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3vz valve adjustment

Discussion in '2nd Gen 4Runners (1990-1995)' started by Waynes, Jun 3, 2025.

  1. Jun 3, 2025 at 9:59 AM
    #1
    Waynes

    Waynes [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21099
    Messages:
    26
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1995 4runner 3vze
    Chasing a miss fire and stumble, I checked my valve clearances and found three valves (all exhaust, go figure) that were out of spec, two of which were real bad, at .0025 and .0035. Should be between .009 and .013. What a pain in the keester! I waited forever (so it seemed) for the tool to compress the bucket, only to realize that the #6 exhaust valve was impossible to get the tool on without pulling the brake booster. On top of that, the tool is left- handed, as it only gets close the left hand side of the cam lobe. A real head scratcher. So, I made this. It's short enough to fit and with the socket one can stick a ratchet on it for the leverage needed. It took hardening the end and fitting and grinding but it works... Now waiting on the correct shims to come. I just hope after all this the miss and stumble is gone.
     
  2. Jun 3, 2025 at 10:02 AM
    #2
    Waynes

    Waynes [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21099
    Messages:
    26
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1995 4runner 3vze
    the tool



    upload_2025-6-3_12-2-4.jpg
     
    CygnusX-4 likes this.
  3. Jun 3, 2025 at 11:49 AM
    #3
    CygnusX-4

    CygnusX-4 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 26, 2023
    Member:
    #31476
    Messages:
    207
    CO
    Vehicle:
    21 TRD OR
    I dig your ingenuity, those shims can be challenging. If you're in SW Colorado and still need a shim, I've a drawer full of them and would be glad to hook you up.
     
  4. Jun 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
    #4
    Waynes

    Waynes [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21099
    Messages:
    26
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1995 4runner 3vze
    Wish I was closer... In south west Missouri.
     
  5. Jun 18, 2025 at 10:03 AM
    #5
    Waynes

    Waynes [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2021
    Member:
    #21099
    Messages:
    26
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    1995 4runner 3vze
    Well, I finally got the 3vz back together. The design engineer that thought up this manufacturing short cut never had to go through that adjustment procedure. Runs better! So, I fire it back up. Then the weather turns warmer. Now the A/C won't come on. I think the same guy designed the AC system. There is an amplifier, thermistor, various relays, and if you have the automatic trans, there is a water temp switch ganged up with the other ones on that pain in the a&& block behind the intake plenum that will not let the AC compressor run unless it's switched to ground. In all the hooraw of the valve adjustment I busted the wire off the connector. Odd ball connector that I didn't have on the donor rig. Long story longer, I lengthened the wire and landed it on the fire wall. That cutout relay buried in the dash is no longer relevant because of the manual swap... So now I have my AC back!
    Yay!!!
     

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