I think one of the big ends is going on my st185, can anybody tell me if a St205 crankshaft might fit?

It's early days yet, i will give it a oil chang to see if i'm right, but it sounds quite serious.

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Exup

Yes a 205 crank will fit

Take the sump off and inspect the bottom end... of easier still, remove the oil filter, cut it in half and inspect the inside for debris

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Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
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Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

I found no shell material in the oil, i think it may be a cracked piston, will find out later today.

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Exup

if you blip the throttle from idle does it rattle?

That's often a sign of tired ends

On these engines, the first sign of worn big ends seems to be loud rattling on cold startup for a couple of seconds until oil pressure builds.

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

When the big ends went on my185 it sounded like a metal clicking noise to start with which progressively got louder until it sounded like someone shaking a box of knives and forks in the engine.

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Vice Chairman
1990 White UK Celica ST185 - Project DTM
1997 Cream BMW R1200C (as seen in James Bond "Tomorrow Never Dies")
2005 Jaguar X-type 3.0 Sovereign AWD Automatic
Blood Bikes - https://www.freewheelers.org.uk/

Agree with Chris, strangely the ST205 doesn't seem to suffer as much from my experience. Maybe due to a better oil pressure relief valve arrangement?

Under what conditions can you hear the "death rattle"?

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JP
GT4DC Treasurer

Grey St185 RC
Silver BMW E46 M3
Multicolour yawn Honda VFR400
Silver Honda Civic Type-R

Well i took the sump of and found bearing fragments, i haven't taken any big end caps of, as soon as i seen the bits i decided to put it back together.

Guys is it worth putting a second hand engine or a short block in or should i have the crank reground?

What do you reckon is the most cost effective?

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Exup

i guess you'll need to pull the engine come what may. Until you assess the damage the solution isn't obvoius either way. New bearings aren't that expensive if the crank is ok

Exup - whatever you decide that Crank needs to be assessed for serviceability, and a new set of bearings fitted... and if you are doing that lot then you aren't far off a full engine build.

I'd recommend taking the car off the road and building up the engine if you are ok to spare the car?

If not then find a 205 engine, it has several enhancements of the 185 engine...

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Kris
95 ST205 - slept for 10 years, now waking up...
Avensis
http://www.gtfours.co.uk
_______________________________________
Turbocharging - the replacement for displacement

I have heard the 205 engine is better, i might look for a short block. Anyone have a spare and want to sell it?

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Exup

There are compatibility issues with 205, especially the head end of things as manifolds are different, throttle body size & turbo position are different so it's difficult to run the 185 intercooler. Also 205 injectors are bigger so would require aftermarket ECU or change to 185 injectors (if they fit).

The 205 setup is much better if you fancy going for aftermarket ECU, and an easy mechanical swap. Either rigging up a pre-rad for 205 CC setup or fitting a FMIC. Pretty much everything else goes together with no problem using 185 mounts

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

If it is any help - ST185 injectors fit the ST205 head and St205 fuel rail.

IMHO unless you are running aftermarket ECU & FMIC (and want more power) then I would stick with ST185 engine. You would end up needing ECU, Loom, intercooler, turbo the full shebang. Oh and the ST185 loom IIRC is intertwined with the dash/car/power loom so is a right PITA to swap. (The St205 loom is much simpler and for engine only it seems)

If you have bits in the bottom of teh sump I think I would have shut it back up again as well Probably easiest to get a good known used engine and drop it in. Then rebuild you old one if you really wanted.

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JP
GT4DC Treasurer

Grey St185 RC
Silver BMW E46 M3
Multicolour yawn Honda VFR400
Silver Honda Civic Type-R

In my case, I stuck with the 185 loom and fitted an aftermarket ECU. Much simpler. Agree the 205 loom is completely different and a major rewiring job to get it to fit.

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

I have got a st205 Gt4 block coming i hope i can put my old cylinder head on! Are the head bolts from the 205 block in the right spacing as the st 185 block?

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Exup