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Symptoms of a head problem?

Old 10-02-2003, 09:55 AM
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Default Symptoms of a head problem?

It was running fine, then began shimmying at a low speed. It will still start and will stay started as long as I keep my foot firmly on the accelerator. I looked at the oil and could see water combined with it. I asked a friend who works on cars about it and he said it sounded like a cracked head
Could the symptoms that were quoted to me be symptoms of something other than a head problem...these are symptoms of a 92 Bonnie!

What other problems could have the same affect?

thanks
Old 10-02-2003, 10:38 AM
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Default Re: Symptoms of a head problem?

Originally Posted by 95neongirl
It was running fine, then began shimmying at a low speed. It will still start and will stay started as long as I keep my foot firmly on the accelerator. I looked at the oil and could see water combined with it. I asked a friend who works on cars about it and he said it sounded like a cracked head
Could the symptoms that were quoted to me be symptoms of something other than a head problem...these are symptoms of a 92 Bonnie!

What other problems could have the same affect?

thanks
You should *hope* it'* only a cracked or warped head. The other possibility is a cracked engine block, which would then render the entire engine junk.
Old 10-02-2003, 10:41 AM
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What would be other symptoms of a cracked block?

thanks
Old 10-02-2003, 10:51 AM
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Symptoms of a head problem?
I thought we'd be talking about will.....
Old 10-02-2003, 11:14 AM
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Originally Posted by 95neongirl
What would be other symptoms of a cracked block?

thanks
Depends on where it'* cracked.

Originally Posted by MOS95B
Symptoms of a head problem?

I thought we'd be talking about will.....
Old 10-02-2003, 12:24 PM
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Hold on a sec.....I'd CHALLENGE anyone one here to TRY to crack a head on these things. You may simply have a bad upper intake (yes, even on the Series 1) or a bad head GASKET. I've been through this with the neighbor on his 93SSE.

Keep in mind these heads are CAST IRON. On a CAST IRON block. The best possible combination to prevent warping and cracking. And to go even further, I've only heard of one head gasket failure in a year here, and that was the one I worked on.
Old 10-02-2003, 01:01 PM
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Originally Posted by willwren
Hold on a sec.....I'd CHALLENGE anyone one here to TRY to crack a head on these things. You may simply have a bad upper intake (yes, even on the Series 1) or a bad head GASKET. I've been through this with the neighbor on his 93SSE.

Keep in mind these heads are CAST IRON. On a CAST IRON block. The best possible combination to prevent warping and cracking. And to go even further, I've only heard of one head gasket failure in a year here, and that was the one I worked on.
the car itself..I know nothing about except that it is forsale...cheap..and the guy say'* it only has a head problem...he got that info from a friend..


as stated before he has beared down on the engine..pretty hard as it is the only way to keep it running now..but it still starts...i was thinking of buying it and getting heads..even a motor considering the price of the car...

so are you saying that no matter how bad he has torchered it ( not saying that he has but it is a possibility) that the head nor the block can be cracked..that it is more than likely just a bad head gasket?

the only symptoms he knows are the ones I stated in my first post!

just satisfying my curiosity!


thanks
Old 10-02-2003, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by 95neongirl
Originally Posted by willwren
Hold on a sec.....I'd CHALLENGE anyone one here to TRY to crack a head on these things. You may simply have a bad upper intake (yes, even on the Series 1) or a bad head GASKET. I've been through this with the neighbor on his 93SSE.

Keep in mind these heads are CAST IRON. On a CAST IRON block. The best possible combination to prevent warping and cracking. And to go even further, I've only heard of one head gasket failure in a year here, and that was the one I worked on.
the car itself..I know nothing about except that it is forsale...cheap..and the guy say'* it only has a head problem...he got that info from a friend..


as stated before he has beared down on the engine..pretty hard as it is the only way to keep it running now..but it still starts...i was thinking of buying it and getting heads..even a motor considering the price of the car...

so are you saying that no matter how bad he has torchered it ( not saying that he has but it is a possibility) that the head nor the block can be cracked..that it is more than likely just a bad head gasket?

the only symptoms he knows are the ones I stated in my first post!

just satisfying my curiosity!


thanks
Will'* right. I didn't think about that. And IF the heads are cracked or warped, that would mean that he ran the engine so hot for so long (like without any water circulation for 15 miles), then dumped cold water in it, that there will be other major problems.
Old 10-02-2003, 01:56 PM
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Originally Posted by willwren
I've only heard of one head gasket failure in a year here, and that was the one I worked on.
Unfortunately you can make that 2 now. My wife was climbing over a mountain range on a 96 degree day with a clogged radiator. Only one of the head gaskets blew.
No problems in 3 years since.

I'm very impressed with the durability of the 3800.
Old 10-02-2003, 02:20 PM
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Originally Posted by jr's3800
Yes 3800 are great engines and will take a lot of abuse.... But when an engine runs hot as hell for a while it will be proned to blown head gaskets, warped and or cracked head/* or cracked block.... Usually on a 3800 it will be a blown head gasket... I have heard of a cracked head or two but its very rare... Sounds like something is going on with that car you are looking at.... I'd be very cautious.... And what do they want for the car?
they want 300 for it ..has a clean body all leather etc!

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