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If Rebuild, what parts to rebuild to ensure longevity?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Technical Discussion' started by black_jmyntrn, Jul 23, 2022.

  1. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Say you wanted to rebuild a bad Prius motor that was starved of oil and sounded like a model t with lost of power.

    You had the motor out of the car already, what would you buy to rebuild the motor? Oh, and you knew it was burning 5qts of oil every 1,000 miles after a new head gasket was installed. What's your list of need to haves? Safe assumption you'd get the block resurfaced as well? Asking for a friend!
     
  2. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Why not just get a used JDM engine for $1800 and install it? You can sell your current engine to anyone that wants to rebuild it.
     
  3. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    have a 2.0l I'm installing in mine, I want to rebuild old motor and put into my brothers gen3 that has bad head gasket... not afraid of a little work is mainly why. just need to know what I should be replacing.
     
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  4. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    This is the objective right here... I'd do minimum amount of work on it in order to see how quickly you could get it going well again. Then you'd be able to give a competitive price on fixing up and selling you brother's existing engine. As in use this as a revenue generation / engine flipping side hustle.

    As in, assuming bottom end and cylinders check out within spec, I'd just do the ring and valves and head gasket and call it done. In this instance your ability to get this done quickly is more important than turning it into another epic project because you have too many other epic projects you need to focus on.
     
  5. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    well this is more of a what all to rebuild where block has no holes and its sent off to check and its in spec repair parts list. His plan is to start buying the parts as his checks come in to have ready when I have time. lol less about being done quickly, more on when we put this in his car we want it to go at least another 120k.

    really, just rings, valves an head gasket? hmmm.
     
  6. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    But by the time you do all that and all this fooling around on this open deck assembly that's already got 200,000 on it or what. A lot of miles and no one's going to be lying boring the block checking the deck height checking the rods big end and small end etc etc etc that all adds up and when you can just have a low mileage takeout for about a $1,020 to your door for another $200 if you live on the east coast if you're up in that area you can just go pick it up I mean it seems like a lot of BS just to do that but that's a personal choice now if this was an older engine like a 3S GE or GTE beams engine another whole ball game but with this open deck design I don't trust them too much I'm mileage like this just putting rings rods and mains in something like these uhh noo thanks
     
  7. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    One of the many things about the internet I chuckle at, folks tend to not directly answer someone's question as it relates to getting them where they seek to go. sure the path they chose might not be the one everyone would take... No matter the path they chose to go, I'd like to think I'd forgo imposing my thoughts on the path I'd take to get there and just assist with what they are asking... I mean, someone wants to drive to the east coast and take the route along the edge of USA, I wouldn't say you should drive through the middle, it's faster...

    That said, the ask was so I don't miss anything... when I did my head gasket, I wasn't aware of the piston ring issue with the motor, is how my motor got to where it is now. So now, to rebuild for family, I am trying to make sure I don't miss anything this go around opening this motor. I'd also like to see of way to close chamber around cylinder walls so it can be bored out. Found a company that does it...

    So for me, taking a block to be laser scanned to determine maximum bore size it can safely handle... which I've done already with a fresh undamaged block not mine, I am not opposed to what rebuilding takes, just need to know what it takes in terms of parts at this point... so I don't miss something.

    I take it you aren't aware of some of the things I've done or in the process of doing in this bubble we call prius? The cost of peace of mind is priceless to me, I'm not buying another engine to hope I get miles out of it.
     
    #7 black_jmyntrn, Jul 23, 2022
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2022
  8. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Plus, I want to see if the parts we are buying from another similar motor will work out to increase power. I'm really trying to get more power and see where mpgs land after achieving the power gains I'm seeking.
     
  9. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    My point is you have lots of awesome projects going on that deserve funding... And if you could get good/fast at flipping rebuilt Gen3 engines your projects would have another funding source.

    As for limited amount of effort on a rebuild, my point is that Toyota is legendary for building engine that go 400K miles with no issue. And quite frankly the biggest dumbest fail of both Prius and Toyota in general is building a total joke of an engine for Gen3 Prius that can't even make it 1/3 of the lifespan of the rest of their engines without requiring major work.

    In fact, the more I study it, the more it makes sense that you shouldn't even bother with a rebuild and just put in a Gen4 engine and leave everything that's wrong about Toyota's massive failure of Gen3 engine design in a garbage dumpster.
     
  10. mr_guy_mann

    mr_guy_mann Senior Member

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    It's tougher since the engine is already out (can't do compression test). So you have to tear it down and inspect.

    How bad are the bores? Cross hatching still decent? Scuffing? (cylinder hone vs boring?)

    Did it spin a bearing? What's the size and condition of the crank journals? Does that need machining? If it was knocking then inspect (or just replace) the connecting rods.

    Pistons, rings, gaskets, timing set, oil pump. All the usual suspects for a rebuild.

    How's the head? Camshaft journals, lobes, cam bearing surfaces in the carrier, valve followers. Valve / stem wear, guides, valve seat condition. Does it need lots of new parts or just "a valve job" (cut valve faces and seats- new stem seals, light cut to the deck, clean and reuse everything).

    Fuel injectors, ignition parts, water pump, hoses, EGR, exhaust system, the list goes on & on.

    Rebuilding a damaged engine can be much more involved than refreshing a "tired" engine.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  11. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    What's current status of your Lexus engine in a Prius project? Was that a success?
     
  12. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Thing is, seeking a funding source isn't what I need, more time in a day is what I need.

    I'm looking for a way to solve the defects of the motor, not by rebuilding them but to have a new block made so folks like gasket masters can install when they go in to add a new gasket. Hence a rebuild so I can 3d scan the insides... if can be done I'd like to have that bottom end in the 1.9l range or 2.0l with modified cooling channels.

    Plus, I've been intimate with a prius prime with my car still being down, sure inverter, pressure plate and exhaust manifold are a few external differences... in the end its the same motor internally I believe. But to get to any facts I need to fully rebuild one once.
     
  13. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    In that case, I recommend you get a personal life coach to help you focus. Saying stuff like how you want to design a new engine block with better cooling channels is committing yourself and a 1/2 dozen other people to a full time job = no free time in your day.

    If you truly want more time in your day, as well as continuing to do what no one else has done with Prius modifications you need to take crazy ideas like this off your plate and focus on which of your efforts have led to successful outcomes rather than constantly taking on new and even more impossible modification challenges.
     
  14. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Oh my wow, see... this is what I was looking for!

    Basically, cracked the pil pan days before new metal engine splash guard was ready to put on. We were offroading at Azusa canyons, made it all the way in then on the way out, last river crossing the almost 12" of ground clearance was flawless until I felt tire slip off rock then "whack"... I'm looking at drone thinking that's now water... if you are familiar with a Azusa canyon, by the third good Samaritan who pulled me to where I thought the top of the ridge was for me to coast all of the way down. We sat at CVS trying to find oil pan. By this time light knocking. After oil pan replaced, 1-2 bolts damaged and the jb weld didn't cure right as a patch. Few days later forgot needed to baby it, drove my normal Toretto way and knocking became louder.., tried even diesel oil to help lub but it had gone dry for too long. Day or so later lack of power when not in plugin ev mode and using the gas motor. By the time it got to where I removed the motor, no power from gas engine.

    Egr, injectors, pumps... all that jazz replaced/cleaned already.

    So pistons have to replaced with new rings... hmmmm

    I'm taking notes on this now to come up with the list based on your words.will share once I have it all lined out
     
  15. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    Almost, waiting on custom parts now
     
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  16. PriusCamper

    PriusCamper Senior Member

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    Keep up the good work... We're cheering you on... You've accomplished so much already! Don't let your intense ambitions get the better of you. Keep it simple! Stay focused!
     
  17. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    thing is... I'm further along in the process then this response gives me credit for... just need to get the block 3D scanned. There is a solid set of folks assisting with where we are trying to go. Just I didn't want to bog them down with a question like this thread was created for.

    the crazy ideas is what's been missing, when folks such as yourself shoot them down, others more timid than I get discouraged and thus we are in the same place the Gen 3 has been... stagnant... two of the three remaining parts to the engine swap I'm doing took more time and work than I anticipated, mainly due to learning curve I went through so the motor mount, engine to cvt adapter an new "flywheel" could be produced. the final is the ux250h oe exhaust manifold... freakin $1300!!! so, once its bolted and I handle ecu tweeks to resolve most codes, ill sell my cat and then purchase the new... to then tackle the remaining codes if any.
     
  18. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

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    thank you and hence why trying to put thought into this rebuild... using the camshaft no. 2 and crankshaft from another motor will be used in the rebuild as well.