2001 4runner Head Gasket Replacement

Hi Y,all - first time posting but been reading these forums for years.

Background
I am currently on my second 3rd gen 4runner - after owning a '99 4 cylinder for less than 30 days, she was totaled in a bad car accident. I ended up getting 2001 2wd v6 3.4l (5VZ-FE) with 180k miles. She is now sitting at 240k miles, and while I am no massive mechanic, she was serviced on time, timing belt was redone at 180k, and I just dropped $1,500 to have the whole suspension redone.

Issue
For the last 9-12 months, I have noticed that the coolant has slowly been dropping. Nothing crazy, but it was sporadic which made me think it was a slow hose leak. Never saw white smoke, no chocolate milk in the oil, and no overheating or misfires. I got married a month ago, and now I figured it was time to dive into what is up with my car. Ran a pressure test, and after 45minutes I had lost 5psi, but no external leaks. I started her up, and there was a massive cloud.

I then did a compression test. C1,3,2 all sat at 192-195 psi (very warm engine), C4 and 6 were at 180-185psi, and C5 was at 160psi. This made me think the issue was C5. So I did a wet compression test on C5, and the PSI jumped to 210.

Went ahead and borescope to see how C5 looked, and it was clean. All the others were as well... until we got to C4. Cylinder 4 had a pool of coolant. Went ahead and pressure tested with the borescope, while it was TDC, and we could see a visible trickle of coolant.

So here we are, its time to do the headgasket.

Again, I am NO mechanic. I am very handy, and can do a lot myself when it comes to framing, electrical, mainly anything in the home, but I havent touched cars. But it doesnt seem worth it to pay the shop what they are asking ($3800-5800) when this car is already so old, and we had been planning to upgrade to a 4wd in about a year. So I am taking this job on, with the help of my mechanic buddy who said he can offer a few hours of help when it comes to the larger items like removing the pulleys.

Questions for this Forum :
1. I have found some amazing and detailed videos on the repair which I am watching beforehand, and plan to watch while I do this job. It will be a slow grind, but I gotta do what I gotta do. Does anyone already have a parts list and/or a needed tools list for this job? If I dont hear back, I am going item number by item number, tool by tool (via video) to figure out what I need but I would appreicate it any of you wizzes already knew the answer and could help me out.
2. I am working with a machine shop to resurface the heads, and if I am understanding it all correctly, give them the valves to install themsevles and pressure test once its all completed. Does this sound correct and the recommend way to do this ?
3. Any over arching advice ? I think the headgasket and bolts will run me about $200. I am researching EVERYTHING else I may need, because I never want to open this car up to this level again haha see below what I am planning to find and purchase ....

Parts I am going to install :

1. Valve Cover Gaskets
2. Spark Plug Tube Seals
3. CamShaft Seals (x2)
4. Thermostat
5. Thermostat Gasket
6. Water Pump
7. Timing Belt, Tensioner, Idlers
8. Front CrankShaft Seal
9. Drive Belts
10. Coolant Temp Sensor
11. PCV Valve + Gromment
12. Spark Plugs (Denso)
13. Knock Sensors
14. Knock Sensor Wiring Harness
15. Intake Manifold Gasket
16. Fuel Injector O-Ring (x6)
17. Heater/Radiator Hoses
18. Vacuum Lines/PCV Lines

Lastly --- I may go for the upper and rear main seals as well. Drips of oil here and there, might as well try to do it all, right ?

Appreciate any and all comments - this is the biggest job I have ever done, so could use any advice as I take this on next Friday ( 07/25)

Cheers

 

Rear main seal? The engine or transmission has to come out.

Your list looks pretty good.

Use ONLY TOYOTA parts or TOYOTA supplier parts (Aisin, Denso, Mitsuboshi, etc). Do NOT buy them from ebay or Amazon. There are too many counterfeits to navigate. You can google "Counterfeit TOYOTA parts" and see. NO part is safe and they don't work for long. This is ESPECIALLY true of the sensors. You MUST use only OEM knock sensors.

The injector seals are NOT o-rings. Get the correct seals. I had to.

 

Okay good to know, Im not going that deep with the rear main seal. Heard about it through my research, but havent dove into what that.

I am currently running through forums and getting OEM part numbers, and then researching online retailers. Looks like YOTASHOP.COM has a ton of parts, and look very solid. Trying to determine which packages I could use, and what other one off parts I would need to add to the list... have you heard of that website ? Thanks

 

Yes, that site is legit.

I order most of my stuff from ourisman Toyota from Virginia. They have about the best discounts for a dealer that sell parts online.

 

Essentially as I am reading everything online I am coming down to TWO kits from yotashop may be 99% of what i need - however, it would double me up on Plenum Gaskets.

Head Gasket Kit
Timing Belt Kit

I think I would still need... Exhaust Manifold Gaskets, Injector Seals (see here).. thats it for now