Simple rebuild questions

[wayfast73]

Im rebuilding the 3.0 out of my 2000 since it blew a rod. while taking the engine apart I noticed when the previous owner put the heads on he had the head gaskets reversed (passenger side had the left gasket, drivers side had the right). I also noticed at the front and rear on the block on both sides was big oval coolant passage, which on the felpro gasket only one was open on each side. I believe their both supposto be open? If so that would explain the truck getting so hot, but I also know theres a gasket difference on for the front wheel drive 3.0's and I wasnt sure if it was a universal gasket used for both. I know the head bolts need to be replaced whenever you take them out, but has anyone reused them with out issues? Its just a 3.0, I dont want to be dumping a ton of money into it.

 

[Psychopete]

need new head bolts. cheap is a used engine. I put an engine with 140k into my car (I knew it ran fine), sleeved the crank because I knew it leaked, new rear main, cleaned out the bottom of the oil pan, made sure the pick up was clean, water pump and dropped it in... Rebuilds are not cheap, I wouldn't dice it with an engine that had overheating problems, and has a thrown rod, but just stating an opinion, especially when there are good engines out there for a few hundred.

 

[wayfast73]

It never over heated, just got hot quick. The history on the engine is it died from bad valves, the previous owner put new heads on it, but never finished them. I bought the truck cheap and finished putting the top end together. I drove the truck for maybe 50 miles, and the rod blew. It always had good oil pressure and I cannot find a 3.0 in my area anywhere. I tried craigslist, and local yards they either dont have one, unusable, or very high miles. I was going to have the crank turned, new bearings and rings, gaskets, and a new rod/2 pistons.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

it cost me about $1,200 to go through my 94 3.0l (top to bottom) and that isnt including the machining costs. your cost will be lower depending on how much you replace, but if it was getting hot quickly and then you blew a rod, id tear it all the way down to get a better feel for theoverall condition of the engine and then se what needs replacing and what can be reused. otherwise youre going to pass it on to the next guy just like the last guy did to you. BUT, it is still a 3.0l................

 

[JFortner5]

I know that 3.0L's have a passenger and driver side head gasket, and one side should be marked "UP."

 

[jarfly]

On the head bolts. I reused mine, Mabey I got lucky? I just torqed them down a bit more. Engine runs fine. But there is no way, I would invest 1200 bucks in a 3.0.Find another engine some were. Keep looking.

 

[JP02XLT]

You cant re-use the Torque to Yield bolts, Head bolts are designed to stretch a given amount, If you over torque TTY bolts you are actually over stretching them and they have less clamping force. Its a failure to happen. I am sure if you went back and tested them after a heat cycle you would find they would be less than the required torque.

Look for a Taurus engine, I bought mine for ~$200, complete with 20K miles on it. Use your induction package, swap the head gaskets, water pump & accessories, you would have about $350 in it all said an done.

JP02XLT

 

[wayfast73]

I'm keeping my eyes open, I just have not found one yet. The p/o told me he stalled the truck in water, and it did not want to crank after until it was drained so I think he hydrolocked that cylinder and bent the rod then when I drove it it finally let go. The engine is on the stand stripped down, the bearings are fine my fingernail will not catch on any of the journals. The one for the rod that broke just needs to be polished with some croakers cloth but it is not scratched up. I checked the crank with a dial indicator and for a dailer driver it looks like it will work. Ill order a gasket set, the rod, pistons, and headbolts unless I find one.