Leaking exhaust manifold gasket

[masonlk]

Hey Derek, just wondering how you're doing. Hope it's getting resolved.

[toyotafreak]

Thanks for asking.

I made a career change (to sales) last fall and the first major program I was given to chase is in proposal phase right now. This totally sucks because as soon as we submit the proposal, I'm going to want to escape to Havasu with the family I used to know, while the kids from said family still have some time off-track.

Unfortunately, by boat is non mission capable, and I haven't been able to remember to call Mr. Nichtern during reasonable times of day, East Coast time. Would anyone be willing to forward me his email address? If so, send it to derek.boyer@L-3com.com purdy please.

[cyclone]

So mister crazy control freak, micromanaging yuppie. When are you going to give yourself a day or two to meet other Epic owners? Sorry about being blunt, I've been there and life is way too short. We all dig you here, Derek. Place is not right without you.

[toyotafreak]

Thanks Pete. I came into work, let's see....20 hours ago. Got paid for, let's see....zero of them. Hmmm. Off Friday, too. Well it was Friday. Back in the day 20 hours in a row meant like a drysuit for the kid, or most of a weekend away. Those days usually ended in something getting fixed or flown. Now it means something different.

I'm going to have to gather some energy to make a case to Toyota that my header was damaged at the factory or dealership. No stinking way the guys before me did this. I don't even really think it could've been the dealer - you'd really have to get a rund at thing with a big stick to dent the valve cover prying down low. Maybe during an engine alignment, but geez, you'd really have to crank that thing.

My take on the TMS factory, at least in March of 2000, was that each hull was a bit shall we say 'custom'. The only robots in Florida are in the belly of the Shuttle.

Peace, huggybear.

[toyotafreak]

Man, that last post is just about unintelligible. That was one crazy weekend, but I got the proposal out on time and it looked pretty good.

I bent the manifold back into shape last night. With Mr. Cohn's recommendation that it wasn't a Toyota problem, I don't have high hopes for getting TMS to break loose a new manifold. We're heading to Havasu this weekend, so I've run out of time.

The new and improved surface is nearly straight around the perimeter of the ports. It's not laser-straight, but dang, it's a helluva lot better than shown in these pics.

BTW, based on the amount of ft/lbs required to get these back into shape, and the number of spots required to be worked, I can honestly say that there's no friggin way that this could have happened by prying on the thing during an engine alignment. I have zero doubt that this happened at the factory while the engine was being handled outside the boat. Based on other evidence where the ski pole frame mounts and the engine frame mounts shown in the pictures, it's apparent to me that the factory had to do a little handiwork when they were putting C029 together. Except for the damaged exhaust manifold and valve cover, they got it all together before it left, and that's the important part. I have no illusions that an S22 built in the first couple months of 2000 was just an assembly line.

[Rambling Wreck]

TF, based on my experience, nothing is ever going to be a Toyota problem. My original build up sheet shows that my boat has a depth finder but the factory forgot to install it. However, it is not their problem!!! (Breakaway, I truly am over it but will use it as an example when needed)

This website is a jewel particularly since we are on our own unless we need parts at retail. Another reason we need your continued participation!!

[toyotafreak]

To be fair, Mr. Nichtern reimbursed me nearly $1K out of TMS money in 2003 to fix some shoddy Phil Dill dealership work. He could just as easily told me to go after the dealer. That's goodwill right there.

The exhaust thing is different in that there's a good chance it came from the factory. Also, it's not really a penny out of pocket for them, just loss of inventory. I will end up having to repair or replace the valve cover soon.

My bigger problem with Toyota is that my 60K, 2003 Sequoia appears to need $2K worth of computers replaced (ABS, VSC, TRAC all lit), the A/C clutch/compressor is squeeling, the >$1K moonroof squeaks despite a TSB and two trips to the dealer, I had to MacGuyver the ceiling message center because a button broke and you can't replace buttons (or lamps, of which most had burnt) without replacing the nearly $1K console, and I've got to take the dash half apart to replace the Drive indicator light. All the while, my made in Japan '95 pickup soldiers on towards 190K despite horrible maintenance on my part.

Enough venting. We're going to Laughlin/Lake Mojave for two days and then Havasu for seven. Sweet. Hope the thing fires up just right tonight.

[toyotafreak]

Allrighty then. No more exhaust leaks. Muy bien. The valve cover dent is ugly and will need to be removed and welded at a minimum, but knowing me, it just might be a few years down the road. Increase the inpection frequency and call it good.