5me - repairable?

[vinno]

Hey guys,

I've recently discovered that my harmonic balancer has become free spinning from my crank. Once i pulled it off the old woodruff key was completely destroyed (disintegrated). The picture below is of the front of the crank shaft.




Has anyone ever had this happen or seen this happen before? any advice or comments are welcome.

My thoughts at this point are to put it back together and hope it lasts long enough for me to drive it into a tree.

[Starfire]

I can't see the picture (stupid work filter), but I have dealt with broken keyways before.

The best option is to remove your crank and drop it off at a machinist. They will be able to turn down the section with the keyway and then fit a sleeve over it (either a press fit or welded). After that they can cut a new keyway.

If the keyway is not totally destroyed, they might be able to just cut another keyway 180 degrees from the existing one, but this can depend on how bad the damage is and may cause challenges setting your cam timing if the timing gear and crank pulley share a keyway.

Both of these options are not overly cheap, the first one is likely to cost around $200, depending on the machine shop. The second will be about half that. Obviously you will need to dissasemble the entire bottom end of the engine as well (you may be able to get it all out without removing the block from the car, but the gearbox will need to come out, as will the crossmember).

If you just want to thrash around for a while longer, you could try your luck with an epoxy resin to hold the pulley in place. This may or may not work so well (I havn't done it myself, but have had friends do it). Your mileage may vary (no pun intended).

Cheers,
Terry

[Norbie]

Looks pretty rooted, won't be a cheap fix.

5M-E's are pretty much worthless these days, you can't even give them away. I wouldn't advise spending money on it, either look for a replacement engine or take it as a good excuse to upgrade.

[mic*]

Thats it ay... Not worth any effort that involves removal of crank...

Cutting a new key some dodgy patient way on the car was an idea... Not sure how to best try. ????

The only thing that doing that will affect is the timing mark on the balancer being out... 5ME is has a timing chain so key is not shared with a belt sprocket, however even if it were, it would just need a new mark on it too...

[wilbo666]

I've done a 'repair' on a keyway like that (worse actually) before.

I made an alloy key which I put in place of the normal key (used to avoid welding up the space for the key in the crank), and then used the MIG to lay down some metal. (I'd use the TIG now I have one tho...). This isn't really ideal as changes the state of the metal somewhat, but yeah...

I then linished the weld down with the power file. And a little bit of work with the dremel and cutoff wheel to reshape the key area.

I also welded up the inside of the crank pulley and machined it down, as I couldn't find a replacement crank pulley, but in this instance I'd try and find a good crank pulley.

A new key, and bolt back together...


Thinking about it a bit more, another less than ideal method would be to get a new key, and weld it to the crank at the snout. You can always get an angle grinder with a cutoff wheel in there to remove the key if needed...

The last method requires less work than the other method, and you know the key is going to stay in place...


Might as well give this method a go, as you don't really have anything (other than a bit of time and effort) to loose...

Part number for key: 90280-05001



Cheers
Wilbo

[vinno]

Hmmm

all this hardly seems worth the effort for a 5me.. i certainly dont want to be pulling the engine apart to get the crank out.

An upgrade would be good. Any suggestions on something that would be relatively cheap and easy? Its an mx62 Cressida, I was thinking along the lines of 1G-GTE because apparently they bolt up fairely easily??

Vinno.

[Starfire]

You could always chuck a new key in the existing crank and pour on plenty of epoxy glue.

Combine that with a properly torqued crank pulley bolt and 24 hours of curing and it should be fairly robust.

Cheers,
Terry

[CrUZida]

Just weld the crank pulley to the crank.
Obviously make sure the timing mark is correct before getting the glitter sticks out.

[Norbie]

An upgrade would be good. Any suggestions on something that would be relatively cheap and easy? Its an mx62 Cressida, I was thinking along the lines of 1G-GTE because apparently they bolt up fairely easily??

There are options aplenty, the main limitation is your budget. One thing to keep in mind is the steering box which causes clearance problems with V-configuration engines and some twin-turbo engines.

The easiest upgrade would be another M series engine, the most modern example being the 7M. If you can get your hands on a good condition example it would be a relatively easy swap (you already have the correct engine mounts and bellhousing) and it's a big power upgrade even in NA form. Another option I would consider is the 2JZ-GE which is newer and less problematic than the 7M.

[wilbo666]

Hmmm

all this hardly seems worth the effort for a 5me.. i certainly dont want to be pulling the engine apart to get the crank out.

An upgrade would be good. Any suggestions on something that would be relatively cheap and easy? Its an mx62 Cressida, I was thinking along the lines of 1G-GTE because apparently they bolt up fairely easily??

Vinno.

None of the options I suggested, Starfire or CrUZida suggested require removal of the crank...

If those suggestions require too much effort then not sure an engine conversion is for you


Easiest conversion would be a 7mge or 7mgte... personally I'd go 1jzgte with a single turbo (to clear the steering box)

Or keep your eyes out for a rebuild able 7mgte which could be had very cheap and spend a bit of coin on the rebuild... The rebuild could quickly get up into single turbo JZ territory tho!

Cheers
Wilbo

[Starfire]

Actually, my first two suggestions did require removal of the crank, but they're only relevant if you want to fix it properly.

The dodgy alternative will keep it going for a while and be a hell of a lot easier and cheaper.

Cheers,
Terry

[wilbo666]

Woops, yeah I was going off your

You could always chuck a new key in the existing crank and pour on plenty of epoxy glue.

A welded on crank pulley should last till the next timing chain / front seal change I would have thought

Cheers
Wilbo

[vinno]

You make a good point Wilbo, I'm just being lazy and want any excuse to go for an upgrade really.

i would be able to get a 1jz-ge for very cheap however it has no loom, bellhousing, ecu and a couple of other bits and pieces missing (dizzy maybe?), would this be a worth while path to follow? Being na would it clear the stearing box? Also how hard/expensive would it be to source the necessary parts to complete the conversion?

thanks heaps for all the help guys
vinno

[Draven]

well, the question (as always with conversions) becomes: how fast do you want to spend?

easiest/cheapest option would be the 7m-ge, then 7m-gte. I wouldn't bother with a 1jz-ge unless it's a great deal - 2jz-ge is not much more for same effort... then there's 1uz, 2jz-gte etc, which requires a substantially larger budget

[wilbo666]

i would be able to get a 1jz-ge for very cheap however it has no loom, bellhousing, ecu and a couple of other bits and pieces missing (dizzy maybe?), would this be a worth while path to follow?

thanks heaps for all the help guys
vinno

Nope that sounds like a shite idea / areseload of work for a lame outcome to me.

Just my thoughts tho!

Cheers
Wilbo