Is this block $&#$%?

[sergei]

Just need to confirm that this block is gone?

[Mr Revhead]

I wouldn't think so. I think it would depend on where the hole is in relation to the fire ring. I assume that's where the gasket was leaking?
Possibly fill it in with some metal repair stuff to give more support to the gasket.

[Flannelman]

Cheap answer, yes

[sergei]

I wouldn't think so. I think it would depend on where the hole is in relation to the fire ring. I assume that's where the gasket was leaking?
Possibly fill it in with some metal repair stuff to give more support to the gasket.

Gasket was slowly leaking across all four cylinders. Interesting thing that compression test revealed a healthy 14bars on all four with minimal deviation. I only confirmed leaking gasket when I applied 10bars of compressed air inside of cylinders and got bubbling coolant.

MAGN1T!!!!

[sergei]

People! Please don't put straight water in your cooling system, and replace coolant once in a while. Otherwise who ever inherits your vehicle get head aches like these.

[Grrrrrrr!]

Doesn't look great, I'd be looking at skimming the block to get a good surface for the gasket to seal against. Depends on the condition of the rest of it tho, and whether you would be happy with a slight compression increase.

[sergei]

Doesn't look great, I'd be looking at skimming the block to get a good surface for the gasket to seal against. Depends on the condition of the rest of it tho, and whether you would be happy with a slight compression increase.

There are more issues, which I am weighing on getting gen3 3STGE instead.

problem #1: the corrosion in the block.
problem #2: pitting on piston and head cylinder#2 (I guess detonation when it was overboosting)
problem #3: weird damage on one of the shims (cam looks fine, but shim is $&#$% - scoured as somebody went at it with a file).
problem #4: Bottom end is a bit noisy (can't hear it without knock sensor headphones).

Should have bought a Honda.

[Mr Revhead]

Yeah a skim for sure!
Then follow these instructions:
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/fix-a- ... xy-putty#b

[sergei]

This looks like a crack :




Here is the shim:

[RomanV]

Any damage to the camshaft thats on that shim?

[crispy'86]

How many spare blocks have you got Sergei? I had this exact dilemma when i did the race motor in my Fx, well my low budget build std race motor. Had ongoing head gasket troubles a.k.a took 3 times to start it in morning and then eventually picked up in the revs, went alright but got sick of it. Pulled engine out after other troubles and wasn't happy with the block surface, very similar to yours. Easiest would be get 2nd hand imported engine??

[sergei]

Any damage to the camshaft thats on that shim?

No damage on camshaft what so ever, which is very odd...

[sergei]

How many spare blocks have you got Sergei? I had this exact dilemma when i did the race motor in my Fx, well my low budget build std race motor. Had ongoing head gasket troubles a.k.a took 3 times to start it in morning and then eventually picked up in the revs, went alright but got sick of it. Pulled engine out after other troubles and wasn't happy with the block surface, very similar to yours. Easiest would be get 2nd hand imported engine??

Yeah, I am inclined towards second hand imported engine, or even ST205 front cut.

[DVSMOTORSPORT]

Personally Id be stripping that engine, checking out the crank, bores and pistons etc. If all checks out ok, get some new rings and bearings, get the head and block surfaced skimmed (even try and the the corroded areas tig welded and built up) and hardness tested, maybe a slightly thicker head gasket if you dont want the extra compression. All that could be done (if you strip and assemble the engine) for under a grand.

As for the shim, flick it out and replace with the same size or just flick it over, the cam doesnt run on that part of the shim anyway.

[iOnic]

Did that on my 4EFE+T. Just welded it up, got it surfaced and fitted a new headgasket. Kept going for another 18 months before the car got written off.

[crispy'86]

problem #4: Bottom end is a bit noisy (can't hear it without knock sensor headphones).

Which may indicate some issue with big end bearings, had this same fault with an sv12 camry i bought off mate few years ago. Ended up being big end bearings which had a catastrophic failure

[Grotty]

MAGN1T!!!!

isn't that what he said in the last post about 3sgte's on here somewhere

I had that happen to a 3sgte block i had, cracked in the same spot, and another 3sgte crack clean from bore to bore. between 2 and 3 cylinder.

[Akane]

I don't get it, you're earning shitloads of money, why don't you just get a nice Gen 3 and be done with the headache?

[sergei]

MAGN1T!!!!

isn't that what he said in the last post about 3sgte's on here somewhere

He said that because my ST205 had cracked radiator tank it must have blown head gasket. The problem with that statement, is that it was wrong car. This ST165 that has blown head gasket and it is due to obvious reasons - it had water instead of ethylene glycol mixture most of its life before I have purchased it. And in fact the head gasket was a bit leaky - car would not overheat - it would just pressurise the cooling system, not fully blown yet. Oh and it didn't crack the radiator .

The ST205 on other hand never had straight tap water, there are no signs of corrosion, or gasket leaking. Even though it had cracked radiator, it was due to age and heat. Radiator replaced, and 70000kms later, no sign of leaking gasket.

[sergei]

I don't get it, you're earning shitloads of money, why don't you just get a nice Gen 3 and be done with the headache?

That is what I am thinking... To get Gen3 , I will need pretty much complete engine (minus turbo, intercooler, A/C pump and random bits).
I will also need to get new clutch, all the cambelt related stuff, all seals, rewire it and send it off to dyno again. All adds up to a bit of $$$ and time...