Saving a 3200 from the scrap heap!

azapa

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1,300
Good on you mate, obviously a lot of courage and ability. That XKR shape is aging very well, never liked them at first, but with so many angles and square cr8p around theses days those simple curves and proportions are looking great.
 

Twinspark

Member
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460
Around ten years ago it was pretty easy getting a 3200/4200 in the UAE but they've gone extinct these days. Its good that you're taking this challenge and the car doesn't look all that bad especially compared to the initial condition of the other two projects.
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
Update:

I put some donor fuel pumps, gates submersible lines and new fuel filter as a temporary solution till all the parts come

Took the plugs out and sprayed the cylinders with AC Delco carb cleaner and cranked the engine to shoot out all the gunk

Now the worrying part, with a stethoscope camera, I saw water in #4 and #7 cylinders however no chocolate residue anywhere else in the oil or coolant which leads me to believe water got in when the plugs were out?

Had the injectors professionally cleaned and checked, installed and fired right up but with a misfire.

The coolant tank also has a crack and I temporarily epoxied it up until either the dealer answers their phone! or the parts shop sources one

Another thing that has me wondering is there is a "gulping sound" coming from the expansion tank with bubbles coming out...could be escaping air or new head gasket from coolant blow by?
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
So after filling up the coolant, I noticed a small seep from pipe #20 which runs under the intake.
RmMyV0.jpg


decided to remove the intake and take the pipe to a shop to weld the hole and behold!

8gCZ7M.jpg


Cylinder #4 (Passenger side closest to the bulkhead on LHD cars) I drained it using a syringe and noticed the coolant filling it again as if I was pouring the coolant directly into it. Any clues to what it could be? I'm 99% sure its the headgasket/warped or cracked head but Id like to see what you guys think? Mind you, the coolant is still clear and no chocolate oil residue
 
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Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
So I opened up the the passenger side valve cover and I was greeted with this
7YaiPS.jpg


My guess is coolant is entering the cambox and seeping to the valves and as the valves open, coolant enters the cylinder

I was talking to a 3200 mechanic in Dubai and he is facing an issue were the PO used water as opposed to coolant (what's up with masi owners using water?! USE COOLANT DONT BE CHEAP!) which caused a small hole in the head right before the valve

hhY8bY.jpg
sMGddo.jpg
 

Oneball

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11,075
That’s a really weird place for that much coolant to end up. Is there any water in the sump?
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
That’s a really weird place for that much coolant to end up. Is there any water in the sump?

I know! pulling the dipstick out shows only oil

Now I know what that gulping sound was....it was water being sucked into the cambox then into the valves.

My friend suggested to do the same thing as I did the previous time. Fill up the expansion tank and trace were it ends

Another question, can the cam boxes be removed with the cams still in place? The workshop manual only shows a full engine strip down
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
By cam box do you mean cylinder head?

Not sure about your question but iirc the bigger issue is it’s really hard to get the turbos/exhaust manifold off one of the banks with the engine in the car.
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
By cam box do you mean cylinder head?

Not sure about your question but iirc the bigger issue is it’s really hard to get the turbos/exhaust manifold off one of the banks with the engine in the car.

Correct me if I'm wrong, from my research, #4 would be called cam box while #1 would be the head. #4 sits on top of #1
wENTal.jpg


Yes, it would be a pain in the *** but not impossible, ill try my best, If it becomes too much for me, take it to my shop and have them drop the subframe with the engine and tranny and proceed from there
 

Oneball

Member
Messages
11,075
Got the bit you mean now. Id have gone with cam case but the Italians will probably call it something else! Still no idea though but at least they’ll come off without the exhaust.
 
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Lozzer

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2,280
Correct me if I'm wrong, from my research, #4 would be called cam box while #1 would be the head. #4 sits on top of #1
wENTal.jpg


Yes, it would be a pain in the *** but not impossible, ill try my best, If it becomes too much for me, take it to my shop and have them drop the subframe with the engine and tranny and proceed from there
I don't see how coolant could be getting into the cam boxes either? Unless the head is indeed cracked, I think they need to come off.
 

Spitfire980

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Messages
116
That's the plan, can the cam boxes be removed with the cams still in place? The workshop manual only shows a full engine strip down
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
Update:

If anybody was wondering if you can remove the cam boxes with the cams still inside, its a hard no

I tried my best to remove the rear covers closest to the bulkhead but its difficult, gave up and towed the car to a friend's shop to remove the engine

Passenger side came off, notice #4

KysuaE.jpg


4pm7D8.jpg


NAr1kC.jpg


And that's why you never put water in your cooling system!

Today, ill be removing driver's side and taking the heads to the machine shop to see if they are salvageable
 

philw696

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Messages
25,122
A cooling system pressure test would have proven that earlier on.
Certainly some corrosion in the water galleries.
Be interesting to see them when cleaned up.
 

Spitfire980

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Messages
116
A cooling system pressure test would have proven that earlier on.
Certainly some corrosion in the water galleries.
Be interesting to see them when cleaned up.

Couldn't do the pressure test because the expansion tank is practically split in half
 

davy83

Member
Messages
2,809
Wow that's ugly. I saw a place recently filling damage like that with weld filer and then milling it smooth as a repair, and while i was horrified at the prospect it looked quite good once complete. Good luck with that sir.
 

Spitfire980

Member
Messages
116
Wow that's ugly. I saw a place recently filling damage like that with weld filer and then milling it smooth as a repair, and while i was horrified at the prospect it looked quite good once complete. Good luck with that sir.

That's my plan, ill remove both heads and go to my usual machine shop and get his opinion

Also need to do a pressure test to make sure the valve seal properly