3.8l v-6 teardown update-hey steve m

[johngreen]

after posting here on my motor troubles,i decided to look into the engine to check out the damage.when i got the lower part of intake manifold off,i saw that the front left intake opening was completly filled with water.i havent taken the front head off yet to look any further.the coolant passage next to the intake was dry,but looked normal with not much rust and no oil..i'm hoping that if i remove the head,and just replace the head casket that i can throw it back together,and it might run long enough for me to get rid of.with very limited funds for repair ,engine replacement is not an option.if i clean up the head,and put a new casket and use any and all over the counter miracle products will the car be able to get another month or two on her?if the head is totally trashed,can i put put one from junk yard on it without messing with the valves or anything else,like just remove a head and use all the valves that came on the used one and bolt it to my motor.i hate to do stuff like this,but i am unfortunetly in the poor house right now...thanks

[Steve Moran]

There is nothing wrong with installing a used head on a motor.
If you do not have the valves ground or new seals installed, try to purchase one with roughly the same miles as yours, that way things are somewhat warn the same amount.
Engine pressures weather it is vacuum or compression will be more equalized resulting in fewer problems.
Most anyone that works on cars for a living will tell you that if you grind the valves on an engine with over 100k it will have a tendency to use a little oil.
The new head will seal up better then ever and it will cause the oil to suck up around the pistons.
The above also works in reverse.
Installing a new short block with untouched used heads WILL result in oil consumption,

:mad:
Unless of course it/they have low miles 25 to 30k or less.

P.S. For future reference if you have a vehicle that has cylinder head failure or block failure. As in cracking or warping around 80k and you purchase one from a salvage yard. Purchase one with 100k. Because they have already made it past the normal mileage interval and haven’t cracked, it is a good way to get a good hardy casting to rebuild. :D

[ February 14, 2004: Message edited by: Steve Moran ]

[Steve Moran]

Just wondering how things are progressing? smile.gif