2g GSX - Is it finally dead for good?!

[johnson512n28]

So I blew out one of the cylinders in my 2g, here.. I'm posting up to get you guys' opinions on my options.

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Plug that came off that cylinder.

Did a compression test that cylinder is definitely down. I'm not a mechanic, so it is really unrealistic for me to try and fix an engine problem myself. I have already put around $4k into it over the past six years, including replacing the engine. Ironically, this month is the last payment I have to make on the loan for the car... f*cking hilarious -.-

Anyway, check this out..

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These are, obviously, the the strut towers.. I'm not sure what it would cost to get that machined, but it would pretty much require an entire overhaul. As I haven't posted enough on the site to post this car in the marketplace, I just wanted to see what any of you guys would do... I've replaced so much of the car, I mean... the rest of it is really just fine. I know these frames are pretty sought after, but the condition of this one makes me question if anyone would even want it.

 

[ViciousLord]

just depends how much you love the car, and your current needs... do you have the funds to do a proper overhaul without half assing? do you wanna get into another car payment? you have alot to think about.

 

[ktgurl87]

i would take any salvageable parts off the car (interior pieces included if they're in pretty good shape) and and parts off the motor that are still good, lights, bumper if it looks ok... just completely strip the car of good useable parts and either scrap it or someone might be interested in a project shell.

 

[ViciousLord]

+1 you'll be spending more then 4k more just to bring it back. done the right way.

 

[johnson512n28]

Yeah, I don't have that kind of cheese right now. Right now I just need a car to get me through college .. It would be a pretty serious undertaking for me to part it out myself. I've done a ton of repairs on it myself, but taking my car apart in my parents' garage during the winter probably would not work out.

I have seriously enjoyed being part of this community while I've owned the car, and I know how useful the parts might be to others who need them. I guess it would make me really happy to sell the whole thing for cheap to someone with the skills and equipment who could make a profit parting it out.

 

[ktgurl87]

just find you a cheap little DD to run around in while you're trying to part it out. from what i hear, civic hatchbacks are nice little beaters. time to hit up craigslist!

 

[johnson512n28]

For the same time and effort that it would take to part it out myself, I feel as if I could fix the exhaust valve or whatever is keeping that cylinder up. I almost feel it would be easier to do the latter.

+1 you'll be spending more then 4k more just to bring it back. done the right way.

$4k to pull the head myself and replace valves, stems, and seals for one cylinder? Or were you referring to also taking just about everything out to get those strut towers machined? I'm less worried about them at this point than getting the car to run and possibly sell for a decent price..

 

[ktgurl87]

for the strut towers... you could grind them down, clean them up, and then weld a new piece of metal on, all the while working around what's in there. obviously the passenger side will be easier than the driver side, but it could be done with some time and some patience. good luck buddy

 

[project1g]

You may not need to tear into the block, you could be lucky and only have to rebuild the head for the time being, or find a used head on the classifieds, but either way, you could have that thing back on the road for less than 4k, a LOT less than 4k as long as you were willing to learn to do some of these things yourself, out here man a car in THAT condition could sell for 3k! and if I were in the financial security I'd drive up there and trailor that thing home for 4k you have a diamond in the rough, just dig through the rough and get it fixed...

 

[johnson512n28]

Thanks guys, I'll keep y'all posted!

 

[mazda-man]

If I were you I would look for a used complete cyl head from the salvage yard or even on here. If you leaned out enough to melt a valve you can almost for sure count on the head being trash. My last one that detonated badly on one cyl because of a machining burr on the head. I also was running 20 psi on a t28 and a 75 shot of nitrous before it let go. But when I pulled the head the other three cyls were perfect but the one looked like some one shot ball bearing at it. Good luck with what ever you decide to do.

 

[ViciousLord]

not rebuilding that motor would doing it half ass. This is just me, but anytime anything happens to a motor a rebuild is in order period! The cheapest route would be to find a used long block, which should be about 500-1000 and those strut towers would be about a grand to fix at a shop, maybe cheaper.

 

[johnson512n28]

...The cheapest route would be to find a used long block...

So you would replace the entire engine, not just the head? Can't I replace the head without the need of a hoist to pull the whole engine and tranny?

 

[AWD~SLEEPER]

I would be willing to work out some kind of deal with you. Send me a pm if you wanna deal.

 

[ViciousLord]

So you would replace the entire engine, not just the head? Can't I replace the head without the need of a hoist to pull the whole engine and tranny?

you wont know what needs to be replaced until you pull the head off. I just always plan for the worst.

 

[delta448]

You may not need to tear into the block, you could be lucky and only have to rebuild the head for the time being, or find a used head on the classifieds, but either way, you could have that thing back on the road for less than 4k, a LOT less than 4k as long as you were willing to learn to do some of these things yourself, out here man a car in THAT condition could sell for 3k! and if I were in the financial security I'd drive up there and trailor that thing home for 4k you have a diamond in the rough, just dig through the rough and get it fixed...

I agree that you could most likely have it back on the road for much less than $4k... if you do all the labor yourself and don't count it as time/money lost.

However I disagree that this car is worth any more than he's asking now in it's current condition.

The main reason is the extent of the structural rust damage on those strut towers. My rule of thumb is that you can only see about 60-70% (at most) of the metal that needs removed to repair visible rust damage on these cars before you grind it. Check out turbosax2's post in the strut tower rust thread for an idea on how to properly repair strut tower rust. Note how big the spot of visible rust was before and how much metal he had to cut out to fix it correctly.

Just estimating here but I imagine the damage on this car extends very close to the strut mounting holes, especially on the driver's side, and also quite a ways fore and aft of the struts as well. I don't even want to know what the inner fenders look like. Unless you're looking to fab a tube frame for the front half, I think this car is sadly too far gone and now a parts donor only.

 

[johnson512n28]

Yeah, I agree. I don't see any sense in throwing all that time and energy into it - mainly because I cannot do all the work myself. At this point, I'm looking at posting it up for a part-out and having my mechanic help me disassemble it as things sell. Unless, of course, a guru on here wants to grab it up and make some money off of it.

At 30+ tech posts! Hopefully on to the classifieds.. ^_^

 

[ktgurl87]

any pictures of the whole engine bay?

 

[johnson512n28]

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[Doubleot]

Honestly if the towers are that bad, I'm not sure it would be worth throwing a ton of money into it, especially if you're going to college. Good luck man, If I was close I'd probably pick her up.

 

[pj91gsx]

Most likely you burned a valve. The bottom end is probably still good. You just dont know until you pull the head. As to why something like this happened, it can be your spark plugs(platnuim plugs are a no no for turbo cars) , or boost leaks. my car was knocking last week in boost, do to a big boost leak after the gm maf sensor.

 

[johnson512n28]

Well I've known it needs a new oxygen sensor in it for a while. It has intermittent stuttering while accelerating and would boost w/o giving acceleration. A "boost leak" sounds exactly what if felt like, really.. I just read that oxygen sensors can cause that stuttering and have known I need to pick one up for a couple months now..

...I'm not sure it would be worth throwing a ton of money into it...

I agree, I mean.. my only other option is to pick up a cheap daily driver and store this baby till I get out of college and I can start making it rain...

 

[skippyman87]

If you really love the dsm thing just take everything off the car that is ok and find a cheap dsm on the classifieds that has a clean frame,chassis etc. If I had that problem with my 2g I would not try to conquer that much rust. It is a crazy process to do it right and you can make it worse. good luck sorry to hear another dsm gone

 

[project1g]

These are all good ideas man.. I've been in this DSM community for 3 years now and these guys haven't steered me wrong, they've helped me with two DSMs before I finally got the gyst of thigns.. And now that I do I wouldn't go anywhere else for advice than right here, I agree with the last post, pull everything take the shell (no interior or worthy exterior pieces) and scrap it and sell the pieces you keep to make you some project car money.

 

[2GbTalonGuy]

Looks like it's time to buy a shell and swap the usable parts over.