oh jeeez - That really isn't good!

[allandwf]

Surely someone can define if this is an interference engine! Personally I have no idea but I would confirm before I started yanking the head off even if I had to fit a new cam belt and test the compression!

Yes it is , or no one would have reported bent valves in the past. Only non interference engine I've come across was a modern Fiat Cinquecento.

 

[Oneball]

my ebay endoscope won't squeeze through the plug hole

You should be able to see the top of the piston through the plug hole with the endoscope as long as it’ll go down the plug hole but not through the seat.

You could pull the cam covers. If you’ve bent valves chances are they won’t be touching the cam lobes.

Others have got the heads off in-situ, think there’s a thread from a guy in the Middle East on here.

 

[Lozzer]

Yes it is , or no one would have reported bent valves in the past. Only non interference engine I've come across was a modern Fiat Cinquecento.

And the Pinto in my Ford Capri

 

[Lozzer]

OK
So I pulled the timing assembly apart this afternoon and there are 2 big lessons:

1 I originally bought an overhauled water pump off the forum to avoid the crazy cost of the new one. The water pump pully fell off within 10 miles and the loose timing belt nearly trashed the engine but I was lucky and stopped immediately. By the way, the replacement oil pressure sender I bought from the same source didn't work either and has been tehbain of my life ever since.

2 Rather than throwing the pump/pulley away and starting from scratch, a local engineer put a collar on the pump shaft and re attached the pulley - that was what let go again yesterday for the second time.

I have an endiscope off Ebay but I am not sure shoving it down those small spark plug appertures will really be definitive?
If I want to pull the cylinder heads and take a properly look is that engine out or can I keep digging below the manifold whilst the engine is still in the car?

If it is engine out, is that feasible with a simple engine crane in a home garage?

Many thanks

Ian

To add it has been known for the bottom end bearings to be damaged as a consequence too. Not every time though.

 

[Ian H]

ok so I managed to find a skinny endoscope after drowning my sorrows in a bottle of red last night.
Below are views down the sparkplug holes.
Not sure exactly what the 3200 piston heads should look like but clearly they shouldn't have chunks out of the side of them!




Presumably this is where the valves hit the crown of the piston.
Just to make things even better, I have lost the computer folder with the Maserati service/maintenance manuals - arrggghhhh **** !
Does anyone have a digital copy they could share?
I assume given lack of spares and stupid prices a DIY rebuild is going to be a nightmare/ridiculously expensive.
Can anyone recommend a rebuild shop?
Does anyone want a lovely maserati without an engine?
Many thanks
Ian

 

[Oneball]

Valves and guides are easy, if that’s all it is. Pull the heads and take it from there. It’ll only cost you time.

Cambelt is already off so you’re part way there already

 

[CatmanV2]

Valves and guides are easy, if that’s all it is. Pull the heads and take it from there. It’ll only cost you time.

Cambelt is already off so you’re part way there already

Wow, that's an impressive look on the bright side!
@Ian H what an absolute bugger!

C

 

[Ian H]

But I assume it is the top of the piston we are looking at from the sparkplug holes with their edges cracked off.
That's £3,500 just for a new set of pistons before you even start on valves, conrods, bearings, thrust washers...
Oh boy, I am off to find another bottle of red!

 

[Oneball]

But I assume it is the top of the piston we are looking at from the sparkplug holes with their edges cracked off

Yep those are the tops of the pistons. There’s no significant damage to any of the pistons in the photos that I can see, definitely nothing broken or cracked off.

 

[CatmanV2]

Yep those are the tops of the pistons. There’s no significant damage to any of the pistons in the photos that I can see, definitely nothing broken or cracked off.

What's happening at 6 o'clock in the pictures? I'm hugely curious!

C

 

[Tallman]

ok so I managed to find a skinny endoscope after drowning my sorrows in a bottle of red last night.
Below are views down the sparkplug holes.
Not sure exactly what the 3200 piston heads should look like but clearly they shouldn't have chunks out of the side of them!

View attachment 99454
View attachment 99452View attachment 99453

Presumably this is where the valves hit the crown of the piston.
Just to make things even better, I have lost the computer folder with the Maserati service/maintenance manuals - arrggghhhh **** !
Does anyone have a digital copy they could share?
I assume given lack of spares and stupid prices a DIY rebuild is going to be a nightmare/ridiculously expensive.
Can anyone recommend a rebuild shop?
Does anyone want a lovely maserati without an engine?
Many thanks
Ian

Two of the 4 valves seem to have caused some damage to the piston here (at the arrows)? That should have bent them, and the other two might need to be looked at too

 

[allandwf]

Look up Soprano stu on eBay, Stuart Lockley. I'm sure he listed a 3200 engine recently.

 

[Oneball]

What's happening at 6 o'clock in the pictures? I'm hugely curious!

C

This bit?



It’s part of the piston, it’s meant too look like that. It’s not a common design, I’m guessing it’s probably to do with swirl/burn rather than compression ratio, could be piston rock but that’s usually the skirt’s job.

 

[Zep]

I think they mean the witness mark on the inside of the crown where the valve has hit it. It looks like there is a little bit of a dent in the edge of the crown.

 

[Oneball]

I think they mean the witness mark on the inside of the crown where the valve has hit it. It looks like there is a little bit of a dent in the edge of the crown.

It looks very minor, assuming it’s not too deep Id just take any pointy bits off that with some emery so there’s no hot spots for detonation.

 

[CatmanV2]

This bit?

View attachment 99482

It’s part of the piston, it’s meant too look like that. It’s not a common design, I’m guessing it’s probably to do with swirl/burn rather than compression ratio, could be piston rock but that’s usually the skirt’s job.

My word! Thanks

C

 

[Ian H]

So sorry just to be clear, the piston crowns where it looks like there is a 'chunk broken off' is actually a design feature to modify in cylinder flow?
I have to admit on closer inspection they do all seem to have the same 'chunk' missing and there is no apparent scoring of the cylinder wall which presumably you would have seen if it had been distorted.

 

[lozcb]

So sorry just to be clear, the piston crowns where it looks like there is a 'chunk broken off' is actually a design feature to modify in cylinder flow?
I have to admit on closer inspection they do all seem to have the same 'chunk' missing and there is no apparent scoring of the cylinder wall which presumably you would have seen if it had been distorted.

Correct , but it does look like at least one piston has had a minor connection with the valves at some point ........... Remove the heads now , and most likely if lady fortune is on your side .....you may just get away with replacing some valves ................pinkies crossed for you

 

[flexwing]

So sorry just to be clear, the piston crowns where it looks like there is a 'chunk broken off' is actually a design feature to modify in cylinder flow?
I have to admit on closer inspection they do all seem to have the same 'chunk' missing and there is no apparent scoring of the cylinder wall which presumably you would have seen if it had been distorted.

Yep, just had a look at some pictures of 3200 pistons and it's a feature of the design.

 

[azapa]

gosh sorry for that. I'd pop the heads off and be simultaneously searching for a decent used engine. for spares at least. I've seen far worse borescope images after interference wobblies, you may be favourably surprised. Good luck