even contacted the engine builder (LCEngineering.com) trying to figure out the initial problem. It was getting oil in the antifreeze, but not the other way around. There was no overheating, just oil. I finally decided it was an odds on favorite that there was simply a small bad point in the head or gasket that could be easily repaired by redoing the headgasket and having a quick bit of machining done on the head. I took it to a local and had him do the headgasket. It didn't last for 10 miles. Antifreeze was getting pumped out the overflow, oil was running down the block by the timing cover, overheating, the whole scenario. After taking it to the most respected machine shop in town, the panel was stumped and best guesses pointed to a cracked block allowing exhaust gases into the cooling system. WRONG! As it turns out, which I, of course have no way to prove, the new mechanic discovered that the other mechanic had REUSED the old headgasket! I had even special ordered one and taken it to him myself. I'm guessing at some point he damaged the new one and not wanting to admit it just stuck the old one back on. Anyway, it's back and even better than the before. The same guy that screwed the pooch on the headgasket had originally installed the engine and hadn't set up the TPS on the new big bore throttle body properly and the new mechanic did it all, and so far appears to have done it all right. Back in the game now. I wonder how many miles are left on the rest of the truck now since it already has around 210k on it ;>)
Chris whitewall junkie and variation dabbler Mfinja's Hot Wheels with Whitewalls