Block surface crack... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Mattj26 · 08-05-2011, 12:17 AM

A little background on how I got into this situation. Bought a '90 Celica GT for $300, was told it had a blown head gasket. It started and sounded nice, if a little ruff. Upon driving, it would stutter (like a misfire) till 3k rpm's, then that would go away and she purred like a kitten. Ok I thought I can make this girl into a woman. I start my teardown and what I found was: front 5 head bolts were not torqued down, and the only place on the old gasket that looked like blowby was on cylinder 3 towards the front on the engine. I think to myself it was loose headbolts, bang I send the head in to get cleaned, buy the gasket kit and go about cleaning the various other parts.

I was cleaning the blocks mating suface, and discovered a small surface crack. It goes from one water jacket port to the headbolt hole and to the other water jacket port.

The headbolt hole shown is the 4th(from timing belt) on the back of the block. The loose headbolts were on the front.

The crack does NOT go down the side of the bolt hole, or the water jacket ports. I am just really afraid this means a new block.

The parts I can return if all else fails, but Im down the tube on the money spent on the car and head cleaning.

Please if someone could tell me if I just screwed myself over.

Mattj26 · 08-05-2011, 10:32 PM

they are almost impossible to see with the camera so close, making it blurry. Too far away and you cant see them at all. I inverted the colors and you can make it out, Please if sumone could tell me if these will make the block scrap metal.

Inverted

Another angle

inverted

***MR2Jedi*** · 08-05-2011, 11:12 PM

You can barely see anything, but being that the crack goes to the headbolt hole, I would never trust the engine.
I would take the block to the machine shop and have them inspect it. It may only have penetrated a fraction of a hair and resurfacing may cure it.
I would not make any determination until a machine shop looks at it.

Bitter · 08-05-2011, 11:52 PM

here's a good test.

get some high lighters and crack them open, mix the dye inside with water, sponge the dye over the whole surface then wipe it dry. Now look with a dye light, see cracks or do you see scratches? how deep do they really go? the dye will wick into them and light them up down into the jackets if they go down there. It may have been over heated, I've heard of the 3S turbos' cracking water jackets due to coolant boiling.

Mattj26 · 08-06-2011, 10:16 AM

It was overheating when I got the car, I shut it down immediatly. But I cant say if the previous owner way overheated it at some point, im guessing from what you said Bitter it was the latter.

Those are both pretty much what I was thinking. One question about the dye light, where do I get one, or would a blacklight in a very dark garage work? With some neon highlighters? Just to see if the crack does go any further down. If it doesnt then I will take to machine shop. If it does... crap idk.

I did call around, and a junkyard has a few celi's that had rolled/rear end crash's, and they want $100, $45 core. If I pull the block myself. My only concern going that route would be the block I go for would have anything internal wrong with it. I dont think I could stand a whole day trying to pull a block to find sumthing wrong with it.

My next question would be, if I do get another block, would I be able to use my old crank/pistons if I find anything wrong inside the junkyard block? I know I would end up getting bearings and rings, but if i could avoid buying crank/pistons would be great.

Thanks agian guys. Im heading over to do the dye test, and start pulling the block.

Bitter · 08-06-2011, 11:14 AM

yea, black light would work OK in a dark garage. but the dye light with the glasses is ideal...omg the things you can see. I use it to find coolant leaks at work sometimes, it lights up ALL kinds of leaks and fluids even without adding dye to them.

Mattj26 · 08-06-2011, 04:10 PM

what kind of glasses are they, to use with uv dye? And where could I get some?

anywho, I have come to a determination that I will just get another block, but it would be good to have on hand to check the block I pull to make sure that one will give me no trouble before I pay for it.

Bitter · 08-08-2011, 12:59 AM

AC dye leak detection kit, autozone/pepboys/murrays/advanced sells them. lil pen light with some yellow 'CSI' glasses. If you have a black light all you really need is the glasses.

Mattj26 · 08-09-2011, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bitter

AC dye leak detection kit, autozone/pepboys/murrays/advanced sells them. lil pen light with some yellow 'CSI' glasses. If you have a black light all you really need is the glasses.

Thanks, I'll check tomorow.

Anyone have any tips on anything special I need to look for when selecting a vehicle to rip out another block? There are a few 90-93 celi's that I know of. As well as camry's. I have been told it is the same block.(thinking maybe get a granny driver block, less of chance of excessive stress on motor.)

The place I am going to has a large selection of vehicles. Whichever one I do decide to go for, will get very good twice over to make sure bottom end is good, and no cracks.

Bitter · 08-11-2011, 07:37 AM

Grab a 3VZ V6 to swap in...just sayin.

Nah, stick with the same year range with less miles. I don't know the differences between the 5S's of different gens. Maybe Celicatech can tell you....