Well the crank pulley bolt didn't put up much of a battle after. I burned out a hole to suit a 19mm impact socket in piece of 50x50 box steel. I lined up the 2 dowel holes and drilled them. I then found the longest pipe I had and bang. Job done

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The timing belt had been change before but I'm not chancing it after seeing this.

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Crank pulley came off handy and lower cover. Next up I took off the alternator and removed the thermostat housing. Pretty grim looking in here

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Next on the list is to remove the camshafts.

Good progress going there, but jesus its a dirty little fecker inside, will you need to get the block flushed out, would probably be worth doing.

slipsliderg wrote:
Good progress going there, but jesus its a dirty little fecker inside, will you need to get the block flushed out, would probably be worth doing.
Meeting a bloke next Friday. He's going to pressure test and check the heads and re seat valves etc.....He's also talking the block to be flushed. Seems to me she was left up with some kind of rad weld in it?!
Got the cams and heads off yesterday

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Rear bank off first. These 3 cylinders are fairly dirty looking but the gasket seemed to be working.

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The locker in the background came for a work job last week. Perfect timing. It's now fairly full of all parts labeled :)

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2 intake valves stuck open not sure why but hopefully not bent!

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The front bank was much cleaner.

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I'm enjoying the progress so far. Next move i think is oil sump & pump off. Take out oil baffle. A quick cleaning and off it goes for some tlc!

Keep the pics and progress coming!

Hopefully you won't find any fossilised bits on there. Working on the 3VZ is a pleasure, although I'm not keen on the idea of taking mine out again, I kind of miss working on it (don't tell the wife!).

No harm dropping in some forged pistons while you are there... I vote for a turbo conversion also!

Quandry wrote:
No harm dropping in some forged pistons while you are there... I vote for a turbo conversion also!
Still waiting on those lotto numbers to come in!

Sent off the heads and block today to get checked out and cleaned up. Last few pics before I loaded it up


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Won't know any more until the end of next week now!

Hope everything is OK, fingers crossed. If there is any issues with it let me know.

slipsliderg wrote:
Hope everything is OK, fingers crossed. If there is any issues with it let me know.
Doubt if there'll be any issues. After doing my own bit of a clean up she looks fairly sound!

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I've been tidying up a few bits while waiting on the block and heads to come back.
Rocker covers cleaned up and sprayed
Before

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After

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Engine cover primed and center sprayed

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Finished

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Next up is the plenum. I'm going with just black and silver. I was thinking all sorts of colours but keeping it simple for now

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I dropped in the valve seals to the guy who's doing the heads for me tonight. He says the heads are not warped and in good overal condition. But I have a couple of bent valves. Not sure how this can be? It's a not interference engine and even though all timing marks where %100 matching up before stripping it down? Any thoughts?! He says I should have it back Saturday week :)

They're non-interference as long as the spring is doing its job. Maybe some springs collapsed or bound, or maybe when the timing belt was changed they didn't time it right?

Great thread mate- kc!

Don't know myself, drop me a PM if you need new valves.

Still no engine back yet The block was stripped today and it turns out we've a few issues here.
Pistons are good but the rings are caked. Main bearing and big end bearing are getting changed. Trust washers are also being replaced.
Parts will be in on Tuesday and he says I'm looking at the end of next week. Should be as good as new after this

www.ebay.com/itm/Lexus-ES300-Toyota-Camr...;hash=item45f7404e9f
Oversized 0.50
Ordered these today. Anxious wait begins.

Exciting times ahead, hope the rebuild goes smoothly for you.

Did you go for NPR by recommendation or review ? I can't say I have heard of them before.

Marty J wrote:
Exciting times ahead, hope the rebuild goes smoothly for you.

Did you go for NPR by recommendation or review ? I can't say I have heard of them before.
Recommend by Paul Woods Marty! Not being done for hp gains. I'm hoping to overcome some cylinder damage

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Thats the worst of 3 cylinder. The other 3 like new.

That's nasty looking.

Which explains why your going with the oversize pistons.

Should be a good option if Mr V6 himself is suggesting them!

Look what the postman dropped in today
The build continues

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That was quick Savage

Wow, they do look lovely, I want one to have on the wall as an ornament!

Very nice indeed Smurfster

Update time! All bits and pieces have been collected and are now back in the shed for reassemble
0.5 oversized pistons (not sure on cc difference?)

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Block nice and smooth (metal HG's in the future?)

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Sump prepared ready to be put on.

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Next job is to put the heads back on and torque up!

Heads are torqued on and I've started getting the cam covers back on. Starting to look good

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Cleaned the rocker cover bolts and new washer seals.

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All new seals and gaskets. Might get a bit more done at it tonight

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Had to set the backlash on cams cogs! Tricky little piece of work!

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Need to source a timing belt kit now

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Very nice Tristan, are you using some grease on the cams to minimise and start up damage. I have seen most engine builders put a red type grease on the cams while building up the engines.

Sorry if this info is a bit late.

Im going to ask, even though you probably dont want to knwo yourself.. how much has the v6 cost you so far to buy and rebuild?

Also, lovely work!

All cams are oiled up Slipesliderg. Nearly made a boo boo on setting the backlash on the cogs! Sorted now tho.

Not sure on costs yet Richard. Running around €1000 all in so far on the engine

Not bad, for what will basically be a fresh engine thats cheap.. i rang cork engines to see how much they would rebuild my 3sge for and he estimated 1500-2000.. it was a bit of an ouch.. ill stick to second hand moment haha

Have you called joe in Galway? Big savings if you can do the labour yourself!

Any idea how much this will affect your insurance? I know you'll probably need an engineer's report, but how will they decide on your premium?