Absy
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 40
- Scores: 0
- Reward points: 406
- Joined: 2012/07/18 21:28:49
- Location: Acacia Ridge
- Status: offline
Head Removal
So I have 2 MR2 SW20's ... one N/A, one turbo, about to pull the head off the turbo as I am fairly certain it has corroded and is getting blow by into the water jackets.. I have 2 questions, the engine in the turbo is said to be fully forged, with JE pistons, JE moly rings, Eagle rods with ARP bolts, King race series bearings throughout. Was thinking of spending a few dollars to drop in a steel head gasket instead of a graphite one (worth it or not?), but if so I am also torn between a thickness, I am told that as the engine sits it can run 20lb boost all day.
So there is one question... The second is, how much more difficult is it to do a head in the car as opposed to pulling it out?
I have uneven ground to work with so lifting a car is not an easy feat, especially if it only makes the job a little easier.
1990 3gse Targa 1990 3sgte coupe 
|
zmit
MR2 Aficionado
- Total Posts : 664
- Scores: 15
- Reward points: 5005
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Adelaide SA
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/14 12:45:36
(permalink)
Sounds like you'll find it difficult either way...
I'll be removing the head off mine soon and at the very least you'll need to remove the manifolds and then deal with the timing belt etc.
As for the head gasket, i'd definitely suggest a metal head gasket. If you do though, I'd also suggest some ARP head bolts (I'm assuming you don't already have them). The ARP bolts need re-torquing a second time though, so just bear that in mind (I'm pretty sure it's in the instructions though)
1992 SW20 GT ... and loving it...
|
Eric
QLD Moderator
- Total Posts : 1117
- Scores: 280
- Reward points: 4319
- Joined: 2012/04/06 21:41:57
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/14 13:15:47
(permalink)
I would be pulling the engine out for that job. It really isn't one you can do in the car. The tension in my SW20 is a bitch to reach and it's extremely difficult to line up everything in the car.
|
dennis the menace
QLD Moderator
- Total Posts : 745
- Scores: 45
- Reward points: 3905
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Toowoomba Queensland Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/14 14:30:04
(permalink)
Cylinder headwork is possible in situ - BUT you're going to need to get under the car anyway to access parts of the exhaust/turbo system, so the car is going to have to be raised safely anyway.
Give the job some careful thought, and my suggestion would be to move it to somewhere with a concrete floor and room around it. And if you're going to do that, then you might as well pull the engine and box and make life as easy as possible. As I've said before that - engine out gives you the chance to do the little jobs that make an MR2 smile . . .
Past-President, MR2 Owners Club Qld "There is a fine line between hobby and obsession."
|
Rob
MR2 Master
- Total Posts : 265
- Scores: 30
- Reward points: 3073
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Brisbane Queensland Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/14 16:30:12
(permalink)
if you are going to run metal head gasket i would also get your head machined at the least i had my block machined as well as a provention of future head gasket issues
its all about Carbon Fibre 91 MR2 GT Hard top 83 Porsche 911 SC Convertible MR2 OWNERS CLUB QLD - RUN COORDINATOR
|
Absy
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 40
- Scores: 0
- Reward points: 406
- Joined: 2012/07/18 21:28:49
- Location: Acacia Ridge
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/14 18:47:04
(permalink)
Ended up getting a Cometic 1.295mm MLS head gasket, with ARP head studs, it seems that I need to remove the head because the turbo is blowing pressure into the water jackets due to corrosion of the water port, but got a guy says he will weld it up and machine it for $300 AUS which I figure is pretty damn cheap, he also showed me a few other 3SGTE heads he had lying around, with the same damage saying it is fairly common. It still runs fine, just under boost it fills the head with exhaust ... so I have just parked it until I get all the bits n pieces together. Thinking I am going to do it in the car, the timing belt etc wasn't that much of a drama when I did the water pump a little while ago.
1990 3gse Targa 1990 3sgte coupe
|
Road and Track
MR2 Master
- Total Posts : 1427
- Scores: 29
- Reward points: 3770
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia Queensland Australi
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/29 22:37:09
(permalink)
almost all 3SGTE engine blocks need to have the top deck macined if you want to sucessfully run a MLS, so good chance engine has to come out.
badly corroded heads are not that common with 3S engines.
Road & Track For more information and contact details for Road & Track, clickHERE
|
dennis the menace
QLD Moderator
- Total Posts : 745
- Scores: 45
- Reward points: 3905
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Toowoomba Queensland Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/30 09:34:06
(permalink)
Following on from Terry's comment - a corroded head tends to suggest that the car hasn't enjoyed proper TLC. Using the CORRECT coolant, and keeping it maintained, is important with any modern engine. If you're having to do remedial work on the head what condition is the rest of the motor in?
" . . . said to be fully forged, with Kryptonite pistons, unobtanium rings, Schaulkelpferd rods with Stuhlgang bolts, . . ." Are you sure?
Past-President, MR2 Owners Club Qld "There is a fine line between hobby and obsession."
|
Absy
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 40
- Scores: 0
- Reward points: 406
- Joined: 2012/07/18 21:28:49
- Location: Acacia Ridge
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/30 20:19:51
(permalink)
Can't be sure until I crack the engine, I can only go by the last mechanics receipts, and well I can't say I put too much faith in that many mechanics... As for the neglect, I have no doubt it has been neglected for a while before I bought the car, plus it was sitting for 3 months, un-started, with plain water instead of coolant, when I found it. But at the price I got it for .... was still worth it.
1990 3gse Targa 1990 3sgte coupe
|
-Totenkopf-
Moderator
- Total Posts : 1356
- Scores: 18
- Reward points: 5145
- Joined: 2011/04/07 19:51:15
- Location: Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/31 16:14:13
(permalink)
You'll need the get the deck faced if you don't want combustion gases in your coolant again. Most MLS headgasket manufacturers recommend 50RA finish, minimum. I severely doubt the standard finish will suffice.
|
Absy
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 40
- Scores: 0
- Reward points: 406
- Joined: 2012/07/18 21:28:49
- Location: Acacia Ridge
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/31 20:06:43
(permalink)
cheers for the tip Totenkopf... I will definately look into that more closely.
1990 3gse Targa 1990 3sgte coupe
|
Timbo
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 49
- Scores: 1
- Reward points: 1268
- Joined: 2012/12/11 18:22:16
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/31 20:18:39
(permalink)
Hey Absy i have just been through a similar thing with my sw20 and if you follow the step by step guide http://turbomr2.com/MR2/HowTo/Engine_Upgrade/Removal/Removing_the_3SGTE-01.htm you'll see that there is not all that much involved with dropping the motor. It would be about least twice the work to get the head off in the car some stuff would be really frustrating if you don't have experience with these engines.
|
Absy
MR2 Enthusiast
- Total Posts : 40
- Scores: 0
- Reward points: 406
- Joined: 2012/07/18 21:28:49
- Location: Acacia Ridge
- Status: offline
Re: Head Removal
2013/10/31 20:39:05
(permalink)
Cheers Timbo, will have a read through that soon as I get a chance.
1990 3gse Targa 1990 3sgte coupe
|