[Robbie]

New pistons, main rod bearings, wrist pins, and a valve job. Runs great now. No more little hammers in my motor.

Glad I replaced all six pistons, #1 and #6 were showing signs of beginning to come apart. Hairline cracks and such.

[Robbie]

New pistons, main rod bearings, wrist pins, and a valve job. Runs great now. No more little hammers in my motor.

Glad I replaced all six pistons, #1 and #6 were showing signs of beginning to come apart. Hairline cracks and such.

[Robbie]

So, wow. With my limited time and tools it took me weeks to get the dang exhaust pipe off and out of the way so I could get to the oil pan.

Got the oil pan off today and found three pieces of piston skirt. After a visual inspection of the bottom end… looks like piston number four is the culprit.

I’m gonna see if I can get away with just replacing the piston. With the age and mileage of the motor, it’s either replace the piston or replace the motor. I’d rather see if I can get a few thousand more miles out of this thing than replace it right now.

[Robbie]

So, wow. With my limited time and tools it took me weeks to get the dang exhaust pipe off and out of the way so I could get to the oil pan.

Got the oil pan off today and found three pieces of piston skirt. After a visual inspection of the bottom end… looks like piston number four is the culprit.

I’m gonna see if I can get away with just replacing the piston. With the age and mileage of the motor, it’s either replace the piston or replace the motor. I’d rather see if I can get a few thousand more miles out of this thing than replace it right now.

[Robbie]

Finally found some time for a compression test. All the numbers look good.

Cylinder #, Dry #, Wet #

1, 172, 179
2, 173, 181
3, 171, 176
4, 170, 176
5, 173, 178
6, 173, 178

Here is the video: /watch?v=2hI588Scr60

Another video of the noise: /watch?v=VIfaJOzVjV8

Next step is to pull the oil pan.

[Robbie]

Finally found some time for a compression test. All the numbers look good.

Cylinder #, Dry #, Wet #

1, 172, 179
2, 173, 181
3, 171, 176
4, 170, 176
5, 173, 178
6, 173, 178

Here is the video: /watch?v=2hI588Scr60

Another video of the noise: /watch?v=VIfaJOzVjV8

Next step is to pull the oil pan.

[Robbie]

God! Now I’m reading stuff about the camshaft position sensor. That should be easy enough to check though. Just put a stethoscope or screwdriver on it.

I’ll do that and a compression check over the weekend.

[Robbie]

God! Now I’m reading stuff about the camshaft position sensor. That should be easy enough to check though. Just put a stethoscope or screwdriver on it.

I’ll do that and a compression check over the weekend.

[Robbie]

Pulled the transmission fluid dipstick last night… it’s brown. I wonder how possible it is that I’m an idiot and this is a transmission issue and not an engine issue.

[Robbie]

Pulled the transmission fluid dipstick last night… it’s brown. I wonder how possible it is that I’m an idiot and this is a transmission issue and not an engine issue.

[Robbie]

You know… I just realized something. I’ve been driving it to work, very short trips. Maybe three miles one way. It’s shifting pretty rough. I wonder if it’s the flexplate. Hopefully the Haynes manual will tell me where the flip it is.

[Robbie]

You know… I just realized something. I’ve been driving it to work, very short trips. Maybe three miles one way. It’s shifting pretty rough. I wonder if it’s the flexplate. Hopefully the Haynes manual will tell me where the flip it is.

[Robbie]

Six quarts makes the dipstick read high.

[Robbie]

Six quarts makes the dipstick read high.

[Robbie]

I’ve got so many possibilities floating around in my head from lurking on repair forums.

Piston skirt, flexplate, lifters, power steering pump, wristpin, rod bearing, blah blah blah

At this point I’m trying to find the most likely troubleshooting path. On top of $$$ being limited, my time is as well. I only have a few hours each weekend, and then whatever time off from work I’m willing to sacrifice.

[Author]

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