3SGTE Block issues

[fivebob]

In the meantime I can confirm that the casting at the front end has been changed to acommodate a larger oil pump relative to the gen 3 NA and turbo, redtop 3SGE, and presumably Caldina?

The Caldina has a different front casting with the crank sensor mounts, the oil pump is a different part # to the Gen III, but I don't know if it's any larger. The Gen III did the quick and dirty mod of adding an extra tooth to the pump drive, hence the one tooth longer cambelt, but AFAIK the Caldina belt is the same as the Gen III. So maybe the upgraded the pump.

I've got FarmerDave's old one that will never go into another engine, and a Gen II one that won't be used so one day I might get around to comparing them.

The strengthening modification at the top front corner is also present.

That mod has been incorporated into all new GenII & Gen III short blocks, maybe because it's not worth Toyota having seperate castings, but more likely because they thought it made sense to fix the fault in all blocks.

[anthonym]

The Caldina has a different front casting with the crank sensor mounts,

The sump is different too

the oil pump is a different part # to the Gen III, but I don't know if it's any larger. The Gen III did the quick and dirty mod of adding an extra tooth to the pump drive, hence the one tooth longer cambelt, but AFAIK the Caldina belt is the same as the Gen III. So maybe the upgraded the pump.

The actual oil pump (rotor etc) in the Altezza engine is 3mm deeper than the gen III and red top 3SGE (yes dave, if you're reading this I still have your oil pump ).

[RomanV]

Yes I am reading this Anthony, and thats fine.

It wont be required by me for a while yet, and dont worry I will pester the hell out of you when it is.

Like I have mentioned earlier, you are welcome to take back any other parts that I have, if you want to compare them to the Altezza engine bits. As this is something that I am interested in too.

Although Im sure that you have already given the redtop a good going over.

[RomanV]

That mod has been incorporated into all new GenII & Gen III short blocks, maybe because it's not worth Toyota having seperate castings, but more likely because they thought it made sense to fix the fault in all blocks.

What do you mean by *new*?

Does toyota still manufacture these old blocks?

I suppose they would have to, to satiate MR2OCs lust for Gen2 bits. 450hp must take its toll on engine blocks.

[fivebob]

What do you mean by *new*?

As in you order a new short block from Toyota and you get the modified casting.

[RomanV]

Aaah okay, that makes sense.

Excuse my ignorance, but how did they modify the block, and what was the deficiency in the earler one?

Also when was this revision made?

[fivebob]

Notice the casting lump on the water pump end (left side of this pic) on the block at the top.

To stop things like this happening http://www.mrcontrols.com/images/badblock1.jpg

[RomanV]

Yikes.

[anthonym]

Aaah okay, that makes sense.

Excuse my ignorance, but how did they modify the block, and what was the deficiency in the earler one?

Also when was this revision made?

Not sure, somewhere between 1996 and 1998, but yours has it so it's OK .

[RomanV]

Yeah well I wasnt worried about it, my engine will only make the stock(ish) amount of power anyway.

Its just that I have never heard of this before.
Does it only occur to highly tuned engines, or is this happening to 'stock' engine blocks?

Surely it cant have been too bigger a problem if it took them till 96ish to figure it out?

[Mr Revhead]

theres a supersession in the blocks listed 1st 98.... for the sw20 turbos
and a change in 12 97 in the n/a
does that help?

interestingly the n/a 3sge 3sgte in the sw20 and st215 3sgte blocks all have very different part numbers, though that doesnt nessicarily mean they where different basic castings