Quarantine things, longish post

"Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's" (africantacoman)
04/06/2020 at 21:16 • Filed to: None

The world is a crazy chaotic place, and like many others I have found myself with some free time. My classes have all been moved to online only, and I was furloughed from my job at Lexus on March 20th. No idea when we will fully open back up.

Bu t hey car stuff! My 1998 LS400 decided it did not want to be a self-propelled machine anymore and spat all the bo lts out of the #1 cam pulley about 6 weeks ago. Interference motor, all the valves are destroyed. I did a new timing belt, water pump, and other goodies to this car back in March 2019 , and I did not touch the cam bolts. I had plans to put some BC coilovers on it, a real exhaust (not a 3" straight pipe, but now I miss it), some 18" wheels, and do a full paint correction on it. Life has other plans;

That is not supposed to be crooked, and I think one of the VVTi cam seals is leaking now too.

So the 98 will either need a new engine, or I will sell it. A part of me wants to try swapping the engine, even though I don’t have the space or tools to do so and I’ve ne ver used an engine hoist. Another problem is that VVTi 1UZ’s go for about $1,000 which is just too pricey for me. Not sure what I’ll do , my eyes are peeled on craigslist, FB marketplace and all that for LS’s or 1UZ’s.

This leaves me with my rusty but trusty 1997 LS400; 222,000 miles and most of the rubber bushings are completely shot. We’ve had some warm-ish weather lately and with all this free time, I’ve started replacing the rear bushings for the trailing and lateral arms. I’m putting in some po lyurethane bushings since they’re cheap and easy to install without a press. The trailing arm bushings were GONE and that alone made a big difference, lateral arm bushings will be here in a few days;

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I also painted the valve covers while replacing the gaskets on the old boat this afternoon. They’d been seeping for like 2 years and the burnt oil smell was very un-Lexus like.

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Stay busy and sane Oppo!

DISCUSSION (10)

interstate366, now In The Industry > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
04/06/2020 at 22:08

Good to know the VVTi pulley leak is more than just a JZ thing, I guess...

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/06/2020 at 22:24

Do the cam shafts also have to come out of the head to replace the seals on the JZ’s?

RacinBob > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
04/06/2020 at 23:37

Why not change both heads? Its just the valves that are bent.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
04/07/2020 at 07:17

I don’t think so. Just (“just”) taking the timing belt off.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/07/2020 at 19:24

I replaced the cam shaft seals on this non-VVTi 1UZ like 2 years ago. Since its non-vvti, its just a matter of pulling out the seal and hammering in another. The VVTi 1UZ does require cam removal, and some special tools, and I really never want to do that.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > RacinBob
04/07/2020 at 19:27

Well I haven’t actually torn it down to see how destroyed the heads are. When it died, it was dark and late at night and I did try cranking the engine over for a 10 or so seconds. It sounded like it had no compression and was a bit rattly (broken valves in cylinders.) The pistons and cylinder walls are almost definitely fucked.

I also cannot find 1uz VVTi heads that are complete and actually reasonably priced . I keep checking out my local U-Pull-It but they have never had a VVTi LS400.

interstate366, now In The Industry > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
04/07/2020 at 21:07

Yeah, I’ve got a GS300 (which I refer to as an Aristo because I’ve bought and installed all the JDM badging for it) and it has the usual VVTi pulley leak. I’ve been putting off replacing the seal because of how much of a pain it is to take out and fix.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > interstate366, now In The Industry
04/07/2020 at 21:57

And your Aristo is beautiful, I keep my eyes out for GS400's since I would like something sportier than my LS’s. And I need that V8 sound.

I would be in constant fear of timing slipping or failing if I knew I had a seal leaking. I’ m guessing yours is a very small amount.

RacinBob > Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's
04/08/2020 at 08:12

I would not assume it is borked yet. I’ve had my Type R twice bend valves at 8000 RPM due to valve float and saved both the head and the block. both times.

What I expect you will find when you pull the head are some bent valves and some broken valve guides, The top of the pistons and also the combustion chamber will have some pic markes from where the guide pieces has hit has hit but that is it, Put some new heads on it and sand off the sharp edges on the pistons and call it quits.

Ps absolutely make sure to clean the intake manifold of any debris as that is where the broken guides likely are. If you don’t, when you reassemble the engine the tragedy will be repeated.

I must be an expert at bent valves. I expect that will be it.

Bylan - Hoarder of LS400's > RacinBob
04/08/2020 at 21:31

Hmm a part of me does kind of have to know what the extent of the damage is. I wish parts weren't super difficult to find. I will share with Oppo what I end up doing.