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Engine Woes


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#1 bigrob

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 11:31 PM

So, my 1989 998 has just rolled over 67,000. In its 25 year life span, its spent 14 in a garage. So thats 62,000 miles in 11 years, 14 years of nothing, then 5000 in the last 8 months.

Now. She rattles, bangs pops and farts, smokes and smells generally, is pretty sluggish. I know they're not quick, but flat out at 62 and 0-30 in nearly 10 seconds, is a bit pants.

Im going to be eventually swapping the engine out for something a bit more special, but that wont be for a year or so. In the mean time, i need my car to be relatively reliable for the daily commute.

So, would it be worth me holding onto the crappy wheezy smokey engine i have for another year or so, or would it be better to buy a lower mileage, better running replacement till the new one (hopefully) gets built.

#2 Dusky

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Posted 19 August 2014 - 11:54 PM

blue or white smoke?
After all these years it WILL need a proper tune up/service.

#3 bigrob

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 01:03 AM

Kinda bluey grey. Sometimes whitey/grey.

Ive changed the oil 3 times, new filters, new plugs, checked the timing, tuned the carb and set the valve clearances, checking them weekly

#4 lsto

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 04:18 AM

Get it rolling roaded. A good tuner can get and engine breathing fire again and also help diagnose and rectify faults along the way.

You never know, you little car may have a few extra ponies to give.

#5 Carlos W

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 05:07 AM

Does it use oil?

A compression test would tell you a lot.

It could have a ring sticking, valves may not be seating properly.

Does it smoke all the time, or just on start up, or when you back off?

#6 The Matt

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 06:43 AM

Rather than spend a couple of hundred quid on a temporary engine swap, I'd look into spending a couple of hundred quid on a temporary car for the commute.

You can buy semi-decent runarounds for 300 quid and in a year or so you'll sell it for the same price as you've paid for it.

#7 lordyoung1980

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Posted 20 August 2014 - 07:45 AM

Try putting some redex down the bores to soak for a few days. Leave the plugs out and crank it over to blow it out,refit the plugs and give it a good run. I did this with an old Land Rover years ago and it did wonders.

#8 bigrob

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Posted 21 August 2014 - 11:34 AM

I think im just gonna strip it down a bit, de-coke the head, new manifold and head gasket and like you say rolling road. What's a rolling road session cost?

#9 surfblue

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Posted 21 August 2014 - 11:23 PM

 

Now. She rattles, bangs pops and farts, smokes and smells generally

 

Ive been out with a few girls like that too, classy chicks!






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