Well, I'm just about ready to put my new engine in. I have a few questions though. I got the engine timmed, but how can I make sure that the distributor is in the right place. I have a picture attached. The green arrow shows a mark on the inside of the distributor. Does the mark on the rotor have to be alinged with this? Also my engine is at TDC. After I start the engine do I have to advance/retard the timing? Before the engine went it was at 10* retard. Also what are the specifics for starting it for the first time? I want to thank DarylD for getting me injectors.

 

Also what is this thing? Is it for an oil cooler/another oil filter?

 

And finally, here she is!

 

Is that the 3.0? It looks to me like it's a block-off over the oil filter location. At least.... thats where my filter is on my 95 3.0 v-6.

 

Weird, my oil filter location is just to the left of it. I'm guessing that it's for a oil cooler. Maybe you could put another oil filter there. Why? I don't know, but it'd be cool to have two oil filters.

 

Make sure your timing is right on....and I mean perfect. I just finished timing belt, water pump and thermo. It took me 3hrs to get the belt on perfect. To check it turn the crank 2 revolutions...then all marks, crank and both cams need to be right on their marks. It's very easy when setting the tentioner pully to let one of the cams slip....

just my 2 copper

 

Bring it up to top dead center as far as the cams go, and then if I am correct, the rotor should be able to point right about where that wire harness goues thru the distrubutor housing.. Look at the rotor in relation to the cap, it should point dead on #1 with the "adjustment play" about in the middle

Does that help??

 

Hmm strange.. what did that motor come out of?? I have not seen the 3.0 without an oil cooler.. That is indeed an oil cooler bypass cap, but it is the first one I have seen...

 

It came out of a pickup

 

Hmmm funny.. the one I pulled off came out of a 90 pick up... I wonder if it an option kinda like a radio.. (you know, you almost never see a truck with out one..)

 

I will second the oil cooler opinion, that is were mine is too.
Could be just a block off, do you have a oil cooler on your truck, or on your old motor?

 

I did some reaserch. It appears that oil coolers were put on trucks/suvs that had a towing option. My truck didn't have a towing option on it.

 

Well.. I 'll be! You learn something everyday now don't you... How did you scavange that info, may I ask??

 

Well, I'm back to report some interesting news. I think this is why my engine didn't work!!!

 

Here are some other peices.

 

And here was where the peices went!

 

There will be more when I get the piston out! Let this be a lession to everyone, don't put any of the "special" oil/cleaners in your engine

 

Yup, that looks like it could be a problem. bummer. Those connecting rods are a lot bigger than I thought they were.

So how did you find out that mysterious part is an engine oil cooler for tow packages?

 

I went in to the dealership in kirkland and I talked to them about it. They told me about it and said that it only came that way if it was manufactured with the tow package. This is because when my dad bought the truck he had a tow package put on the truck when he bought it. Since it didn't come from the warehouse with a tow package it didn't have an oil cooler so they just used that thing as a block.

BTW would there be any advantage to put another oil filter there?

 

I thought the oil coolers only came on the 4runners with the tow package and an automatic tranny. I have seem similar set ups in my Nissan, but they are only available as standard equipment on the auto trannys.