The WAFFLES engine rebuild thread

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AREA 91

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The easiest way is to use all 3.0 L accessories. Timing belt setup, water pump, accessory drives, engine mounts, etc...
 

rubydist

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iirc, the one with the short left leg is for the 3.0 accessories.
 

waffles

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Alright Gents, it's time I started putting this bish together. I ordered the rotunda kit and I'm going to start with the lower gasket set first before I save up for the upper gasket set. Should I order OEM or felpro? The only difference I see is cost. Will one brand give me superior performance and reliability? Also I'm looking on RCM, is there a cheaper place? Thanks guys!
 

3d914

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Alright Gents, it's time I started putting this bish together. I ordered the rotunda kit and I'm going to start with the lower gasket set first before I save up for the upper gasket set. Should I order OEM or felpro? The only difference I see is cost. Will one brand give me superior performance and reliability? Also I'm looking on RCM, is there a cheaper place? Thanks guys!

waffles, been going through the same process on my 3.2. I've had good luck with both RCM and RockAuto.com. For the rock parts I normally search around here to see what parts others guys complain about. Only thing that stands out so far are the felpro camshaft seals - one leaked on me - so I went with Timken this time.

Good luck and don't forget the pics on this rebuild. :dribble:
 

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Alright Gents, it's time I started putting this bish together. I ordered the rotunda kit and I'm going to start with the lower gasket set first before I save up for the upper gasket set. Should I order OEM or felpro? The only difference I see is cost. Will one brand give me superior performance and reliability? Also I'm looking on RCM, is there a cheaper place? Thanks guys!

The OEM gaskets are no different than Fel-Pro and very few OEM gaskets are still available.

I would purchase parts from www.shosource.com - they are a forum sponsor and should have everything you need.

Doug
 

waffles

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Thanks gentlemen, I will look into both places! I think I'll probably run with OEM if it's available.
 

waffles

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I ordered my gaskets and rotunda kit! I have the valves out and I think It's time to start either looking for a hot tank or cleaning up the valves. Question: When I put air in the chamber I hear air leaking past on the bottom end. My piston rings are seized (caked with crud really bad) and don't expand out at all, they are just stuck inside of the ring lands and they wont move, Is it time for new piston rings? Also can I use a 3.0 water pump nose with a 3.2 housing? I plan to run a 3.0 timing setup and acc.
 

3d914

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. . . Question: When I put air in the chamber I hear air leaking past on the bottom end. My piston rings are seized (caked with crud really bad) and don't expand out at all, they are just stuck inside of the ring lands and they wont move, Is it time for new piston rings? Also can I use a 3.0 water pump nose with a 3.2 housing? I plan to run a 3.0 timing setup and acc.

waffles, you're definately loosing compression past the rings - hence the air leaking past. I'm going through the piston/ring issue on my 3.2 also. Have lots of postings from the guys on cleaning methods - take a look.

Sounds like its time for new rings - but measure the gaps to be sure - if you can get them out without breaking. Also on the water pump housing - the rear housing should fit since I swapped a 3.0 front for a 3.2 front without changing the rear housing.

Good luck with the build.
 

waffles

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Alright ladies and gentlemen I'm taking another step into the build. I'm gonna head to the engine shop to have my block and heads checked for trueness and decked if need be. Is there anything I need to know for my first trip to the engine shop? I've read that if I can still see factory cross etching in the cylinders I'm fine for honing. Any input fellas? Thanks again!
 

waffles

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Ok ya'll I have another question for ya. What size freeze plugs would I need to get for the whole block. I've read about brass vs.steel. What did you guys use? Thanks a bunch!

-Mr.Waffles
 

jimtash

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The freeze plugs are Dorman 555 093 and 555 095. I use steel but that's your call. They are available at most parts stores.

As far as honing is concerned, again your call. Some here say that honing will increase the ring gap sizes and decrease power. On the flip side of that the last block I built which I didn't hone, I used DNJ rings which required the gaps the be increased because they were too tight.
 
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93rev2sev

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The only thing I haven't seen mentioned is the oil pump choice. You can use either one but the 3.2 supposedly flows a little better.

Now, If you use the 3.2 oil pump with your 3.0 Front Engine Accessory Train, you may have to modify the pump housing slightly.
 

jimtash

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You don't modify the 3.2 pump. You need to fill in the gap in the timing cover because it's missing a piece that the 3.0 pump has cast into it. Look at the oil pump gaskets if you have them on hand as usually both versions are included in the set. The gasket that has a long piece protruding from it is for the 3.0 pump and the lower timing cover fits on top of that. A piece of aluminum cut to fit will work.
 

waffles

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I believe I have a 3.2 lower cover, this should fill it right? will the 3.0 acc still fit?
 

jimtash

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Nope. Use the 3.0 cover. The top cover is the only one that is the same between both engines. The other two are different.
 

kevinspann

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All of the ATX timing covers are different.

The two blackish colored ones are rear, you can see they have the EGR bung on the left side of them. If one of them is not drilled out there, then that would be a 3.0 rear. The other all the way to the left is a front but I can't tell for sure if its a 3.0 manifold.
 

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