Head level and fix-up shop in Van?

[Branan]

I My car (88' 325is) overheated so I'm pulling the head and it will need testing, levelling etc if required.

Any good shops in Van?

What else should I do while the head is off?

[fastbmw]

depends on your budget. firstly, will your car still run? If it seems to be okay, you may not need to pull the head. Maybe just a compression check.

Things to do while head is off:
Valve stem seals - maybe valve job.
change rocker arms and shafts - cheap insurance
maybe upgrade your cam
timing belt, water pump and associated seals (camshaft and intermidate shaft seals and crankshaft seal)
Maybe cap and rotor (no additional labour)

[e30_m3]

Magnum on boundary near first is a great shop, fairly cheap machine rates and quality work.

[Branan]

[QUOTE=fastbmw]depends on your budget. firstly, will your car still run? If it seems to be okay, you may not need to pull the head. Maybe just a compression check.
QUOTE]

Well I think (hard to tell) there is some oil in the coolant and I'll be checking the oil tonight for coolant. The rad is hooped so hard to tell if it runs well as it heats up in like 1 minute, but yes starts and runs fine.

[fastbmw]

Pull your oil cap and see if there is a white foamy mess, if so, then the it's bad news. Is there lots of oil in the coolant or is it just a drop or two? It could just be contaminated oil. You might just get away with a new rad. My dad overheated my mom's e30 ic. The thermostat was stuck shut so it got so hot a coolant hose exploded into literally 25 pieces and blew up the radiator too. The explosion was so loud that all the neighbours came running out cause they that a bomb went off. Changed the thermostat, radiator and coolant hose and it's still fine.

[kowalski]

there is a place in portkells, does good work, and cash deals. and a place in langley that also does good work, i forget the name of that place tho, its next door to thunderbolt performance, i believe its called kirshaw performance if my memory is correct. anyways good luck hopfully its not the head.

[Branan]

Pull your oil cap and see if there is a white foamy mess, if so, then the it's bad news. Is there lots of oil in the coolant or is it just a drop or two? It could just be contaminated oil. You might just get away with a new rad. My dad overheated my mom's e30 ic. The thermostat was stuck shut so it got so hot a coolant hose exploded into literally 25 pieces and blew up the radiator too. The explosion was so loud that all the neighbours came running out cause they that a bomb went off. Changed the thermostat, radiator and coolant hose and it's still fine.

Thanks, I did open the cap shortly after it was running and no foam or anything. It hasn't been running for several weeks so I'll drain the oil and check it. I'll still be able to tell after all this time if there is coolant in there right?

The oil in there is not alot, could be contamination like you said.

Yeah my rad blew and might get lucky and it won't be the head.

[crowley84]

Magnum on boundary near first is a great shop, fairly cheap machine rates and quality work.


I second that... they did a toyota 22re motor for me.

[Branan]

I second that... they did a toyota 22re motor for me.

Its funny that we both have the same vehicles. I have a 22re that needs a timing chain, any expereince with these? Tips/tricks? Did you have to remove the head or did you do that voluntarily?


Ron

[crowley84]

Its funny that we both have the same vehicles. I have a 22re that needs a timing chain, any expereince with these? Tips/tricks? Did you have to remove the head or did you do that voluntarily?


Ron

Hehe, over the years I've owned 3 4Runners: 2x 1984, 1x 1989 (V6) and 4 SR5 ext-cabs:1985, 1987, 2x 1986.

I think the 22re is one of the best motors ever built.

I removed the head on my '87 and '84 to do head gaskets. Never touched the chain. The only advice I have is to use OEM parts. The reason why I had to do the '84 was because the prev. owner had used an aftermarket head gasket that blew out 1 month after it was installed. If by chance you have a 1st gen. 4runner, send me a PM, I have some interior trim pieces sitting in the garage that you can take (free), I have no use for them.