deandre791

Hi Everyone....i've been a little quiet here on Club Lexus ever since 2014 when I got my 96 Lexus ES 300 for $775 CASH on craigslist !! With 120K yes it had a few problems rear control arms bent and Wheel Missing? Studs broken....

Me and my cousin fixed the car on the spot with camry parts and drove it away within 24 hours of the transaction !! but that was 2 1/2 years ago. And I named her Lexi (short for Alexus) Yes...I know typical.

I'm a Mechanic by trade independent have been for about 2 years now but here's my problem.....

Coming back from out of town the other night...I was not driving...leaving a concert about 80 miles away from home....Buddy says it just died on the highway...Called ORielly's (commercial account) they delivered a battery on the spot still nothing....Got it towed home and came to the conclusion that the Engine is defiantly seized so I'm thinking Oil Pump Failure and here we are....

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/sludge%20buildup.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/sludge%20buildup.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo sludge buildup.jpg"/></a>

Found this at a local salvage yard for $550 with supposedly 140K on it coming out of a totaled vehicle so I feel good about the situation. I started tearing it apart at today minus upper intake plenum which I already did the other day when I had some free time got both axles out and I'm basically pulling the motor and tranny.

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/newmotor.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/newmotor.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo newmotor.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/Removal.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/Removal.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Removal.jpg"/></a>

Here is how clean I keep her on an everyday basis when I'm not wrenching minus the blue bumper I got it at LKQ for basically the "round" fog lights I'm sure someone up here can chime in and help me with that after my swap

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/clean.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/clean.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo clean.jpg"/></a>

Just a few teasers to show you me and the family love these vehicles
1991 LS 400 (Recent timing/belt water pump job) By yours Truly
The "Old Ladys" as we say here in the South (North Carolina) 07 ES350 (Black Turtle Wax)
^New Goodyears last month $600+ whatever

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/meandbyron.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/meandbyron.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo meandbyron.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/oldlady.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/oldlady.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo oldlady.jpg"/></a>

gabzor

I thought 96's didn't have sludge issues, but damn maybe just wasn't maintained well?
congrats on the new es350, that engine removal, it came out so clean you make it look easy lol

mmatheny

I "acquired" an old '65 Plymouth Belvedere from my aunt for my first car around '72 and she had NEVER had detergent oil put in it (yes, you could get oil without detergents back then - not sure if you can now)

deandre791

Thanks yes it looked easy but I had a few hiccups in the road but nothing like the crankshaft being stuck...so I'm still figuring out what I'm going to do about getting the torque converter off???

So while I get my thoughts together I'm going to swap my lower intake onto the "new" engine because this one came out of a 98 so I dont want anything holding me up when I get ready 2 start it or check engine light problems. Decided I would do the Valve Cover Gaskets and the rear plugs while im here the front can be taken care of at ANYTIME.

e<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/new%20valve%20cover.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/new%20valve%20cover.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo new valve cover.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/Plugs.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/Plugs.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Plugs.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/Crank.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/Crank.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Crank.jpg"/></a>

I'm guessing I will have to pull the heads and main bearings and such to get the torque converter...Carquest said $175 for a new one with a $75 core !! YIKES

deandre791

About 10PM tonight I had the bright idea of using the tractor blade to hold the engine on the ground to give me "leverage" to break the crankshaft free to get to the rest of the torque converter bolts boy that saved some bank !!

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/seized%20crank.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/seized%20crank.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo seized crank.jpg"/></a>

DRACO A5OG

$100 net is not bad at all. I got a new rebuilt one from Transtar for $119.

If you can turn the TC, just unbolt the 6 14MM bolts, it will just plop off. If you can not turn the TC, then finish the engine repairs so you can turn the TC ( turn it in forward direction )

Post a pic of the front of the TC, make sure you did not take the fluid pump bushing with it, if you did then you will need to replace the pump with new bearing. I just posted a tutorial on how to.

speedkar9

Nice pics and build thread, keep it updated pics, I'd be interested in how it all fits back together.

I always wanted to tear into an engine and see those things you normally can't when the engine is inside the car.

deandre791

Okay, the crank being stuck holding up the torque converter made me step away from it for a day and get caught up on some of my customers vehicles....a few serpentine belts, a few overheating issues....its 75 degrees this week here in North Carolina so I'm most likely about to start being busy so I gotta hurry !!

My cousin should be here about 7PM to help me mate the engine and transmission together I didn't want to go through that step alone... But heres some progress I'm swapping lower intake manifolds because the fuel line was cut and I'm just OCD about this type of thing in a swap when its not the exactly model that the engine came out of...my "NEW" engine is a 98 so I really want to change ALL obvious things while its out. Also the flywheel, you can never be to safe IMHO.

I looked in the corner and seen that I had a pile of O'Reilly parts that have been replaced in the last 2 years...why not warranty them all out and get some shiny new stuff ??

Man this engine seems clean I'm going to have to fix my small power steering leak ASAP

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/radiator.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/radiator.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo radiator.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/axle.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/axle.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo axle.jpg"/></a>
<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/intake_1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/intake_1.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo intake_1.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/flywheel.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/flywheel.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo flywheel.jpg"/></a>

deandre791

Okay finished this up about 11:30 PM nothing is plugged up or anything basically just getting the mounts lined up....I forgot to get the leveler from my cousin !! Anyway....new exhaust manifold gaskets....and tomorrow I should be wiring everything and be ready to fire it up...I think I lost the power steering pump bolts which have to be done before I put the motor all the way into position.

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/manifold.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/manifold.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo manifold.jpg"/></a>

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<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/motor%20in.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/motor%20in.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo motor in.jpg"/></a>

deandre791

Okay guys haven't had time to update but I have been driving the car for about 2 weeks now...took me a few days to get rid of the no start issue. All of a sudden I got the bright idea of seeing if there were any DTCs...duh It was something about Ignition Coil malfunction so I go to swap out to my old coil packs and here we are. The connector on the inside was broken so I did this and it fired RIGHT UP!! Had me stumped for a whole weekend.

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/coilconnectors.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/coilconnectors.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo coilconnectors.jpg"/></a>

After I got it up and going I did a few things here and there but other than that it didn't really need alot it runs like a kitten...and burns out a mean first gear.
Oh yeah...scored this at LKQ on the 40% Off Easter sale so I can stop sticking out like a sore thumb lol

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/lkq.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/lkq.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo lkq.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/bumper.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/bumper.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bumper.jpg"/></a>


<a href="http://s56.photobucket.com/user/deandre791/media/Car%20Stuff/backedin.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g180/deandre791/Car%20Stuff/backedin.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo backedin.jpg"/></a>

DRACO A5OG

Good job,

If I may suggest, put a heat gun to the lip and straighten her right out. :-) so she does not look like she has a busted lip :-D

deandre791

Never thought of a heat gun I actually just noticed she had busted lip last night =( I was so happy that it was the right color !

DRACO A5OG

Easy Peasy, had to straighten out mine. Sorry for noticing but I could not help myself, sowwy, I need keep my OCD to myself. :-/

But she does look great either way :-)