When to rebuild 3.0 bottom end
 

Hi,

Well my engine is out and about to be completely stripped. I have all of the top end bits that I need for the rebuild.

I have been in two minds about the bottom end. To save money I have been considering not opening up the bottom. Bruce Anderson says in his book that he has not stripped down a 3.0 that needs a bottom end rebuild?

It is an ex race engine with unknown milage on it. The chances are that it has not that many!

If I do not open it then I save money........If I open it up then I should do everything! and the cost goes up. ie bearings...ARP etc.

Here is what is going in:

JE 10.5:1 ( already twin plugged )
GE80 ( standard springs - reduced ware )
SSI
Monty 2 in 4" out
ITB ( already have )
Redline 7000 ( Street car so it will not see this too often or for long periods )

I am rebuilding due to the lack of performance...100psi compsession check on all cyl and 20% leakdown on #1.

What are your collective thoughts?

Cheers

Mark.........

Take it all the way down...

It's "only" an extra 10 hours or so of labor not counting any machine work that may be needed. The bottom end goes back together almost as fast as stripping it.

Ex-race engine with unknown mileage? I think you'll sleep better at night knowing the motor will be bullet proof if completely gone through.

Bearings and gaskets are relatively inexpensive as well, the wild card will be what machine work may be necessary or what you might want to have done...

Good luck with your decision and engine rebuild!SmileWavy

Ralph

One thing that has to be remembered and to quote B.A. himself is " the info in his book is 10 to 15 yrs old". That may have been the deal 10 to 15 yrs ago.....and I would agree,if in doubt take it out.

I'd take it all the way down, too. You're putting some might nice pieces in place of the OEM parts, which I wouldn't want to fail because of a questionable bottom end. I'd especially take the whole engine apart if that was once used for racing.

OK.....decision made ........take it all down. I did not think about when the book was written, good point.

dd74........Ye it would be stupid to have an engine of unknown state! Thanks for your feedback.

I have alreday taken it down to do a cam profile......not too sure if it is standard or not. I have already found some interesting bits.

The heads are 78's but they have an injector machining on the intake. But more confusing is thath it is not very well done. There are rough puts on allof them and some of them have a "PLUG" sticking out. I will take a photo and post to show this.

Cheers

Mark......

Most people that contemplate this same scenerio end up going all the way and never seem to regret it. Most often they find that the layshaft bearings are gone.

Besides, new bearings should help with oil pressure.