|
andrewk, u seem to know ur stuff about engines ...
I've got a problem with one of my cars, and maybe you could offer some advice, or point me to where I can find some info.
I bought a car for $700 about 2 weeks ago. It's a '89 Cutlass Calais S, with a Quad 4 engine in it.
It needed some work and stuff, but it seemed healthy enough. Come to find out, the danged head gasket is blown. (So I'm told.) I don't have any coolant in my oil or trans fluid. I don't have any oil in my coolant (or trans fluid). There's no steam or water coming from the tail pipe. The engine runs pretty strong, except it idles like sh*t.
The car had a leaking lower radiator hose, which I replaced. I then replaced the thermostat, and radiator cap.
The car runs great until after about 15-20 min. of running, the temp gauge goes to redline, and then the temp light comes on.
Anyway, since I couldn't find any leaks, I took it to a shop, and they did a leak test on it, and said it was leaking at the head gasket. If that's so, it must be a very small leak on the intake side, or maybe the exhaust, but somewhere that's soooo hot, that not even steam escapes.
They told me it was gonna cost $1000 labor because I needed a head gasket, I might need a new cylinder head, and they said the engine was "knocking a little" on the bottom end. (Which it does rattle kinda bad once it gets way up in temp, but runs normal for a noisy Quad 4 when it's cooled down.)
I've called around to a few places, asking about repairs to this engine. One shop I called told me that they wouldn't put head gaskets in Quad 4 engines. I asked them why, they said because 9 times outta 10, the gasket takes the cylinder head with it when it blows. So, I asked em about just dropping another cylinder head on it, and they said 9 times outta 10, the bottom end goes out afterwards.
So, I'm shot either way.
I have two options, one is to drop a new cylinder head and gasket on it, the other is to rebuild the engine (including head and stuff).
So, what would you recommend for a guy thats mechanically inclined, has a repair manual, has all the basic tools and a few specialty tools, and a gravel driveway outside to work on. (Ya, no garage or shop for me to work in.)
Would it be costly or difficult to rebuild this engine? I wish I had more info on the block itself, I know thats a factor in it, but lets assume to block is in fair shape.
THX!
|
