I've been having coolant problems for the last week and a half. I didn't know what the the cause was. Didn't want to think about messed up coolant seals.
Well today I went out to lunch. I hopped in my car and tried to start her up. WTF?! I wouldn't start. I tried 3 times. When it finally started, I saw a puff of white smoke.
Rebuild time....
At least I know a shop nearby that works on FD's.

 

Too bad, however make sure totake advantage of the situation and do some upgrading...Porting...Clutch...Flywheel..Silicon hoses

 

Is the shop Sevenspeed?

 

Where is the shop?

 

Oh man Vudoo, sorry to hear that. Guess you finally found out where the coolant was going. Good luck, Tom

 

It seems manatecu lost his motor today also on the way to work. I keep telling him "no it cant be! we need to check out this and that!" but it sounds like he may be right. He made 80K on the original engine and he seems to be taking the news well saying things like "Oh well now I have some more work to do" and "I'll have a new engine when I am done". I wonder what is the highest number of engines lost on the same day is.

Shawn

P.S. Manatecu if you are reading this and we still havent had a chance to go through everything I think it isnt blown! Seriously it is going to be something simple...

And if you are reading this much later after we checked everything out then I am sorry you lost an engine and I have scheduled some time for the project!

 

God alot of us lost our engines this summer to coolant seals.
Sorry about the confirmation Vuudoodoodoo. I told ya man.

 

Sorry to here about that bro. I guess we all have to accept the enivitable. But we can do everything we came to stall it for a good while. It freaks me out thinking about it cause I have ZERO dollars for a rebuild. But hey, what can you do.

Hope everything goes quick n' easy for you now. Like HUGH said, take advantage! Laters.

 

Sorry to hear about it I thought you were going to say you wrecked it which would be worse IMO. Good luck and DO take advantage of the time because it will be a long time before it happens again (crosses fingers *knocks on wood)

 

Sorry to hear that.....but make sure to take advantage of the rebuild

 

Time for 3 or 4 bottles (or more) of CRC Copper Block Weld. You have absolutely nothing to lose but $7.00 a bottle.

If that doesn't work 3 or 4 bottles of beer probably will.

 

i feel your woes

Same for me man.. same for me..

 

I second that! First, change out your spark plugs. I had the exact same symptoms a while ago. Was VERY hard to start, and when it eventually started, a good bit of white smoke out the exhaust. I was also losing coolant from somewhere. But the exhaust did not smell like coolant. Anyway, my plugs were totally fouled, so I put in new ones, threw some stop leak stuff in the coolant (I think I used Bars Leak), and I haven't had any more problems for the past 1400 miles.

Although I'm kinda looking forward to my engine going, so I can rebuild with a streetport Its got 90K on the original motor, so it's almost time

 

Bar's is old school and won't work - well, maybe.

They all use silicates except CRC Copper Block Weld which uses - well......Copper. K&W (manufactured by CRC) says Copper but look at the ingredients - none there. Can you say "stategic misrepresentation"?

 

Ron, I used the CRC copper first. Held for one week. Called CRC, they said use the K&W as the copper doesn't eat your water pump seals. K&W supposed to have the same ingredients as the copper but w/o the copper.

I don't know though, they look different and act different. Anyway, I'm on my second K&W weld and it's holding for 3 weeks.

I've even rigged up a coolant expansion tank from a 2002 Vulva C70 to eliminate air pockets. The coolant expansion tank of the C70 is alot like our AST except it's 3 -4 times the capacity and it's clear so I can see the coolant level. It's also small enough to fit behind my M2 IC. The downside is that it's a 22 psi cap instead of 19psi. It's working great. Coolant at the top of the filler neck.

 

One other note. I used a coolant combustion gas tester on my car and it doesn't change color, i.e. no combustion gases. But I still get the add coolant buzzer and light despite a brand new sensor.

So, with the new expansion tank, I can tell if I'm losing coolant internally. Now, no combustion gas leak into coolant with internal leaks means that I have a failing o-ring on the top of the engine block which normally sees vaccuum or low boost prior to being combusted as the rotor rotates to the side. That's my theory at least.

 

I think whatever works (when you are desperate like us) .........works! I've got 8,000 miles on my CRC Copper Block Weld and everything is holding tight. Granted, I caught mine when it was minor so anything may work in the case of a pinhole leak. If it does break loose I'll give it another treatment since everything else is nominal (77K on the original engine, and yes, I do drive it pretty hard). I hope they continue to market it but it sounds like they've had some problems........

I love innovative thinkers, and I think your new expansion tank is just great.

The only way you can really tell if you have a leak is to look for those "champagne" bubbles at the filler neck.
If you got 'em, you're leaking internally, if not - you're cool. Where it's coming from is anyones guess until you pull it apart. They usually don't show up until the coolant gets hot - my theory is that's when everything expands and the seal leaks manifest. If the bubbles are larger than champagne size it's time for a rebuild, and I can't wait to do mine, but until it breaks I ain't gonna fix it.

As far as the CRC eating water pumps - could be - but at $80.00 or so for a new pump at 77K, what me worry?

Yes, I am the thriftiest SOB on the forum.

 

WTF? does it still run? if the engine still runs then i wouldn't jump on the rebuild bandwagon yet. It could be fouled plugs, bad ground, clogged cat...

 

nrolfes1
Just cause it will run doesn't mean you can drive it. I Live three miles from work and in the AM> I can get to work before it starts it's above halfway climb. Comming home in the PM. is another story and climb it does. Looking at my options now to see wich way I'll go. Jack

 

Damn Rikki... you getting kickbacks from PFS now?

Nice Avatar, by the way.

 

poman,

I haven't heard of the c70 ast substitution. How did you fasten the tank into place? Is it a seamless plastic tank and how much was it?

sorry for hijacking the thread vudoo--hope you can get the engine woes fixed soon.

 

Dave at KDR makes strong rebuilds as well--if you're interested, give him a call at 610 614 1214. He's backed up until around september/october, so keep that in mind.

 

No, it's BPR in Salem, MA.

 

Yeah, the exhuast doesn't smell like coolant.I changed my plugs about 200 miles ago or so though...