Knocking Beams 3SGE

[leideno]

I'm wondering if anyone has had any experience with the 3SGE and knocking?

It started while driving out to the beach, its a 3SGE+T Beams DVVTi blacktop with a small TD04 turbo strapped to the side of it. Its running 2x metal head gaskets for 10.5:1 compression instead of stock 11.5:1 compression. Running 8psi.

I did a compression test and it came out as follows:

#1: 192psi
#2: 199psi
#3: 192psi
#4: 175psi

Looks like something is wrong with #4 piston. I didnt have a chance to do a wet test unfortunately. I have been told it could be a cracked ringland or snapped ring, it still drives fine, havn't noticed any loss of power at all!

Here are the videos of the sound its making:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2T1Z_y2eRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joOgjD0HyZI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR4NgTTFAR4

It sounds loudest at the top of the engine and also at the front by the cam pulleys and timing belt.

I have eliminated the alternator bearings, p/s pump bearings.

Been told it could also be the waterpump impeller tapping against something but am yet to take off the timing belt and find out.

I'm going to find out if it could be the cams, as when I did the headgasket I may have overtorqued the camshaft bearing caps possibly causing starvation with the 15w40 oil I used. It was originally running 5w30. I did the oil change a day before the tapping started.

Not a very nice first post, but any help would be appreciated! Thanks

[leideno]

Bumpiness Bump

[Billzilla]

Hard to say, but in any case it's rebuild time.
Since you're rebuilding it, put the right pistons in it to get the right compression as well, and the right pistons will also be able to take more boost.

Might be the #1 exhaust cam buckets or something, I can't really tell but it sounds louder over that part of the engine.

[leideno]

Just removed the black sump bit and found flakes of metal in there! Will post up some pictures soon,

Also found a pitted looking piece of metal/alloy about 5mm round, anyway will get up pictures asap,

[leideno]

Conrod bearing? Would explain low compression on #4?

[Cuts]

mm pieces of metal in your oil....not good.

rebuild time...forgies (and therefore correct compression), new bearings, full balance. nice big gt30 based turbo and BAMM your cooking with avgas.

[jonathan yee]

sounds like a conrod bearing to me.....well thats what it sounded like in my mini and celica when it had that problem.

would've thought you'd be getting low oil pressure a bit too.

your not driving it like this are you? cuase otherwise you'll be doin more and more damage and may need to replace the crank etc.

[neal]

Mate you dont really want all that peices of metal runnig through the engine, chances are tiny peices of metal will get past the oil strainer.

Have you pulled the oil filter out? If not pull it out and disect the filter and see if you can find pieces of metal in there.

As Jonathan yee stated stop driving and time for re-build. Or you can do just a bottom end rebuild.
Ideally you should do a full rebuild and you must start a Beams 3SGE build thread so we all can have a purve, ahhh just kidding. good luck with it any way.

How much does a short block beams 3S go for in NZ, i guess it wont be much?

[leideno]

Haha I'm going to give a rebuild a try,

I'm wanting to use ST215 3SGTE pistons as they are stronger, does anyone know the dish size for these pistons or are they the same as previous generation 3SGTE's (about 6cc's)?

Also are the valve cuts in the ST215 pistons different from ST205/ST185 pistons, I read that the valve angle on the ST215 & SXE10 3S-GE are the same...

Altezza pistons have a 11cc dish in them, don't want to go up in compression though lol!

[Cuts]

buy forgies, like acl ones, gives your a 8.5:1 comp ratio = win.
you should be able to get a piston kit (with rings gudgon pins, circlips etc) for say $800 or less.
Valve angle on all G heads are the same

[leideno]

Yea unfortunately that's a bit much at the moment, have about $400 to play with which isn't a lot I know, I'm moving to Hamilton from Whangarei so short on cash

If the valve angle is the same would it be safe to say you can swap around pistons in 3S engines?

Just a little worried because of the VVTi system in the Beams which changes camshaft timing in relation to crankshaft timing which would means valves opening earlier or later in the piston stroke... I think the Beams 3SGE has the larger valve relief's due to this fact...

[neal]

Is'nt st215 3S a high compression motor as in 9:1 compared to older version of 3S

[web]

Looks like you're going to have to park it for a while, as 400$ isn't going to cut it, to fix this and do it right. Don't bother trying, that would just be 400$ down the drain.

[leideno]

Found out that using ST215 pistons will give me 9.0:1 compression, just got a set from a 2003 3SGTE for $50, will be using ST205 rods if I can find them...

Does anyone know if the ST185 and ST205 rods are different? Do the ST185's have oil squirter's or do the rods have the hole for squirting oil?

I think I get build it for around $400, ACL bearings are only $135 for mains, $90 for Metal Head Gasket, $50 for the ST215 pistons, and $40 for the ST185 rods (if they will work)

Doing all the labour myself, so that leaves about $125 for getting the block honed if I have too!

[jonathan yee]

the 185 blocks have oil squiters.

which HG for $100? i've heard some bads things about the ebay/permaseal ones.

dont think theres much if any diff with the 205/185 rods, either way the 185 rods will be ample for your needs.

thats cheap rods and pistons. i'd suggest you get new piston/oil rings.