Need advice for fix of engine in a QP III 4,9

Hi guys. Thanks for a great forum

I have bought a fine example of a Quattroporte III 1981 with auto transmission. The car is in great shape, but it has been standing approx 10-15 years after the left headgasket blew.... And it is very sad to note that the engine is stuck, and do not want to turn. There is some "dust" (may be residue of coolant) in the cylinder nr 5 towards the bulkhead.

A way to get this solved would be apprechiated!!

I do have a few concearns..
1) The bolts between the torque converter and the flywheel will not be possible to loosen as the engine do not want to turn.. That way, I see it as impossible to get the engine out. One way to get around it would be to MAKE the car turn around.
2) It I want to take off the left head only, the timing chain lock pin is not in the accessible area.

My thought would be to do like this:
1) Remove the inlet mamifold/carbs
2) Remove the exhaust header.
3) Drill off or grind of one link of the timing chain, -remove the left timing chain.
4) Pull off the head.
5) Pull off the sump.
6) Remove one connecting rod bearing cover, use a hammer and wood and knock the piston and cylinder liner out of the block in one unit.
7) Replace with another liner with a matching piston/rings.

Install as described below (in reversed order).


Thanks a lot guys! I really want this car on the road!! It is so cool....

Here is a small clip of it....: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fIlFl-qUQc[/ame]

 

Hi Erik,

The first thing I would do is redecorating the walls in your garage. The lovely Maserati will not run nicely before the horses are gone

I agree in your theory, but why don't pull the engine with the tranny in place? Is it not possible to get out of the QP in one piece? You will still have some difficulties getting the heads of, but you have the answer to that. Just don't bend any valves. I guess you will like to clean the engine inside, inspect the bearings and oil pump after so many years of standstill with water inside the crankcase.

Let me know when the engine is out. I would love to have a look at it.

Best regards
Marius

 

Have you tried soaking the cylinders yet?

I think I'd do all eight of them. Let it sit a week and make sure there's always some fluid in them.

Kroil and Liquid Wrench both score high.

Any evidence of water/coolant in the oil?

You can probably get a whole host of suggestions in the Technical section as to what to do & use.

 

This Trident is so arrogant, it doesn't care about fancy horses around it. It has its own cromed fork in the grill to combat that matter...

Yes engine + transmission would be one way to aproach it all. I have to check the opportunities once the car is on the hoist. I just try to gather as much knowledge in advance to reduce the amount of hazzle. Maseratis likes to be taken care of in their own way in order not to become evil to the mechanic.

 

Fastest way to remove the engine in a 4 porte is remove EACH head with the header attached, you can take the cam gears off if you release the tension on the cam chain and then remove the idler gear, this is the long way around to save a cam chain that should probably be replaced anyway. Once you lift the heads off your down to the short block, you can pull the block with the torque converter on the engine. The engine will not come out with the headers bolted to the heads, so any though of lifting the entire engine with the headers installed won't work.


These cars have bad head gaskets, i rebuild them using solid copper head gaskets.

 

Thanks ALOT! So what you're saying is that I should take off the gears from the cams so the chain will come of the cams without taking off the normal chain lock pin? (After having the tentioner released) And then unscrew the healt bolts, and the connection between the aft section of the header to the rest of the exhaust system, and then slide the heads with the headers still on forward and up? Sounds pretty amazing if that will work!

Thanks

 

Why don`t you post your thread within the QPIII-section here?

 

Where is that? Can only see a forum for Maserati here.

Have you started Maserati trading with your website and quit as president of Maserati Club Deutschland?

 

You'll probably get more exposure for ideas and solutions on the Technical sub-forum (all makes):
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=4

Search for QPIII threads on this forum, there are several.

 

Correct, you will need to realign the cam marks after you rebuild anyway so just remove the nuts and the cams will slide out, the chain will now have a lot of slop. using a long flat end screw driver ( about 20-24" long) you need to manipulate the chain around the crank gear untill you can get at the master link.It's a pain in the ass! Now unbolt the head bolts and remove the round header clamp that is at the very end of the header. Now you will lift the head and header out if one piece (it weighs about 100 pounds). I've done this many times. Your other option is to spend the next 3 hours laying on your back undoing the header bolts one at a time.

 

Its here:

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328560

..and: I was NEVER President of The German Maserati Club. I am still a member that is responsible for their magazine! Nothing more - but nothing less!

 

Hi There is no QP III section here; just Maserati. So you are in the right place. Indeed many of the motor related threads and comments will work here as it is still the 4.9. I think Walter may mean to look in the QP III Catch all thread which is fairly well used for odd bits. However, if you can post some pictures of your journey then you are in the right place.

I am heading out to my mechanics after the New Year as he has pulled the motor on my 1981 and has it apart. I will ask him his experience and post if I can.

 

Thank you very much William. I apprechiate it. The car is at a workshop/storage facility that is closed until 5th of Jan. Will post some pics when I get in there.

Happy New Year!
Erik, Oslo.