Blew the motor in the Regal
Thread Starter
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
Blew the motor in the Regal
That'* right. At 205K miles with a few mods on it... the motor said g'bye on the way home from work Thursday.
Mods: (on for 35-45K miles)
Plog
DP
1.9 HS rockers
L76 springs
Manley retainers
Gen V 3.6"
On Tues/Weds I heard something more than the exhaust leak I've become accustomed (been fighting it). Sounded like a lifter tick, pulled the front valve cover and saw nothing. Knew it was from #5 based on location of ticking. Visual on the spring, rocker etc etc was all good.
Drove to work on Thurs, thinking I would pick up seafoam on the way home to hopefully unstick the lifter. On the way home, about 5 miles from work (trip is 20 miles) the motor hiccuped and I realized it was on 5 cylinders. With the motor being dead anyhow, I limped it home (Renewed AAA along the way
).
Picked up a new motor on Friday ($295 49K miles Lucerne NA motor) and installed it. All I needed was a fuel rail, and a buddy dropped one off on Saturday afternoon.
New motor
Running (vid)
Pulled the valve cover again on the old motor and found the issue. #5 valve is dropped and not moving. One of the locks is sitting on the head and the retainer is trashed. There are very few things that can pop a lock out after 35K miles of being together and working well. First is if the valve got stuck in the guide, the piston would hit it and pop the lock. Another theory is that the spring may not have been strong enough (many guys run these springs w/o issues and the spec is plenty for this application). I am unsure w/o testing the spring, the only symptom I had was ticking. Rocker seems to be fine, just a little mark on it.
Pics
Some are going to say "Bill.. you went from SC, Gen V, 1.9'* to NA?". Yes I did there'* two possibilities now, stay NA and smile or turbo. If I turbo'd the parts would need to fall into my lap, just like SC parts do.
Mods: (on for 35-45K miles)
Plog
DP
1.9 HS rockers
L76 springs
Manley retainers
Gen V 3.6"
On Tues/Weds I heard something more than the exhaust leak I've become accustomed (been fighting it). Sounded like a lifter tick, pulled the front valve cover and saw nothing. Knew it was from #5 based on location of ticking. Visual on the spring, rocker etc etc was all good.
Drove to work on Thurs, thinking I would pick up seafoam on the way home to hopefully unstick the lifter. On the way home, about 5 miles from work (trip is 20 miles) the motor hiccuped and I realized it was on 5 cylinders. With the motor being dead anyhow, I limped it home (Renewed AAA along the way
). Picked up a new motor on Friday ($295 49K miles Lucerne NA motor) and installed it. All I needed was a fuel rail, and a buddy dropped one off on Saturday afternoon.
New motor
Running (vid)
Pulled the valve cover again on the old motor and found the issue. #5 valve is dropped and not moving. One of the locks is sitting on the head and the retainer is trashed. There are very few things that can pop a lock out after 35K miles of being together and working well. First is if the valve got stuck in the guide, the piston would hit it and pop the lock. Another theory is that the spring may not have been strong enough (many guys run these springs w/o issues and the spec is plenty for this application). I am unsure w/o testing the spring, the only symptom I had was ticking. Rocker seems to be fine, just a little mark on it.
Pics
Some are going to say "Bill.. you went from SC, Gen V, 1.9'* to NA?". Yes I did there'* two possibilities now, stay NA and smile or turbo. If I turbo'd the parts would need to fall into my lap, just like SC parts do.
Thread Starter
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
Likely the piston contacted the valve. Fixing isn't cost effective. No one should install a 205K mile motor unless they have no money and labor is free. That'* why I replaced it.
-- SITE DONATOR --
True Car Nut
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 4,638
Likes: 6
Hmm.. I've had 1.9'* and a 3.1" pulley on my Gen III M90 since somewhere around 80,000, just rolled 110,000. I've been counting my blessings, and knocking on wood, no engine/trans failures yet.
Thread Starter
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS
Expert Gearhead
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 30
From: Enfield, CT
This is an odd one guys. It'* the type of Bill thing that only happens to me. Ask around about having a valve lock pop out. It'* likely the guide or valve had an issue.
As it sits.
Gen V $350 with modded/plugged LIM
L76 springs $0
In need of one retainer
HS 1.9'* $200
Aluminum oil pan for W body $40
I dunno $550 would take it.
As it sits.
Gen V $350 with modded/plugged LIM
L76 springs $0
In need of one retainer
HS 1.9'* $200
Aluminum oil pan for W body $40
I dunno $550 would take it.
