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**kiasis** · 07-26-2008, 02:15 AM

1st - let me back up Locker on the weight issue. That 1ZZ is an aluminum block. Holy crap do our 3SFE/3SGE cast iron blocks ever weigh more than that!!!

In all likelihood, whatever caused you to blow two sets of rings will probably lead to a third set. If you've got a bad crank or the cylinders are worn too wide or out of shape, no ring job is gonna help for very long. I really recommend pulling the engine, taking it apart, and having the head and block decked and the block measured to see if you need boring and oversized rings (at least, if not new oversized pistons). Even if everything checks out okay, you can get a professional hone job pretty cheap so your new rings do their job. IMO, you are wasting your time w/ 198K miles if you don't hone the cylinders.

A ring job is listed as a 14-hr job in the shop (w/ PS and A/C). Replacing the entire engine is only listed as a 16-hr job. Short-block alone is listed as a 20-hr job. You really wanna try and do this from the bottom???

Okay, so you don't want to do it that way. Yeah, you can drop it from the bottom after pulling the crank pulley and separating the flywheel. This WILL BE a major pain in the ass and probably take as much time as pulling the engine from the top. In my opinion, you will spend as much or more time going in from the bottom, and ultimately be less happy with the results.

Hell, even out here in expensive California, I can rent a cherry picker for $20/day. Have everything else done and ready to go and you'll need it for about 30 minutes while you transfer the engine to a stand (preferable) or the ground. Then it comes apart very easy and quickly.

I'm rebuilding my 3SGE w/ about $250 worth of machine shop work and $300 worth of new pistons, rings, washers, gaskets, etc. For that $250, I got the head/block pressure tested and decked, cylinders honed and measured, everything blasted, hot-tanked, and the block repainted. My time makes up the rest difference between that and a $1,500 rebuilt engine. And, yes, this is my first ever engine rebuild, and yes, I did spend another couple hundred on tools (etc) that I'll use in the future (it's way too much fun). That, the BGB, this website, st162.com, and celicatech.com are all it takes, IMO. Oh yeah, and lots of patience, zip-loc baggies, and a sharpie/masking tape to label the hell outta everything.

Or buy a used 3SFE for $200-300 and hope it's in good shape (I'm rebuilding mine after two used engines both sucked and crapped out, but maybe you'll be luckier than me).

07-26-2008, 02:15 AM	#6 (permalink)
kiasis Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 57 Join Date: Aug 2007 Last On: 10-11-2008 02:12 PM Vehicle: 88GTS	Re: Droppin' a 3SFE 1st - let me back up Locker on the weight issue. That 1ZZ is an aluminum block. Holy crap do our 3SFE/3SGE cast iron blocks ever weigh more than that!!! In all likelihood, whatever caused you to blow two sets of rings will probably lead to a third set. If you've got a bad crank or the cylinders are worn too wide or out of shape, no ring job is gonna help for very long. I really recommend pulling the engine, taking it apart, and having the head and block decked and the block measured to see if you need boring and oversized rings (at least, if not new oversized pistons). Even if everything checks out okay, you can get a professional hone job pretty cheap so your new rings do their job. IMO, you are wasting your time w/ 198K miles if you don't hone the cylinders. A ring job is listed as a 14-hr job in the shop (w/ PS and A/C). Replacing the entire engine is only listed as a 16-hr job. Short-block alone is listed as a 20-hr job. You really wanna try and do this from the bottom??? Okay, so you don't want to do it that way. Yeah, you can drop it from the bottom after pulling the crank pulley and separating the flywheel. This WILL BE a major pain in the ass and probably take as much time as pulling the engine from the top. In my opinion, you will spend as much or more time going in from the bottom, and ultimately be less happy with the results. Hell, even out here in expensive California, I can rent a cherry picker for $20/day. Have everything else done and ready to go and you'll need it for about 30 minutes while you transfer the engine to a stand (preferable) or the ground. Then it comes apart very easy and quickly. I'm rebuilding my 3SGE w/ about $250 worth of machine shop work and $300 worth of new pistons, rings, washers, gaskets, etc. For that $250, I got the head/block pressure tested and decked, cylinders honed and measured, everything blasted, hot-tanked, and the block repainted. My time makes up the rest difference between that and a $1,500 rebuilt engine. And, yes, this is my first ever engine rebuild, and yes, I did spend another couple hundred on tools (etc) that I'll use in the future (it's way too much fun). That, the BGB, this website, st162.com, and celicatech.com are all it takes, IMO. Oh yeah, and lots of patience, zip-loc baggies, and a sharpie/masking tape to label the hell outta everything. Or buy a used 3SFE for $200-300 and hope it's in good shape (I'm rebuilding mine after two used engines both sucked and crapped out, but maybe you'll be luckier than me). Last edited by kiasis : 07-26-2008 at 03:08 AM.