Newbie seeks advice on 3.0L

[jlynch1960]

Hi- New on this forum, although I lurk a lot, and post occasionally, on the technical forum.

I've had an 84 Carrera for three plus years now and have been doing a fair bit of tinkering with it, albeit on the small side. I've read and re-read much of Wayne's engine rebuild book and have always been interested in doing a rebuild. My engine's fine - doesn't leak a drop, burns a quart every 4,000 miles (no joke), and runs well. So....

I came across a 3.0L engine on CL and went to have a look at it today. It turns freely with a wrench on the pulley nut, looks pretty clean and purports to come with all the parts (CIS, headers, exhaust etc.). It's down to the long block so I couldn't catalog everything but the seller says it's all there.

Case, however, seems to be an 85 3.2 - engine no. is 64F04898 (930/21). Lower portion of case stamped 930 401 108 6R. It has the Carrera tensioner upgrade and the seller got all the exhaust stud nuts off without a problem. Portions of cams visible looked very clean. Seller said the engine ran when he bought the car, was a bit smokey, so he changed it out for another rebuilt motor he had.

Price is a screaming deal so I left a deposit to hold it for a couple days to do some further research.

Couple of questions if someone has the time or inclination to help out.

Is the apparent 3.2 case an issue? Wayne's top engine picks includes a short stroke 3.2 that uses a 3.2 case and 3.0 crank but with 98mm cylinders. As far as the seller knows this is a stock 3.0 that was rebuilt at some time.

Is there any way to tell if the cylinders are nikisil or alusil - I looked for the Mahle stamp but I believe it's below the case spigot. Correct?

I didn't have the tool to check if any of the head stud nuts spun, but if I'm thinking of tearing it down anyway, would a couple of broken studs be a bid deal?

Compression/leakdown tests are out of the question but what else should I be thinking about?

Why do this? As I said, I'm really interested to give this a go and someday I see picking up an SC or maybe a midyear. As mentioned, the price is right and Wayne's book notes that a decent 3.0 might be rebuilt for a couple grand if you get lucky with the Mahle's (bet that gets some good laughs).

Thanks, Jim

Couple of pics.

[Flat6pac]

The heads look to be 3.2 so why would the engine be a 3.0 even though its easy to do.
Looks like 10 fins on the cylinders to make it KS alucil
Bruce

[toddu]

No sump plate....

[yelcab1]

At the end of the SC life, they used the new case without sump plate for the 3L engine.

Wayne's book was written a long time ago. Even without buying new C and P, you are looking at five grands for a good rebuilt. Machine work and head rebuild would run you two grands alone. Rings, bearings, gasket sets, head studs, incidentals, some valves, cams, rockers, and you are at five Gs.

[Flat6pac]

The stamped number is for an 85 3,2 USA and Japan
Bruce

[jlynch1960]

Even with what yelcab says about late 3.0L cases, you'd think it would have an '84 designation instead of 85.

No doubt it will be a lot more than a couple grand to rebuild - I figured Wayne's estimates were pretty dated at this point. Still think I'll do this though.

Thanks for the input.

[mreid]

That's a 3.2 and you should grab it if it is cheap.