2G Clutch slips and rings are bad... what should I do with my beloved car?

RallyEclipse98 · Jul 14, 2015

I'm kind of depressed as I write this. Please excuse my monotone.

I have a nonturbo 2g. It has 169,000 miles. It's a 10th anniversary edition with a manual transmission - rare combination. Interior is 7/10 (just some decent wear on the leather seats). The exterior is about the same. Rust is beginning on strut towers and rear quarters. All very minimal. It has a tweaked fender after the balljoint broke and hit the car. The front bumper is pretty roached on the bottom - nothing too crazy though. The car is 100% stock except some good aftermarket speakers were professional installed by previous own (who was a 52-year old lady with a long highway commute). The car was cared for (I have all records). Body is in great shape other than what I mentioned.

I put in a new head gasket, water pump, timing belt, timing belt components, all gaskets (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, downpipe, all new filters & fluids 3,000 miles ago.

What's wrong:

Rings are bad - blue smoke, dipstick pops out, and burns oil. However, it doesn't really smoke at idle. You've got to lay on the throttle. Coolant slowly disappears as well. No leaks. Must be going back in crankcase even though the car is FAR better off than before I replaced the HG.

Clutch slips - If I go over 50% throttle in the higher gears, it slips. I've checked the master and slave cylinders and they are good. Also, there's a loud whistle above 50% throttle. Happens even when the car is in neutral. Exhaust leak? Doesn't seem to be one but maybe it's really small.

My question for everyone... what should I do with the car?

Note: I rarely drive the car. I probably put about 2,000 miles on her each year. I don't need to have a perfect car and I'm fairly good w/ a wrench.

Thanks for your time.

Dxc545 · Jul 14, 2015

Get some quotes on an engine rebuild, decide from there if it's worth the trouble and value of the vehicle. I was in a similar situation a couple months ago after I wrecked my gsx. The price of the repair vs the value of the car just isn't there anymore. If the car is that far gone or is going to take that much work, it's almost better just to find another and part out.

DSMattitude · Jul 18, 2015

Dxc545 said:
Get some quotes on an engine rebuild, decide from there if it's worth the trouble and value of the vehicle. I was in a similar situation a couple months ago after I wrecked my gsx. The price of the repair vs the value of the car just isn't there anymore. If the car is that far gone or is going to take that much work, it's almost better just to find another and part out.

I agree on the value to repair bill, but at the same time you may well be buying someone elses headache. I would recomend either pricing out a rebuild shopping around for a short block. Dsm graveyard offers them. While you are at it throw a new clutch in there and maybe new valve stem seals and it will probablt take you another 100k miles or so.

farmer890 · Jul 18, 2015

Stay the hell away from DSM GRAVEYARD if you want to save money and avoid headaches. I ordered a wheel bearing+hub assembly for almost $300 and it NEVER arrived. No communication. Wouldn't answer my calls/emails. I had to open up a dispute with MasterCard to get my refund.

Drive it till it dies, part it out/scrap it. 169k miles is a lot, she's had a good run. You obviously know what to look for when buying these cars, so I'd drive it into the ground then get another DSM if I were in your shoes.

90_AWD_Thunder · Jul 18, 2015

It all depends on how much you like the car. There is a lot you can do with it. If the rust isn't too bad fix it and go from there. Do a compression and leak down test to find out if it is actually the rings and not the valve seals. And your coolant loss issue points to the head gasket but you said you replaced that so I would want to know why you replaced the head gasket in the first place. And did you check the head to see if it is warped before you reinstalled it that could very well be the reason for the coolant loss. To give you an idea on cost I have put over 5000 into my build and I have yet to get it up on the road. And I agree don't go through dsm graveyard, all I have heard is bad news about them

curt-s · Jul 18, 2015

this is more of when/if you have fibally had enough.. but if its still salvageable, its better off being sold to somebody who will put the time in. just sell it to the for equivalent scrap value (cheap) and let them have a go.

JayB12 · Jul 19, 2015

Honestly, try a U-pull-it scrapyard. You could walk out with a good 420a motor and maybe even a clutch attached if your lucky for about $100. I see these motors all the time where I'm at. Parts yard motors are iffy, but that's what a lot of people do sometimes. It would probably be the best plan since doing a full rebuild correctly would probably cost more than what you'd get for your car if you sold it.

RallyEclipse98 · Jul 19, 2015

90_AWD_Thunder said:
It all depends on how much you like the car. There is a lot you can do with it. If the rust isn't too bad fix it and go from there. Do a compression and leak down test to find out if it is actually the rings and not the valve seals. And your coolant loss issue points to the head gasket but you said you replaced that so I would want to know why you replaced the head gasket in the first place. And did you check the head to see if it is warped before you reinstalled it that could very well be the reason for the coolant loss. To give you an idea on cost I have put over 5000 into my build and I have yet to get it up on the road. And I agree don't go through dsm graveyard, all I have heard is bad news about them

Rust is definitely not bad. I'll fix it when I get the motivation to do it properly.

When I did the HG, I had the head inspected and shaved. They (old wise guys at NAPA) said everything was perfect. They hardly took any metal off at all.

Before I replaced the HG, the car was in a terrible state - overheating, tons of white smoke, a big mess. After the job, there's just a slight coolant loss. About 1/4 cup every 400 miles. Maybe I didn't fill the system properly and it just needs more and more. Meh, IDK.

I'll continue to care for this car. I will fix the rust soon. Then I will continue driving it until the clutch decides to become a PITA. Then I will pay to have someone rebuild the bottom end of the motor and replace the clutch (and any other components which look bad). I'll find a shade tree mechanic. If rebuilding the bottom end seems too expensive, I may get a junkyard bottom end.

Sound like a plan?

Lester B · Jul 19, 2015

These cars are getting harder and rarer to find.

Value is only on your worth. No one else has decision to value than you.

And a huge part is the question ' are you mechanically able and willing to do this?'

If yes, get busy. If not, you'll spend way way more than it could possible be worth. Even if you're a millionaire.

Just my two cents bro. Good luck either way. DSM is hard to get out of the blood. You'll be back. Haha

Mauispyder · Jul 19, 2015

These cars are good at hiding coolant loss from old hoses and clamps and then letting it drip to some place you'll never see. Hope your head issues are behind you.

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2G Clutch slips and rings are bad... what should I do with my beloved car?

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