Chevy Forums - Photo Galleries - Create an Account - Chevrolet Cars


Go Back   Chevrolet Forum - Chevy Enthusiasts Forums > Past Vehicles > Cavalier


Welcome to Chevrolet forum!
Welcome to Chevrolet forum,

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to start new topics, reply to conversations, privately message other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join Chevrolet forum today!


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
  #1  
Old 10-11-2009, 10:49 PM
sneaky344 sneaky344 is offline
CF Beginner
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Default real headache of a problem

well where to start on this one.. i have a 1990 chev cavalier with a 2.0L engine, 5spd blah blah blah... about a week ago i got the oppertunity to get a newer body for the car so talked to a couple buddies and got the engine swapped from one car to another and everything ran great.. well for a while..

yesterday car was fine running great and all then idling at drivethru for a couple minutes caused massive overheat and started dumping staerm outta car... popped hood and there is a pinhole leak in rad.. no prob.. still had lots of coolant in it so drove home.. bout three klicks.. let cool down.. still had lots of coolant patched rad and refilled and went back out.. bout ten min later car started chugging like lawnmower... got progressivly worse for several min.. then kinda stabilized.. still running rough tho..

so brought it back home again and checked all the norm stuff... fuel, air flow, spark.. now when i pull plug for #1 cylinder it makes no change to how car runs.. any other plug makes it idle worse and so on.. plug looks wet while any other pull would look kinda.. glazed?.. but dry anyways.. so changed plugs.. no change.. changed wires.. no change.. even switched coil packs.. but after coil packs it sounded really rough for a few min and could hear hard lifter knck.. but went away pretty quick..

now comes the worst part of all.. i am too broke for pulling head to check lifters.. is there an easy way to find out what wrong with the engine that wont cost an arm and leg plus the pound of flesh closest to my heart?

hope to hear from someone soon
thanx in advance
Sneaky
Register today for free or log-in if already registered to remove this ad!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-26-2009, 12:07 PM
Siliconasp Siliconasp is offline
CF Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: KC
Posts: 54
Default

Sorry, no, your going to have to pull the heads. Sound like when the rad leak happen you may have cracked the head or water jacket, thus blown the gasket and mixing water and oil, which steamed your valves, and warping the valve stems or the seats.

either way your going to have to pull the head to review the damage.

Also while the head is off, you might just want to check your cylinder walls for rusting or pitting, as a result of water buildup.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-26-2009, 09:53 PM
MDTAHOE's Avatar
MDTAHOE MDTAHOE is offline
Super Moderator
Professional Mechanic
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 855
Default

Sounds like you blew the head gasket.
__________________
SHOP FOREMAN/SERVICE MANAGER
GOSS GARAGE (PAT GOSS FROM MOTORWEEK TV )
AC DELCO TSS SHOP
ASE MASTER, L1 EMISSIONS CERTIFIED
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-27-2009, 04:00 PM
sneaky344 sneaky344 is offline
CF Beginner
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
Default

lol.. well thanks for the help guys.. but my problem turned out to be a one in a million lucky break.. i talked to a couple mechanically inclined ppls.. they told me same thing.. i talked to my father the cab driver and he told me to check valves first.. just try applying a bit of pressure to them and see if springs were working.. pulled the valve cover and discovered that the number one cylinder's intake valve rocker had actually spun the nut loose and twisted off to the side.. 30 seconds later i had the rocker back in place tightened all of them up.. all were rather loose.. and she runs like a dream again.. weird that it happened cuz that just dont happen.. rockers dont get loose bolts unless someone plays with em.. and what are the chances that it was the intake rather than the exhaust? lol.. i have a bit more than horseshoes kickin around here somewhere....

again tho thanks for the input.. i will refer others to this site as much as i can.. great info..
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Forum Jump

Advertising

Featured Sponsors
New Sponsors
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:53 AM.

© Internet Brands, Inc.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.