[Shotimes] well the plunge of repair starts today...

[Mark Mucher]

Anybody else think he should start by looking at rod bearings?

mm in sunny FL 


-----Original Message-----
From: shotimes-admin@autox.team.net [mailto:shotimes-admin@autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Joe Masters
Sent: Thursday, March 16, 2006 10:03 AM
To: shotimes
Subject: [Shotimes] well the plunge of repair starts today...

Howdy, not sure if anybody remembers but awhile back my car got low on
coolant while i was on the interstate.. so i was watching the temp gauge
slowly rise.. it wasnt in a dangerious level.. about halfway to the top.  I
figured I was fine since its been up there before and no problems.  Ok so i
was crusing at 70.. the car just loses power.. like i had my foot on the
pedal so the engine is running but its slowly just decreasing speed and not
putting out horsepower.  Kindof like it was only running cause I had it in
gear and it was rolling.  So as soon as I take my foot off the gas it dies
immediately and i coast to a stop.  The car wasnt "steaming" or anything
like it was super overheated.  The red oil light came on and she wouldnt
crank for anything.  I had it towed home.. and I went out of town for
awhile.  Now im back and I have alot of time to tear it apart.  Well today I
took the Hood off, pulled the intake manifold off and im about to pull the
head covers and take a look inside.  I DID already check the spark plugs and
they looked perfect.  No wierd fluids or oil in the wells.  FYI i did change
my plugs and plug wires about 1k miles ago along with the head gasket seals
on front and back(plug seals also).  Has new dynomax exhaust and new brakes,
the double size radiator.  Everything else is stock.  Ok so I dont want to
just get rid of the car cause i love it.  This SHO is my baby and I want to
do whatever I can to fix it.  I dont mind dropping a good chunk of cash into
her but frankly... I dont know what to replace/fix!  The car wont crank but
acts like it wants to.  I dont think its a fuel pump/filter problem cause
its getting gas into the intake but she wont fire up and start.  It sounds
very sluggish like its really tight inside the pistons.  Maybe i warped
something.. or maybe the temp thing was just a concincidence and something
ELSE is wrong.

Anyways... i'm going outside to take the head covers off and Im just curious
what should I look for ?  I'm guessing any wierd colored liquids or chunks
of oil built up from the heat..  Any suggestions on stuff I can
check/replace that might of caused this ?  I am dreading having it towed to
a shop just cause of the Money factor.  Plus I want to do all the work
myself cause thats basically my hobby.

Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.

~Joe Masters
93' MTX 103k
Black/Grey
Baton Rouge, LA