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| 1997 1.3L Engine Saga; Gary's Exodus | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sep 6 2010, 11:53 AM (5,398 Views) | |
| Stately | Sep 7 2010, 02:20 PM Post #16 |
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Geo cheerleader
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Its a used 81K miles, compression tested and checked out. 30 day return. 6 month warrantee included for $550. Option to add another 6 months for $99 during first 30 days. Sounds pretty good to me. I'd still have Gary's old one to cherry pick parts off if needed. |
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| Bill CNC | Sep 7 2010, 05:09 PM Post #17 |
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At that price, ... I would assume it is a short block with no manifolds or fuel system parts? I would STILL put a NEW Oil pump and Timing Belt. |
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| Stately | Sep 7 2010, 05:34 PM Post #18 |
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Geo cheerleader
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1.3L 4 cylinder longblock for '97 Metro (claimed). Pretty sure no manifolds or fuel system. Would guess it has timing belt, but I would replace it with new. New Oil Pump is a good idea, Water Pump too. Thanks. |
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| slander | Sep 7 2010, 05:49 PM Post #19 |
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Tech Certified
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WD40 works great as a protective barrier against water. I'll usually spray down block/heads with WD40 then bag it. Beware: Lots of guys here love PB. Don't use it to spray on anything steel! PB will will actually CAUSE rust! |
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| Stately | Sep 7 2010, 10:06 PM Post #20 |
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Geo cheerleader
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I buy WD40 by the gallon (wife goes thru it like water to clean rusted/dirty metal antiques for resale). Use it to clean grease/grime/rust/etc on lots of engine parts--good suggestion! Thanks for heads-up on PB. Edited by Stately, Sep 7 2010, 10:07 PM.
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| Stately | Sep 8 2010, 01:48 PM Post #21 |
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Geo cheerleader
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Change of plans: Gary will get a transplant instead of a rebuild. (Fractured Piston Skirt) While a rebuild could be better for him in the long run, several realities were pointed out to this automotive neophyte that could not be ignored- • Economics: Being new to this engine triage thing, I got sucked in thinking "broken piston--$17 replacement--that's not bad". Oh, "ring set--$37 more--ok". All four cylinders while things are apart, makes sense--$219--all right. Add pump, gaskets, valve job--$456--this is creeping up! Then the reality check (thank you Bill CNC!)--$800-$1200 to do it right--WHOA NELLIE! We're into engine replacement prices now, an option previously thought to be outside of the budget. Upon looking at this transplant route, $550 (including shipping!) for a used 81K mile, compression tested, 6 month warranted engine seemed to be a clear winner. • Cosmic Forces: As friend Reid pointed out re: shattered piston skirt, "As many years as I've worked on these things, it would be a cosmic first if you did not have deep scouring requiring boring or junking"--ouch! My hopes of just honing were simply unrealistic (as many of you pointed out), plus its quite possible the engine is entirely beyond resurrection. Gary has defied all odds, logic and physical laws as we know them by functioning for 4 years with a broken piston skirt. Amazing! However, his tapping was caused by metal-on-metal contact for many thousands of miles--likely an ultra-deep rut has been carved into the wall of #3, fatiguing the metal deeper than a boring would cure (even if visually ok). • Time Commitment: Not having a garage to use for a rebuild, it would be logistically and temporally challenging work to do outside on the gravel parking pad. Plus, I WANT GARY BACK NOW! Reid has graciously offered his garage, engine hoist, tools, and expertise for an engine transplant operation--can't turn that down. Much Deadlift for you, Reid! So, the plan is still to document the whole thing with before, during, and after pictures. And there will still be many questions. First questions: What goes on the shopping list for this operation? Which gaskets, hoses, etc.? Think Water Pump, Oil Pump (if in budget, thanks Bill CNC), Timing Belt (if it doesn't void warrantee) would also be desirable. Thanks so much, everyone! |
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| Spock | Sep 8 2010, 05:02 PM Post #22 |
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Live Long and Prosper.
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you could probably sell Gary's old heart and liver for a hundred bucks or so and recoup some of the expense of the transplant. I am a big fan of replacing spark plugs, caps and rotors and wires. It's just cheap insurance against aggravation. |
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| Stately | Sep 8 2010, 05:27 PM Post #23 |
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Good idea--even if the heart turns out to be necrotic, I could sell it to the Nambé for reincarnation! * Plugs, caps, rotors & wires--check. Thanks! -------- * From my 80yr old dad in Tucson: "The Nambe ware from Pojoaque, NM was supposedly made from 'aluminum' engine blocks at the Nambe Pueblo there. Our bowls and other Nambe pieces are harder than aluminum and keep a shiny finish that does not tarnish." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nambé Edited by Stately, Sep 8 2010, 05:36 PM.
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| Bad Bent | Sep 8 2010, 08:33 PM Post #24 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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My transplants were shipped on a pallet. They were out of Automatics so I had to switch over the clutch assy. (which looked good) and anything that looked better was put or left on the transplant. I got new vacuum hoses. You'd so well to inspect/clean the EGR ports. YOu will want new fluids and clean the TB coolant hoses. I wish I had put a new clutch in. It took me maybe 4-6 hours.Now, I'd take a lot of pictures for comparison later.
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| Stately | Sep 9 2010, 10:37 AM Post #25 |
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Geo cheerleader
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As there has been a change in direction of this project, a new thread has been created: Edit: slander merged threads, new thread obsolete. Thanks slander Rebuild goes transplant . . . Thanks all. Edited by Stately, Sep 9 2010, 02:38 PM.
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| Stately | Sep 9 2010, 10:42 AM Post #26 |
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Geo cheerleader
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Thanks for the great info, Bad Bent! The organ traffickers claim Gary's donor is blood-type AT, so there shouldn't be a rejection. |
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| Stately | Sep 9 2010, 11:04 AM Post #27 |
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Geo cheerleader
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Time for another "stupid question": Gary's donor heart won't get here until late next week (at the earliest), and ER scheduling is also a couple weeks out. So, how bad an idea is it to put his oil pan back on and let him take short strolls away from the hospital for a couple weeks? Has his juju already been stretched past the max? Thanks! (Towing coverage IS on his insurance!) |
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| Bill CNC | Sep 9 2010, 01:04 PM Post #28 |
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Seems you have 3 threads on this exact topic, ... Can we please just stick to one? |
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| Bill CNC | Sep 9 2010, 01:07 PM Post #29 |
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Make sure you have AAA or an equivalent and no were to go in a hurry. If it was mine, ... I wouldn't, ... You have a lot of spare parts to your engine that you could just ruin by casually driving it around. He's down for the count, ... leave him some dignity.
Edited by Bill CNC, Sep 9 2010, 01:08 PM.
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| slander | Sep 9 2010, 02:17 PM Post #30 |
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Tech Certified
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I merged the 2 threads together to clean up the board a little bit. Note: "Gary's Exodus" lol |
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It took me maybe 4-6 hours.
7:25 PM Jul 10