What’s the Best Way to Handle a Damaged Crankshaft?

While rebuilding an ’85 Toyota pickup truck, one member asks: Is it best to just buy a new crankshaft, or have the original one repolished?

YotaTech forum member NMyers10 has a vintage Toyota truck and a couple of questions about it as he’s working to rebuild it in his home garage.

“This pickup is also a work pickup that rarely sees the highway, so I’m trying to get it back going without putting a ton a money into it.”

The new forum member posted his queries to the forums this week in a thread titled “85 22RE Rebuild” and posed these questions:

“Recently, I had a problem with 85 Toyota pickup 22re valve seat falling. Head was damaged along with top of no. 1 piston. I purchased a new head and decided to take a closer look at the bottom end while the engine was apart. No. 3 connecting rod bearing was bad, and appears as crankshaft is damaged. I will be replacing all the main bearings and connecting rod bearings. Is it best to just buy a new crankshaft, or have the original one repolished? Also, should I replace all four pistons and rings, or just the damaged one?”

Got answers and advice? Why not head over to the YotaTech forums and help out a fellow Toyota truck owner? Then join in the conversations and share some shots of your home project build or mod!

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David Ciminelli

Los Angeles-based journalist David Ciminelli has covered everything from high-profile Lexus and Toyota reveals to reality TV show competitions focusing on custom automotive mods. He considers the "Droptops & Dirt" event in Malibu, “Luftgekühlt” and Sunset GT among his favorite automotive events to cover.

He has also interviewed artists like Megadeth and Jennifer Lopez, handled red carpet interviews at the MTV VMAs, and covered rock icons Rush getting a star on Hollywood Boulevard for media including The Hollywood Reporter, Daily Variety, Out Magazine, IN Los Angeles and more. His byline has also appeared in Billboard, Ad Week, Backstage and Art Voice.

Currently, David contributes to over a dozen automotive websites, including Ford Truck Enthusiasts, Club Lexus, Rennlist, Chevrolet Forum, Corvette Forum, Team Speed and Harley-Davidson Forums.