was putting the new radiator in my 73 tonight and noticed a puddle of oil under the car...
looked like lots of fresh oil on the motor under the carb and intake so I used engine cleaner and washed it off. Took it for a ride to bake/dry it off then I took this pic. I didn't see any oil coming from the valve cover gasket just here....
please tell me this isn't what it looks like... I don't want to say it for fear of being true :(
Can you say "Head gasket" >:(
Not a bad job at all, I get mine from advanced auto parts for about $20.00
The tool for the 2.0 head bolts is available @ Carquest and NAPA maybe even advanced.
Joe
that's what I think too, didn't want to say it but durn this sux. finally got it running good and now this.
I think I remember why I gave this stuff up 10 years ago.
I was so close to beating the snow... now might as well park it for the winter. we're already seeing lows of 30-40 at night (I did see snow flakes at 2:30am Sunday morning) and highs of 60 during the day. the rain and clouds have moved in and this little project has already cost me valuable time this last 2 months with all the other things I had to do before the snow. I just wish it would have done this sooner before I put all that time into it.
the only other option I have is to pay someone to do it for me... just didn't want to spend the money on this little pinto as I set a budget which I'm close to and this will put me over. I also wanted to do this myself but now with this... I'm out of time.
Cookieboy
If I were you I would get a friend to help and the 2 of you could knock it out in a couple hours.
when i do mine sometimes I leave the intake and carb on the head and just unbolt the exhaust manifold from the head. if the car is running good I wouldnt see any need to send the head out or anything. if you lived close i would be glad to help you with it but MN is a bit far.
Joe
Head gasget 1hr job,no big.
I know the head gasket job shouldn't be to difficult but I have no experience doing that sort of thing and with my luck something will not go right and it will drag into weeks... I would really like to do it myself but need someone with experience to help ensure it's done correctly.
I know the head was redone for unleaded gas but unsure when. I am also concerned about a cracked block and I wouldn't know how to tell.
I'm trying to keep the cost of getting it running good to a minimum due to the body having some major rust issues. I have got 1 quick quote on the body restore of appox $2000 from a body guy who did a quick walk around and still need to get together with him to do a more detailed inspection.
I just do not want the cost to get away from me... I really like my little pinto but really do not want it to become a money pit as I have the 77 Wagon that is really my restore project. This one is just for fun and driving and to get me some experience before I tackle the wagon. With what I paid, the money spent getting it running, the things left to fix or replace, interior work and the body work I was in the $4000 price range to get it all done and cherry looking. now this....
The head gaskets are very easy on the n/a 2.3. The only thing is they are HEAVY; I am sure you can do it. If you were nearby, I would give you a hand.
Bill
His is actually a 2.0. Remember, you have all of us here to help if you run into trouble. If you can turn a wrench, you should be able to do this for about $50 total,(including oil change coolant, v/c gasket,ect.) and in around a couple hours time. it'll be worth it.
Thanks for all the offers of help and encouragement. It does look to be an easy thing to do even for me but can't help but be nervious. Things like this never seem to be as easy as they should be and I just don't have the time for a nightmare right now. I work 6 days a week, have a kid and way to much stuff that needs to be done before the snow flies. As it is now it is to cold and rainy on most days for big projects outside and am only seeing 1 out of 4 days w/good weather.
That being said.... I have someone in mind that "may" be willing to do this and possibly let me help. If not I will most likely tackle it myself as I would really like to, just wish that I had more time and good weather.
and if you are wondering this is the weather I'm up against - click the link
http://www.wunderground.com/US/MN/Hibbing.html?bannertypeclick=miniWeather2
Don't feel bad, you could be facing this already... LOL
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=80915
I have a feeling that it's going to be a nasty winter if it's snowing this early...
Later,
Joe
I saw snow last sat night/sun morn when I let the dog in at 2:30 am and I think you are right.... looks to be a bad winter
Quote from: jgpinto72 on September 21, 2006, 09:21:52 PM
The tool for the 2.0 head bolts is available @ Carquest and NAPA maybe even advanced.
Joe
Joe, can you give me more info/picture on the tool for the head bolts... The guys at the auto parts store are ??????? and need more info.
putting my list of parts needed together :)
The head bolt tool is a spline drive bit, sort of like a Torx, but with 12 (twice as many) "points". The timing tensioner used the same type of bit. In simplest form it looks like a short, cut off piece of an Allen wrench, sometimes it comes swedged into a 3/8" ratchet drive base.
I've only got 2 in my rollaround and I haven't used either of them in years, so it's got to be either a 10mm or 12mm.
P.S. If they don't know what the head bolt tool looks like from your description of the bolt head, I'd be looking for a different auto parts store about now. I see difficulties with them ahead.
Sorry, should have said sometimes swedged into a 3/8" or larger drive socket base. Mine are the loose style and fit in a 12mm/7/16" 6-pt. socket.
I know about the belt tensioner tool... had to find one... 12 point star. I Borrowed from a local repair shop.
are you saying that the same tool works on the head bolts too?
if it does I know where to borrow one... maybe
But, Auto Value may have this tool... saw a similar one this morning just have to check size for correct fit. If it's the correct one I'm buying it ;D
carquest has them
12 point triple square internal wrench bit. part #STL 60750.
they come in a set of 4 for $17.00 you will need the 10mm one.
other shops may be able to cross that number.
that set is made by carquest corp. lakewood Co. 80228
Joe
CARQUEST Auto Parts
218-263-3649
301 East 19th St.
Hibbing,MN 55746
Auto Value had the "Lisle" brand and part # 60750 matched so I bought em' for $15.01
both 10mm and 12mm 12 point were included so I should have the head bolt tool
the set also included the 6mm and 8mm 12 point bits and 6mm is to small and 8mm is to big for the belt tensioner.
so went back and we looked for a 7mm 12 point with no success either in stock or something to be ordered
then we tried to see if SAE sizes might work and looks like 15/32 might work but they only had in 8 point and not 12 point
then went to Napa and the young kid was working and getting ready to close so I'll check on Monday when the full timers are there
Does ANYBODY know where to get or what to get for the belt tensioner.... this has been impossible to locate
Today it was suggested to me that perhaps I could just re-toque the head bolts since I get no smoke from the exhaust and no oil seems to be getting into the radiator. Must admit I thought of this too... but only to buy myself some time, not as a solution.
Decided it was time to do the compression test I had been putting off...
Started the motor to warm it up and almost instantly could see the oil running down the motor. I warmed it up and took it for a 3+ mile ride to warm it up. Removed all plugs and proceeded to test the compression. For testing purposes I'll # the cyls from 1 to 4 starting at the rear and moving to the front of the motor. I started on #4 and did them in order to the rear of the motor. I seem to be getting 140 on all cyls, hard to tell for sure as starter is starting to fail and to get the engine to turn over 10 times without pause is almost impossible. Was able to get it to turn over good for the first 2 I tested but couldn't get it to turn over more than 5 times without pause on the last 2. Engine was warm for the test and gas pedal was to the floor for each cyl. On cyls 3 and 4 I just kept retrying the starter until I felt engine had cranked enough to get full buildup. Also took pictures before I started it up - while running - and after compression test and more fresh oil was coming from the head gasket... just runs down the block and would guess it wouldn't take long to leak a quart of oil.
Hmmmm... not sure what to do at this point. Replacing the head gasket seems the smart thing to do but could buy myself some time and re-toque the head bolts.
what-to-do... what-to-do... what do you all think???
Re-torquing will not help you in this case. Sorry!! :sorry:
talked to a few people I know here in town and all agreed... re-torque = waste of time.
Well.... took it into the shop for a professionals opinion and he thinks it might be just the intake leaking oil.
I have to order the gasket kit and he will get it in the shop to see what's up in a couple weeks
the place I took it to does auto repair and auto body restore...
we put the pinto up on the hoist and gave it a look.... he was impressed, very solid.
only problem found with the suspension was front wheel bearings need repack/replace
He said if I find a replacement passenger quarter (the rest he can fix) and he'll do the body and paint for $2000
Hmmmmm.... told him engine came first, have to know what this oil leak is first.