3VZE rebuild project

[LedFloyd900]

So I'm rebuilding my freshly rebuilt 3VZE which didn't even have 1,000 miles before it grenaded on me. Long story short, I purchased this engine from PMC motors in Oregon and after this happened they stopped communicating with us even though it had a 7 year/70,000 mile warranty costing me over $3,300 so I'm rebuilding it myself now. Anyhow, the engine was claimed to be bored .030 over, but after I took it apart I found the pistons are stamped with .050, shows how much they actually know about their engines. I also found that 2 rod bearings were smashed on the ends indicating they were put in wrong, all the cylinders have scrape markes and one piston had oil on top of it indicating the rings were too tight, all the thrust washers look like they've been filed and ground down, all the rod bearings are scratched up, and one rod bearing set was misaligned so the oil holes weren't lined up causing oil starvation and totally chewed up one of my crank pins. Sounds like a quality rebuild on their part, right? Anyway, I'd like to go ahead and bore it to .060 since I've got it all apart, but my question is where should I get new oversized pistons and rings? I've done a little searching and come up with nothing so far, but I'll continue to look. Also, if there's anything anyone recommends doing while I'm rebuilding this feel free to throw out suggestions, I'd much appreciate it

 

[LedFloyd900]

 

[Deuxdiesel]

Are you sure you want to rebuild it before you have settled up with a engine supplier? If this is the way they do business, I could easily see them saying that you caused the damage tearing the engine down. You might be able to find a cheap 3VZ and build that one while you pursue action.

 

[ralatkins]

Shame you had so many issues. I replaced my 3.slo earlier this year as well. Good luck getting it all figured out. I'd hold that builder's feet to the fire though.


Footnote: I bought a 3VZE from Denny's Auto Machine in Williamsport MD earlier this year. GREAT customer service.

 

[LedFloyd900]

Are you sure you want to rebuild it before you have settled up with a engine supplier? If this is the way they do business, I could easily see them saying that you caused the damage tearing the engine down. You might be able to find a cheap 3VZ and build that one while you pursue action.

I've already had an attorney send them a letter saying we'll sue if they don't give us our money back and take their engine, but they didn't reply and won't answer any calls or anything of that matter, so instead of spending more time and money trying to fight them I'll just spend another few hundred bucks and rebuild it right that way I'll also have the peace of mind of knowing it's gonna last

 

[LedFloyd900]

the copper colored oil from the filter and the sludge/chunks of metal that was in the oil pan after drained

 

[Ahlem]

Maybe check with J & E pistons to see if they have them?

 

[LedFloyd900]

Update:
I haven't gotten to measure much of anything countin on working 60 hours a week and I don't have the correct measuring tools. However, I just purchased a 5VZFE crankshaft (exact same as 3VZE) with 3VZE bearings for $230, and once those come in I'll take everything to the machine shop and have them correct all out of tolerance conditions and what-not. Then after I get it all back I'm going to port all my intake and exhaust air-ways. Never done it before, we'll see how that goes :withstupid:

 

[dogojoe96]

Why did you get the 5vzfe crank if it is the same at the 3vze? Does it have a longer stroke or is it just beefier? I've never heard of the 3.0 having crankshaft issues.

Anyways good luck on your rebuild, it will bring a lot of peace of mind knowing you built it right yourself.[emoji16]

 

[LedFloyd900]

Why did you get the 5vzfe crank if it is the same at the 3vze? Does it have a longer stroke or is it just beefier? I've never heard of the 3.0 having crankshaft issues.

Anyways good luck on your rebuild, it will bring a lot of peace of mind knowing you built it right yourself.[emoji16]

Because it was a really good price for it, cheapest I found from a trusted source. But no it's not any longer of a stroke or anything, from what I was told it is the exact same crank used in the 3VZE, only difference between the two engines regarding the crank is the 5VZFE (3.4L) uses different bearings. So if you have the 3.slow and buy a 3.4 crank make sure you get the 3vze bearings

 

[Th3B3an]

Just curious, as I have never rebuilt a car engine before. What are all the special tools that you needed to rebuild it?
I have three 3vze engines, and I need to put them in rotation for rebuilding them all. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, as I work in the industrial maintenance field.

 

[pinagel]

Just curious, as I have never rebuilt a car engine before. What are all the special tools that you needed to rebuild it?
I have three 3vze engines, and I need to put them in rotation for rebuilding them all. I'm pretty mechanically inclined, as I work in the industrial maintenance field.

I am working on my own rebuild not including crank and piston work. So far i have found most of the specialty tools at o'reilies, napa, etc... do not work. The cam sprocket holders didnt have the proper specs, the valve spring compressors were not the right type, the harmonic balancer worked, though, and for the pulley bolt i used a universal fan coupling tool. (The pully bolt came off relatively easy :hail.

Mostly i have gotten away with wrenches and sockets and one 10mm allen key.

For the cam sprockets i wedged a 10mm socket on timing cover bolts and wrenched them off. So didnt need the special tool there.

For actual piston, crankshaft work :shrug:

 

[pinagel]

Im playing pin the compressor bracket back on the block right now, does anyone know if the A/C compressor bracket bolts on with the same hole as the upper right bolt of the right engine mount facing the flywheel.

The bolt i have now i too short, or maybe i got the bolts mixed up.