September 23, 2007
After some time going around, store after store, asking prices for new parts (tight budget…), I finally found the “right” price at a nearby shop… Only after a fair bit of problems like I couldn’t get an oil pump ANYWHERE in this country (ford, parallel market, whatever…), and mixed head gasket set’s.

New 0.29mm oversize pistons, gudgeon pins and rings

0.5mm conrod big end bearings

0.75mm crank bearings (the limit!!!)

Another crank bearing

Much needed new water pump

Normally when you ask, in a common shop, for head bolts they sell ford’s spec special stretch bolts. I got 10.9 strength common bolts… They are not designed to stretch at all, and are a bit on the heavy duty side… NICE!!!

Some other important parts for a reconstrution, oil filter, oil pressure sensor and thermostatic water valve…
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3.1- New Parts |
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Posted by h0tr0d
September 22, 2007
Disassembly and inspection:

Block still in place

Very nice con rod bearing’s… NOT!

The 3rd con rod bearing “spinned” inside the housing (lower in the pic)
Thankfully there was no need resurface the housing!

‘81 block in a ‘89 car…

1978 part inside my engine!

Very polished cylinder liner with some scoring

Old std piston and gudgeon pin

Camshaft in bad condition
Note that the clean metal was the only part of the cam in contact with the follower!

This is why the cam was worn like that. 1mm less in the center of followers.

‘90 EFI head

Oil cooler in wrong position

Had no idea that the oil cooler had a no-return valve built-in…


A bit rusty flywheel

Water pump in an unbelievable state, note the rust blister’s on the vane’s surface!

Clutch (still good…)

Gearbox after cleaning a bit

THAT’S a lot of part’s!
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Posted by h0tr0d
September 22, 2007
Well, at some point, the car’s engine started to make strange knocking sound… Very worrying!
So I decided put away the car, buy another and collect money to fix the ford.
Bought a Seat Marbella 903cc (nice little car, economical, easy to park…) to satisfy my needs in terms of transportation. http://marbella.no.sapo.pt
A year has passed since I’ve been collecting money and knowledge to put the car running again with a bit more horsepower!
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Posted by h0tr0d
September 22, 2007

… there was a happy ‘89 XR3i owner that drove it problem-free.
When I bought it, I already knew that a new gearbox was in order, so I asked few, but good, friends to assist me in replacing it.

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1- Start your engines!!! or perhaps not... |
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Posted by h0tr0d