I GIVE UP
12-13-2006, 07:24 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Chapin, SC
Posts: 52
Ok I rebuilt about 3 successful motors now. But this one I just give up on. Its an S5 NA with S4 TII center iron in it. I dont know where the TII iron came from. It all looked in good shape. I am rebuilding this thing for one of our SC group members. I have now been in the motor twice.
The first time she imediately started spitting white smoke (coolant). So I figured I pinched a seal. Never found one.
The second time and anther set of seals. The start up was perfect. Good stiff idle. No sign of coolant. Well it idled for a good hr or so. Coarse Id rev it here and there to keep it from flooding (running real rich). Well as I was on my 2nd short test drive (4blocks down the road) the coolant buzzer came on and sure enough there's the white smoke.
I cant take this thing apart again my wife just will not understand. I have had this car for a 5 weeks now. Waiting on parts porting etc. I am not even allowed to touch my poor vert now till feburary.
Any ideas welcome. Oh and ive now been working on this car everyday since Ive gotten all the parts I needed last wednesday.
12-13-2006, 07:55 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: MD
Posts: 558
my best idea for ya at this point is to get on ebay, find the lowest mi. pullout s5 n/a motor you can and get it and get it in the car. and move on with your life . 
for a nonturbo id think youll be ok if you can find a relatively lower mi. one. (i would not do this if you had a turbo engine, but for n/a i think an "ebay engine" might suffice)
12-13-2006, 08:45 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 300
Chris,
Sorry to hear about the mess bro. Who's car are you building? And nobody around has an S5 iron that you could pick up and throw in there? That has to be what it is, it's the only thing that's out of place. Let me know if I can be of any help. I know shipping an iron from here would be crazy expensive, but I'm sure I can find one if it comes down to it.
Zach
Sorry to hear about the mess bro. Who's car are you building? And nobody around has an S5 iron that you could pick up and throw in there? That has to be what it is, it's the only thing that's out of place. Let me know if I can be of any help. I know shipping an iron from here would be crazy expensive, but I'm sure I can find one if it comes down to it.
Zach
12-13-2006, 09:22 AM
#4
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Chapin, SC
Posts: 52
Believe it or not the guys name is actually Zach. From Charleston. Pretty much at this point ive lived in the garage for about 3 weeks now. If I pull that motor again now I might as well put a cot and tv in there with me cause Erins gonna kick me out. We are kinda shaky right now and that isnt helping any.
12-13-2006, 09:44 AM
#6
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Chapin, SC
Posts: 52
I thought about that the 1st time. I inspected the uim,mim,lim no liquid residue in any of the ports, but that is a nice thought. Im thinkin cracked iron that cant be seen till it gets hot then it starts leaking.
12-13-2006, 09:54 AM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Posts: 917
Chris,
Check the inner water jacket o-ring lands on all three irons for any cracks or missing metal. Check thoroughly.
Another thing it could be is if any water is getting into the engine otherwise. You said this is an NA, correct? I can't think of any off the top of my head unless there's an external leak that's working its way through the gasketting to the intake manifold, perhaps. Turbo rotor housings, for instance, have those lands for coolant o-rings (bout the diameter of a half-dollar) that can fail and produce "overheated-like" symptoms even though the motor itself isn't causing it.
Btw, what o-rings are you using during these builds?
B
Check the inner water jacket o-ring lands on all three irons for any cracks or missing metal. Check thoroughly.
Another thing it could be is if any water is getting into the engine otherwise. You said this is an NA, correct? I can't think of any off the top of my head unless there's an external leak that's working its way through the gasketting to the intake manifold, perhaps. Turbo rotor housings, for instance, have those lands for coolant o-rings (bout the diameter of a half-dollar) that can fail and produce "overheated-like" symptoms even though the motor itself isn't causing it.
Btw, what o-rings are you using during these builds?
B
12-13-2006, 01:44 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Minneapolis,MN
Posts: 500
Couple of other things.
Warm up the engine and pressureize the coolant system with 20 psi. Pull the plugs and listen for leaks.
If the engine is apart check the plates and housings with a straight edge and a feeler guage.
take some duct tape and seal off the water passages on each one of the plates. Fill them up with water and check for leaks especially in the ports.
Does the oil look like a fudge sunday after the engine runs?
Warm up the engine and pressureize the coolant system with 20 psi. Pull the plugs and listen for leaks.
If the engine is apart check the plates and housings with a straight edge and a feeler guage.
take some duct tape and seal off the water passages on each one of the plates. Fill them up with water and check for leaks especially in the ports.
Does the oil look like a fudge sunday after the engine runs?