Cracked Block?
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Cracked Block?
Hey All and thanks for any assistance in advance.
I have a '94 4Runner SR5 with the 3VZE. AT 4x4.
I bought this old girl about a month ago and have been chasing bad vibrations. I rebuilt & balanced the driveshaft, put new Koyo bearings in the front and new front disc rotors.
Things got better but the other day I heard a loud "noise-of-the-apocolypse" while on the highway.
It looks to me like the rear oil pan mounting flange of the actual engine block has cracked. There is a new oil leak there and I'm thinking I am looking at an improperly installed 2nd engine that the previous owner did.
Before I take this old girl out to be shot, I was wondering if there are any opinions about this.
Many thanks!
I have a '94 4Runner SR5 with the 3VZE. AT 4x4.
I bought this old girl about a month ago and have been chasing bad vibrations. I rebuilt & balanced the driveshaft, put new Koyo bearings in the front and new front disc rotors.
Things got better but the other day I heard a loud "noise-of-the-apocolypse" while on the highway.
It looks to me like the rear oil pan mounting flange of the actual engine block has cracked. There is a new oil leak there and I'm thinking I am looking at an improperly installed 2nd engine that the previous owner did.
Before I take this old girl out to be shot, I was wondering if there are any opinions about this.
Many thanks!
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Here's a couple of photos. Driver's side bell housing bolt is obviously totally loose.
It's backed out about a 1/4-inch.
Passenger side bell housing bolt looks ok.
Will have to get a socket on those to check.
I don't see where a transmission / engine mounting bolt would be in this area.
It's backed out about a 1/4-inch.
Passenger side bell housing bolt looks ok.
Will have to get a socket on those to check.
I don't see where a transmission / engine mounting bolt would be in this area.
Last edited by AZRule303; 01-05-2018 at 09:40 AM.
#5
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Yeah it looks like someone cracked it putting in an engine or transmission. If you look at the picture below, the bottom-right bolt hole corresponds to the cracked area of your block the best I can tell from your pictures. I don't think this crack is the cause of your oil leak though. Your leak could be coming from anywhere back there... valve cover gasket, rear seal, oil pan... etc.
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Much appreciated.
I do not see the flange which is parallel to the ground which is broken in my picture.
Is this flange on the bottom side of the rear block picture you posted?
Does this basically mean a new engine / rebuild or at the least pulling the motor to fix?
Also, would the loose bell housing bolt(s) cause stress factors which could cause this crack (or some other nightmare) ?
I do not see the flange which is parallel to the ground which is broken in my picture.
Is this flange on the bottom side of the rear block picture you posted?
Does this basically mean a new engine / rebuild or at the least pulling the motor to fix?
Also, would the loose bell housing bolt(s) cause stress factors which could cause this crack (or some other nightmare) ?
Last edited by AZRule303; 01-05-2018 at 11:18 AM.
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#9
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I would not pull or rebuild the engine based on that one crack. There are enough bolts holding the two together that it won't make much of a difference. If numerous bolts were left loose, I could see how that would crack the flange, but I think the most likely reason for the crack is improper engine or transmission installation.
#11
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I would also try to pinpoint the leak with an inspection mirror to see if it is coming from up high in the engine and dripping down or if it originates lower like the rear main seal or oil pan.
Last edited by rustypigeon; 01-05-2018 at 12:22 PM.
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Some interesting finds while under the car:
Pretty much all transmission and bellhousing bolts loose. Looks like 2 bellhousing bolts are just missing.
And the winner is: The passenger side bellhousing transmission support bracket IS JUST NOT THERE. (I attach a pic of the part I got off the web).
No doubt the previous owner POS who did the engine swap must have cracked the block and then could not install the passenger side bracket - so he just stopped and put the car up for sale - and I fell for it.
Pretty much all transmission and bellhousing bolts loose. Looks like 2 bellhousing bolts are just missing.
And the winner is: The passenger side bellhousing transmission support bracket IS JUST NOT THERE. (I attach a pic of the part I got off the web).
No doubt the previous owner POS who did the engine swap must have cracked the block and then could not install the passenger side bracket - so he just stopped and put the car up for sale - and I fell for it.
Last edited by AZRule303; 01-05-2018 at 03:07 PM.
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