I'm pretty sure I blew my engine and radiator last night. I'm lost as to what to do. I really want to fix it, but I can't find an engine/radiator around here. And the only place that will do it for me wants more than I make in 6 months to do it. If I can't fix it now I'd love to put it in the garage until I can, but my oh so understanding mother wants me to try to sell it either for scrap(um, NO) or put it on here. Anyone have any ideas for me. I'm heartbroken :'(
From the comment about the engine and radiator, I am thinking you overheated the engine...Is this right? What size motor? The 2300 is one that if overheated to the extreme could possibly have just blown a head gasket. That is not a hard fix and is relatively inexpensive. Is there any bottom end noise like a rod or main going out? If the thermostat stuck closed, the engine will overheat, boiling out the coolant and possibly warping a head bad enough to blow the head gasket. If thats all that happened, just pull the head, redo the valve stem seals, get the head resurfaced so it is flat, throw a new thermostat in it, a new head gasket, change the oil, add coolant and drive on.
Pinto's are cool because they are so easy to work on ;D
ranger/ capri/ areo sta/r mustang 2/ tbird/ mustang 79-93/ all have 2.3 that can be fitted to a pinto
Quote from: apintonut on September 10, 2008, 08:14:47 PM
ranger/ capri/ areo sta/r mustang 2/ tbird/ mustang 79-93/ all have 2.3 that can be fitted to a pinto
Just make sure the head is of the single spark plug variety, and if you swap out the whole thing, that it has the machining for the distributor and the mechanical fuel pump.
Quote from: apintonut on September 10, 2008, 08:14:47 PM
ranger/ capri/ areo sta/r mustang 2/ tbird/ mustang 79-93/ all have 2.3 that can be fitted to a pinto
What about the dip stick hole location?
Well, I pushed it into my garage today. Which was an adventure. I'm a pretty big girl, but thats a lot of car to push up hill. Anyway, heres what happened... Tuesday I was driving home from NC and I stopped to get gas and noticed coolant dripping. Didn't think much of it, refilled my radiator and went on my way. Stopped and checked it about every hour the rest of the ride. I make it to the exit before mine and can smell it over heating. So I start praying I can make it tot he exit where I can pull over. I make it off the exit ramp and my car dies and engine light comes on. I don't have any kind of temp gauge and had actually planned to put one in somewhere this weekend. I opened my radiator cap and it looks like chocolate milk. Everything under my hood was smoking. My first thought was a head gasket but everyone I've talked to (besides my boyfriend) is telling me I probably blew my whole engine if it got hot enough to shut off. Boyfriend seems to agree with me that I need to replace the head gasket and if thats not it replace the head and see if that works. Does this even remotely sound like the place to start?
Quote from: dick1172762 on September 11, 2008, 04:49:12 PM
What about the dip stick hole location?
The newer engine I have has both holes already there with one plugged. Just move the plug to the appropriate hole.
I would pull the head, look for cracks, and if the head looks good I would put a H/G on it and run it. If the head has crack(s), get another one. Also inspect the pistons and bores.
The radiator MIGHT be fine, if the H/G went (first) it will over heat the engine making the rad. spill out, which makes it run hot, which makes coolant get spit out.........
The "engine" light comes on when there is EITHER no oil pressure, or the coolant temp. is too high (IF both sending units are hooked up and working).
Don't get too upset until you take a good look. I have run these engines VERY HARD without major damage.
Bill
Quote from: 77turbopinto on September 12, 2008, 08:56:13 AM
I would pull the head, look for cracks, and if the head looks good I would put a H/G on it and run it. If the head has crack(s), get another one. Also inspect the pistons and bores.
The radiator MIGHT be fine, if the H/G went (first) it will over heat the engine making the rad. spill out, which makes it run hot, which makes coolant get spit out.........
The "engine" light comes on when there is EITHER no oil pressure, or the coolant temp. is too high (IF both sending units are hooked up and working).
Don't get too upset until you take a good look. I have run these engines VERY HARD without major damage.
Bill
I agree w/ turbo, I have run the dog out of these engines, they are very tough and don't crack heads that easily. If the coolant looked brown that is oil in the coolant. That also may mean coolant in the oil which is bad news for the bearings. It only takes a few drops of coolant to wipe the bearings. Pull the dipstick and see if it is brown and yucky as well as being overfilled. If not, pull the drain plug on the oil pan and see if any coolant comes out first. If thats OK pull the head and go from there.
Thanks guys, I don't know what I'd do without you! I'd totally hug each of you if I could
I would think, if the motor still turns over, it didn't start to freeze up (bearing or piston). The 2300's are tough little motors and almost impossible to kill. If like stated above, the oil is still relatively oil and not a major mixture of coolant and oil, I would go with the head first. You might also check to make sure the radiator flows properly. If it was clogged up pretty bad, that might be where all the brown coloring came from. Just Ideas! I hope it is an easy fix for you!
Pinto's are cool, because they are EASY to work on...
Quick question ? Will the engine turn over....? If it will not your in the same boat I'm in IE engine is seized.....BTW the check engine light can not be trusted it did not work to warn me.....Yes it worked when I hit start/run but not all ways.....
So the first thing you need to do is turn to turn the engine over....with the key switch or remove the spark plugs and turn it over using a large breaker bar and the crank shaft bolt.....BTW any 2.3 engine from 1974 to 1994(?) will work just make sure it is not a dual spark engine...and yes if you have one of those it will work with the computer etc.....If the engine is seized pour Marvel Mystery Oil down the spark plug holes and let it sit for a week or so and the try the breaker bar trick again. If you get it to spin, tear it down for a rebuild......Have the crank and connecting rods turned and change bearings and rings......Also change the cam and aux bearings as well...Not real cheap but it beats taking a chance on a junk yard engine.....And finally check and or change the head.....and all gaskets.....
My neighbor came over tonight and took a quick look at it. I haven't had the nerve to try to crank it yet. I'm scared that its not going to work and I'm going to cry. I attempted to take a look at my oil though, except there wasn't any...That's not very encouraging. *sigh* I miss my car so much I'd give anything to be sitting in traffic knowing that I'm smoking out the car next to me with my exhaust. ;D
Well, put some oil in it and try to start it and hope that there is not a hole in the block that let all of the oil run out. You probably did major damage to the bottom end if you ran it with out oil but sometimes Pinto's are forgiving and will sound a lot better with new oil. Good luck!
put in oil and let her rip ill bet u might be surprised. the 2.3 is VERY forgiving it wont make it worst if she dont go but ive herd worse done to them and have them live.
if she dose go u will still want to look for another motor because some damage most likely has been done. i dont think id wast time rebuilding it. but i think she will give u some more time to find a good low mile 2.3 maybe look for a 93 mustang or prep for a 2.3 turbo.
I didn't run it without oil. I had actually just topped it off. All of my oil in in my driveway. So it leaked out after the fact.
Change your oil and filter, drain and refill your coolant. When you refill the coolant add some of the Bars-leak head gasket repair and block crack filler additive to the rad fluid. I have used this on several cars with good results. Then fire it up and see what happens.
Quote from: Reed on September 14, 2008, 10:15:41 PM
Change your oil and filter, drain and refill your coolant. When you refill the coolant add some of the Bars-leak head gasket repair and block crack filler additive to the rad fluid. I have used this on several cars with good results. Then fire it up and see what happens.
2x
but dont forget to cross ur fingers
hey, i dont know where in ga you are from me but ive got a good 75 2.3 longblock in my garage from my now turbo pinto. it needs some gaskets and a rear seal but ran good. if you want it come get it> freeeeee!!!!! west columbia sc.
4CAMMER72
It's something like your offer to Smurfette that make this site GREAT!
Pinto's are cool and so are the people that drive them...My Compliments!
smurfette, hows the engine look? is that gonna work for ya? steve.
So far so good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. We just have to switch out the oil pan and the exhaust and put it in. So we'll see. I'm hoping.
cool, just make sure to do the rear seal as it was leaking, and you need your pickup for the oil pump. hope it works out. steve
I'm pretty sure my boyfriend is going to kill me by the time this is over. I feel like I'm more of a pain in his rear than a help. Rawr. And Steve, Thank you again for this. You have no idea what this all means