MK3 project

[foxy-stoat]

Well now, bought a non runner MK3 yesterday and dragged it back to my place. Had the normal oil consumption issue and ran out of oil at some point, now sounds like a tractor....actually it doesnt as after giving it a quick clean up today and cleaned up the headlights as they had the normal fading and moved it for some photos, the thing has siezed!

The body work is in good shape apart from a few scuffs, roof has a previous repair but will probably get a hard top for the winter months.

Interior is pretty good too!

Going to drop the engine on the drive and replace it with a rebuilt one which I intend on doing myself, will take loads of photos etc as there doesnt seem to be much in the way of guides in the KB. Ideally this is best done in a garage with a nice 2 post lift but hey ho.

I hear the screams and advice about putting a V6 or 2ZZ in there, but this will be for my girlfriend as a daily drive, so probably best leaving it standard, I have a MK2 V6 already.

Will be dropping the engine in the next couple of weeks so more to come........

Pics, we love pics !

[matt-mr2]

that looks a really nice project
fit a 3sgte engine you kow you want to

[jasongtr]

looks like you need to put that shed up too when the mk3 has an new engine

[foxy-stoat]

Knew i should of moved it before taking the photos!

[jasongtr]

[foxy-stoat]

Started taking out the engine today, no step by step pics but this is the progress so far:

Removed, under trays, battery, battery tray, air box, main cat pipe, gear linkage cables, plastic coil cover unbolted power lead in the little fuse box and other plugs and pipes..



Removed, wheels, calipers, unbolted all the lower arms and took off the hubs, left the drive shafts in place, unbolted the clutch pipe, had a go at the lower a/c pipes but knackered the bolts, found the main coolant pipe against the rear bulk head and covered myself in coolant, nice!

Just got to unbolt the fuel lines, bit of head scratching as to how to do it as doesnt seem to be as easy as the MK2's, get me engine dolly underneath the engine and lower the car down, unbolt all the engine mounts and hopefully the engine wont move too much, raise the car up and roll the dolly out. Simples

Took a pick of the pre cats from below, they look ok:




While crawling around, noticed an "oil breather hole" in the block which I am sure Mr T didnt put in there to allow the oil pressure to vent:



There was plenty of oil in there and no signs of oil pumping out when it was running and banging its head off.

Tried to remove the ECU plugs, but theres a dim-head security 5 star bolts so got stopped in my tracks there as only had 6 star security heads.



So thats 5 hours work, well 4 and half as lump of rust fell into my eye and stopped play while I cleaned that out.

Will have another look around before I lower it was dont want to rip off anything thats still attached.

Any ideas about the fuel lines?

[foxy-stoat]

Day 2:

My 5 sided security torx came today, so ecu came out and wiring feed thru bulkhead, found the last remaining fuel line which you squeeze and it just pops off ! Thanks Mr Woods for the tip ! Now it was ready to come out. Removed the front and rear mount bolts, and took off the crossmember....nice to see the MK3 has the same design that keeps all the water in the crossmeber like the MK2's...probably why its rusting so much!

So placed the dolly under the engine, jacked up the car and removed the stands, placed some sleepers underneath the chassis rails and lowered it dow slowly. The engine just rested on the dolly with the gearbox slightly above the dolly, unbolted the 2 side engine mounts, raised the car up back on the axle stands. Just need to collect my engine hoist from my mates garage so I can raise the back of the car up so the engine can be rolled out.

So about 4/5 hours and the engine is pretty much out.





Probably a lot safer in a garage but I did take my time and checked a few times before lowering the car down as I didnt wreck the sump!

[foxy-stoat]

After bolting the chain to the crossmember mounting points, getting the engine crane hooked up, the car can be lifted up high enough. Next I positioned the axel stands on sleeps so that the crane can be moved out the way so that the engine can be rolled out the back.

All looks safe enough to me!



Just waiting for my replacement engine and the parts to rebuild it. I had a quote for £350 excluding import tax for 4 pistons, rings, bearings, clutch, oil and water pumps, head set and head bolts. Gonna see Mr T and see what he wants for the same.

[foxy-stoat]

Since dropping the old engine and delivery of the replacement, nothing has been or will likely to be done for a long time due to buying my first house with the GF and all my spare time will be taken up with house stuff. So rather than let it sit in my garage, will pass this on to someone else who can give it time.

Although with the v6 having zero interest, will probably end up just sitting there.