After winning the stupid-boy award for leaving a bolt attached to the bellhousing, I finally got the 85' 22R-E up and out of the rig. Secured the trans and pushed it outside so I could prep the engine for tear down on the stand. With all the torque converter and flexplate stuff off the engine was still locked up tighter than a.....um something <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cyclops.gif" alt="" />. I got antsy and decided to pull the pan to see if the problem was obvious...and boy howdy let me tell you somethin. I have never seen anything like it before. #1 rod bearing was spun...but not just spun and wedged up under the other bearing halfshell....the topside bearing shell was no longer there. The cap bearing shell mated with some remnants and wedged itself topside. The topside bearing shell found its way between the rod and crankjournal...to the side of the rod. All this mess was nicely welded together. The rod cap is slightly distorted, the rod bolt nuts were a hair over finger tight to give you an idea of what kind of forces were at work here. Tonight I'll clean it up more and weigh the options with my good buddy Ted and see what we come up with. Crank is probably beyond grinding, rod is extremely out of round and will need replaced. Gawd I love this stuff! Some of the best times that $200 can buy. Eeeeeehaaaaw!

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

PS- Engine is all original and never been opened up. With the exception of the #1 rod assembly and front of the crankshaft...things almost looked like new. Not to shabby for 165K miles. Block stamping for bearings from factory: 44445, rods-2222. Definately a keeper. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

yeah, guess that would explain why you couldn't turn it, huh? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

come on, man...don't just tease us...we need a pic of this customized engine configuration.

any thoughts on what caused it to happen?

Turns nicely now Stan! Of course that is with a huge wad of heavy grease coating the #1 rod journal and a slathering on the rod and cap. Just turned it enough to get an idea of the rest of the engine. Judging by the color of things topside (golden brown rockers) and the amount of "soot" I seen on the main caps Id guess a combination of heat and oil starvation to the #1 rod journal. Previous owner was cruising down I5 when things happened...60 mph...with an automatic..who knows what the RPMs would be. If I can get the camera to take pictures I'll take some this evening for all eyes to see. Ive seen rods punch through blocks, seen pistons spank the crap out of a cylinder head etc....but like I said, this one truly has a high "AWE-Factor".

Am I crazy for liking this type of stuff? Most people look for "good running" vehicles when they buy. Me, I look for ones that are dead, serious internal problems equipped with the 22R or better yet the 22R-E and are perfect other than the squirrel cage.

Who cares if Im a little short of a full deck...wearing a pair of shorts getting dirty and smiling bigger than a kid the day after his senior prom. Its all good for me.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

you're just lucky i don't live closer to ya...you would never get me outta your garage. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

your golden-brown rocker comment has me thinkin...

my rockers are a bit golden-brown...have been that color ever since i bought the truck 25,000 miles ago...i thought that's what color they were supposed to be.

i have good oil pressure, though...and, there is always oil hanging around the top end whenever i pull the valve cover. don't seem to have any problems (top end is a *little* bit noisy sometimes, but nothing major--i think it's just normal 22RE top end noise)...

but now i'm wondering if maybe my top end isn't getting the oil it should be...

whaddaya think? is there any conclusive way to know if the top end is being adequately oiled?

maybe i'll snap a pic the next time i have the valve cover off and post it...see what you guys think.

Boy you are quite the pervert Darin... lol. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />

Glad you are having fun tearing into that engine. I agree some of this stuff is quite interesting, especially when you're not working on your daily driver or something that's pressured to get done.

New crank, new rod, EB's workover... what are your plans for this engine? Fix and sell or what?

your golden-brown rocker comment has me thinkin...

my rockers are a bit golden-brown...have been that color ever since i bought the truck 25,000 miles ago...i thought that's what color they were supposed to be.
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>>>*Golden brown is cool, it is just stain and varnish from the oil. Dark chocolate is nervous territory, black is called "Dang!".....*EB

Are you crazy for buying someone elses junk? No way! I've been buying "mechanic's specials" since I was 17 and still do. I got my turbo truck 3yrs/45,000 ago for $600 all it needed was some frame work and tires. My 85 SR5 runner for $500, needed an exhaust, brake work, and shocks. It could of used some quarters but the fender flares cover that.
Buy that junk Esquire,or anyone, If you can turn wrenches and have some time you can save thousands! As for the bearing disaster Id love to see some pics, can't say i've ever seen em' that way. Good luck w/it! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

thanks for putting my mind at ease EB. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

You are gonna love the pictures of the crankcase then T! While the outside of the block was clean and tidy, the walls of the crankcase and the main caps were BLACK. Not as in shiny or broken black...but if one was to try and picture what the end of a firepoker looks like after some use...that kind of sooty BURNT IN A FIRE kind of black. The sludge that was in the sump area was a fine mixture of uck and rod bearing materials...Thinking only the shell itself was left to weld itself to the assembly.

Plans for this motor? Who knows. I bought the car (yes its an 85' Celica) because it was cheap ($200), local (8 miles on a dolly) and I had nothing to work on (cant sit idle too long). With this mill being virgin...might just go with a standard rebuild using new crank and rods. The engine in the shed is the one I will use for EBs next "wunder if I did this" creation. I could use its crank and rods for the Celicas assembly since they are ready to rock at .050" and .025" already. Then have the block thats already at .040" over to turn inside out in search of POWER! Who knows, crank might be turnable...depends if that shiny molten metal cured quickly stuff is on the crank journal or is the journal. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Get me some of them forged rods that T has now...and make 300 rwp when we is done...all EFI of course. LOL

Celica is RED, fully loaded and nice interior. Could easily sell it for $3000 when done...but will more than likely keep it around until I find my 89-95 xtra-cab with a blown motor. Here truckie...come here.

~Darin <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/baby.gif" alt="" />

Too much fun!