Rusted 3FE Head

[TomOsborne]

I pulled the water pump and inlet of my 91 3FE and can see a gnarly mess of rust in the head. Motors been running fine and coolant looked clean, but the amount of rust through the inlet hole doesn't look good. Planning on throwing it back together and driving it. The pic doesnt do it justice. Theres a crapload of scale.

Im just wondering if it's fairly normal to see this in a 3FE and you just ride it out, or start preparing for the rebuild. The middle ground I guess is where Im looking for advice. Thanks yall.

 

[Tools R Us]

Looks normal to me.

 

[jonheld]

Don't know what to say other than that looks like crap to me. I replaced water pumps on both my 3FE and 1FZ and they were pretty clean.
However, I do replace coolant every 2 years or so, when I feel like it. Always with Toyota red and distilled water 50/50.

 

[inkpot]

The rust I see is outside the motor, not inside the water jacket. Gasket failure. Sand it down clean and reassemble.

 

[Technician1985]

Mine looks like that inside, but mine is screwed up and at minimum has a blown head gasket. I am going to replace the whole motor, but now I’m wondering if it’s just casting leftovers in there and it’s fine to use for a rebuild.

 

[TomOsborne]

Mine looks like that inside, but mine is screwed up and at minimum has a blown head gasket. I am going to replace the whole motor, but now I’m wondering if it’s just casting leftovers in there and it’s fine to use for a rebuild.

@inkpot seems to think so; I mean if your block looks good then maybe the head can be saved in this condition and you'll be good using what you have for your build. Im going to put it back together this weekend and get a few miles on it, then pull the VC and have a look there. Probably start looking for another head and swap it out. I dont want to have this rig down for extended periods of time but it is what it is. I enjoy the ride even when its distressing and a pain in the butt.

 

[Malleus]

Anyone who, reputably, rebuilds heads should use a cleaning system which will completely remediate any surface internal defects (rust, scale, etc.) If yours doesn't, go elsewhere.

BTW, no castings leave a foundry unless they have been cleaned of all dross and scale, unless the procurement contract specifies that this will be done at the machine shop. Toyota would not have (and I can't believe ever would) use a casting with any internal defects. When yours was new, it was clean inside. It should be that way when you reinstall it.

 

[Technician1985]

@inkpot seems to think so; I mean if your block looks good then maybe the head can be saved in this condition and you'll be good using what you have for your build. Im going to put it back together this weekend and get a few miles on it, then pull the VC and have a look there. Probably start looking for another head and swap it out. I dont want to have this rig down for extended periods of time but it is what it is. I enjoy the ride even when its distressing and a pain in the butt.

Luckily I already have a replacement motor, but I will look inside the head of that motor which I know ran well and see how it compares, then I will fully disassemble the old motor. I too was disturbed by the thin rusty metal in there, though, but they might just be that way.

 

[TomOsborne]

Luckily I already have a replacement motor, but I will look inside the head of that motor which I know ran well and see how it compares, then I will fully disassemble the old motor. I too was disturbed by the thin rusty metal in there, though, but they might just be that way.

I would be very interested in seeing pics of the head on that replacement.

 

[CJF]

Top inlet is the t-stat housing, correct? And that's where we're supposed to be looking?

Water pump inlet looks normal.

 

[TomOsborne]

Top inlet is the t-stat housing, correct? And that's where we're supposed to be looking?

Water pump inlet looks normal.

Yeah at the top. Pic doesnt do much justice unless you click on it and have a fairly large display, or really zoom in. It's the scale that had/has me spooked. I have never pulled one or even seen one out off the motor. Just curious as to what others have seen and encountered with 3FE heads. Thanks for dropping by.