Portland, OR T4WD Needs Your Help

[Don]

Hello T4WD!

I have a really nice '83 SR5 T4WD named Oscar that needs help. I believe it will need a new head gasket but I haven't done a compression test to confirm. I would like to find someone who is comfortable working on these wagons to help me diagnose the problem and help with the repair. I live in an apartment and don't have a garage space to do the work, so I am hoping to find someone in the Portland, OR area who may have a covered place to park the vehicle while repairs are done. I am happy to compensate someone for their time and generosity and I also have some spare parts like CV Axles and a newly fabricated drive line. You can message me here or call/text 503-440-7277.

Thank you all so much!

[xirdneh]

be sure to read "repair guides" for info on the stuff you want to do
also some vids on utube
are you over heating/loosing coolant/coolant in oil?
or is it running rough/lack of power like headgasket blown between cylinders?
compression test may not tell if its coolant type of leaky headgasket

[dlb]

the most obvious signs of a bad head gasket are coolant consumption despite no visible external leaks, lack of power/rough running, billowing white smoke out the exhaust, coolant in the oil/oil looks like chocolate milkshake, running hot despite all cooling system components being confirmed in good working order, remove spark plugs and crank engine and see if coolant shoots out of spark plug holes. those are the ways i have been able to tell a bad head gasket.

compression tests can also work but i find they don't show marginal, slow-leaking head gaskets. and if you've got one or more of the other symptoms i've already mentioned, you probably don't need a compression test to tell you the HG is bad.

[Don]

Thanks for the replies xirdneh and dlb, the head gasket is definitely bad, when it was running it was losing lots of coolant. I am in a bit of a pinch because the registration is expired and the Portland parking patrol has taken note, issuing me a hefty ticket. I would like to find someone in the Portland area willing to help a lad out. I am somewhat mechanically inclined, have replaced a drive line, water pump, fan clutch, and alternator but these repairs were all on my Toyota Van. I think I'd be willing to take a crack at fixing the head gasket on the T4WD but I don't have a covered area to do it. Seeking a kind Tercel Wagon lover who'd be willing to lend me their shop/garage space to help get Oscar back up and running and update his tags.