3FE with a Cracked piston

[sbisig]

I'm posting the question here (rather than the 80-series forum) because its a 3FE question.

I have a 92 FJ80 with about 198k.

The engine developed a sudden engine knock so I home. Oil pressure was good.

After I got it home, I ran a compression test and found the following:

#1 - 130
#2 - 40
#3 - 130
#4 - 140
#5 - 145
#6 - 145

I just finished pulling the head and found that the #2 piston cracked around one edge and the debris from the piston was fused into the top of the piston and was apparently hitting
the bottom of the head. There is very slight vertical scratch in the #2 wall (just barely able to catch with a fingernail). Obviously the head needs to be shaved.

a very bad picture - its good enough to get the idea






All the other pistons look good. There is only a slight ridge at the top of the cylinders if any at all.

What would you do in this situation? Is this worth attempting to fix? (ie; throw in a new set of pistons and rings, head job, etc)

Or would that be a waste of time and I should be looking for another 3fe (with unknown condition)?

I wish I had the funds for a rebuild but that's not in the budget.

Thanks.

Steve

[Wile E Coyote]

You say " I wish I had the funds for a rebuild..." however my take on this is that a quick in and out fix is over half the way to an acceptable rebuild. The #2 cyl bore will likely need cleaning up. Since $ is an issue, I wouldn't recommend a Vortec swap, but now would be a fine excuse. If you have a trusted machine shop, and can do all but the machine work, I'd fix what you have now. If you'd be paying a shop for much or all of the work, then I'd think good used replacement motor. You bring up the 'unknown' factor in a replacement, which is a huge motivator in my book to fix the present motor.

In summary, I say a full rebuild vs. V8 swap would be the best use of your precious $, but a bandaid fix would be cheapest if the block/crank, etc are servicable in your own garage.

[sbisig]

I read several posts/articles on converting 60-series to a 2fe. I have an offer on a 1983 2f engine for a good price. I know some fabbing of brackets would be required.

My only question would be if anybody would know if the taller block will fit in an 80-series. I thought I read somewhere there are clearance issues.

Steve

[pappy]

Originally Posted by sbisig

My only question would be if anybody would know if the taller block will fit in an 80-series. I thought I read somewhere there are clearance issues.

In a FJ62 it's a tight fit under the hood, but it fits. I think you are treading on virgin ground doing the 2FE swap in a FJ80. Let us know how it turns out.

Do they make body lifts for 80-series?

PS, tonkota (Arron) here at MUD did the swap in the FJ62 written up in Toyota Trails. He is the unofficial keeper of the 2FE registry.

[sbisig]

That's what I was afraid of because I couldn't find any info searching.

Steve

[Randy88FJ62]

my vote would be for a used 3FE swap. A short block would be cheaper in my opinion. Swapping with the same engine isn't hard.

Rebuild your 3FE or get a used short block. I wouldn't go for a 2FE.

[landcruiserman]

I don't know if good pistons and crank would help you out.
I'm getting ready to pull my 3fe out of my 1988 fj62.
The one in my rebuild project had a cracked block where the engine mount bracket bolts to the block. The inside of the block is in good shape. IE pistons crank and so on. But the block is junk. I'm just going to part out the engine head efi and so on.
This engine has 152,000 miles on it.

I'm located in sherwood Oregon. Let me know if i can be of any help.

Good Luck
Brian

[sbisig]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.

My guess is that by time I have the head shaved, purchase a set of pistons, rings and a gasket set, it may be cheaper for a complete donor engine.

Has recently anybody priced any of these items?

Steve

PS - If anybody has a reasonably priced running complete 3FE in the Pacific Northwest, let me know.

[pappy]

Originally Posted by sbisig

My guess is that by time I have the head shaved, purchase a set of pistons, rings and a gasket set, it may be cheaper for a complete donor engine.

Has recently anybody priced any of these items?

I purchased the gaskets and other rebuild parts à la carte from CruiserDan awhile back when I had my 2FE engine built. I didn't purchase pistions/rings/bearings as they were best provided by the engine builder. Seems the total package wasn't that much, maybe $300. I'd have to dig for the ticket to make sure.

[sbisig]

I could easily see a basic repair easily costing more than $1000 when I add in the work on the head.

Decision time.

Steve

[ksollinger]

Steve,
I've still got the engine and there is no rush to buy it, it's just taking up space in my garage. If your in the seattle area you can swing by and take a look at it. I live in the green lake area and i'm off mondays and tuesdays. PM me if you need my phone number. I'm also looking for some 33 inch tires if you want to trade.
-Kelly

[sbisig]

Kelly,

I think I'm going to pass on the 2F engine. Great deal but there are too many unknowns with it in an 80-series. I have yet to find a post where someone installed one successfully and thought it was an improvement over the 3FE.

Steve

[ksollinger]

No Worries Steve. If you need any measurments or dimensions on the 2f let me know, it's just sitting on an engine stand in my garage taking up valuable space.Best of luck to you.
-Kelly

[sbisig]

Does anybody know if the 60-series 3FEs are the exact same as the 80-series? Specifically, are all the bolt holes for brackets/accessories the same on both series of engines.

Steve

[pappy]

I believe the answer is yes. What changes are the electronics. Different ECU, coil/ingitor, emission VSVs.