I think I just blew up my engine...

[Mark B]

Hey everyone,
Tell me what you think. The car is a 91 RS with a 305TBI & 156,XXX miles. I usually drive the car pretty hard. However, this morning I was just crusing around. I was running really low on gas, looking for a gas station. While stopped at a red light, the car died on me. I had a really hard time starting it up again. Once I got it started back up the engine was making a loud metal to metal knocking sound. A couple blocks later I found a gas station and filled her up. However the sound hasnt gone away. At idle, you can hear the sound but its not very loud. As RPM's increase, the sound gets faster & louder. The car has no balls at all. What did I break? Time for a new motor?

[97LT1Z28]

That could be a rod knocking or the crankshaft.

My car did the same thing at 132K so I had to get the motor replaced.

With a new motor, I can think about upgrades like nitrous or supercharging.

The long block I had installed was $1900 total with labor.

It was worth it because gas prices are high but I don't have a payment on the car. I still come out way ahead.

[00 Ragtop Z]

could also be as simple as a universal joint breaking. any SES codes?

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Mark, has that got a mechanical fuel pump or electric?

[97LT1Z28]

91 305's have the electric pump in the tank............

[Joe 1320]

the engine was making a loud metal to metal knocking sound. A couple blocks later I found a gas station and filled her up. However the sound hasnt gone away. At idle, you can hear the sound but its not very loud. As RPM's increase, the sound gets faster & louder. The car has no balls at all. What did I break? Time for a new motor?

A knock that increases with rpm is definately in the rotating assembly. Most likely rod bearings.

[Choppers]

Joe what happend to the WS6?

not to hijack this thread

[Injuneer]

Joe what happend to the WS6?

not to hijack this thread

Go to the off-topic forum and read of its destruction.... and Joe's good fortune at still being with us.

http://www.f-body.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19171

[Mark B]

Now the engine seems frozen. I had it idling yesterday while trying to find out where the knock was coming from. And the engine died again. This time I cant get it restarted. The starter sounds likes its got the power, but the engine wont turn. Heres the new plan...

-Remove starter & inspect flywheel
-Remove valve covers to see if any of the rockers/valvetrain is screwed up
-Remove all spark plugs.

I will try to turn the engine over by hand after each step. If the engine still wont turn over after removing the items below, what should my next course of action be? Remove the heads? Is it possible the clutch/trans is causing my problems? Any way to check without removing the gear box?

[Mark B]

Well I kept trying to start it over & over and eventually, the engine turned over & started up. In addition to the knocking sound I had before, it sounds like there is something floping around inside the engine as well. I drained the oil & didnt see any metal shavings. I took the valve covers off & had someone crank over the engine while I watched the rockers. The rockers seem to be moving correctly. I didnt remove the intake manifold. Any other checks I can do before spending alot of $$$ on a new engine?

[TraceZ]

A low mile used LT1 would bolt directly into your car. I bet you could find a good one for cheap, fixing your car and significantly increasing the performance in the progress.

[raroZ28]

if you keep playin and turning it over you're going to make more damage. Drop the oil pan so you can look at the crank. I know you've drained the oil, but take a hanger, wrap a napkin on it, stick it in the pan and move it around, see if there are any shavings that way. I wouldn't run it anymore. You most likely spun a rod bearing. Motor's going to have to come out. I would just pull it.

You don't want to keep running it, you could damage the crank and rods beyond repair. if it's just a rod bearing, it's fairly cheap and easy to fix. Grind the crank, get new bearings, have the block hot tanked and honed, and put it back together.

[Gary94Formula]

1, pull the pan and check it out if that doesn't tell you, then pull the heads and try to figure out what's happening. The more you run it with something knocking the more damage your doing.

[raroZ28]

oh yeah, this is what happened to me 2 years ago when I was curious to see where a knock was coming from, this happened just turning it over. Also blew the valve cover in half, and shot the dipstick down the street.

[97LT1Z28]

Or.....if you're not planning on doing the motor yourself, save yourself the labor of taking it all apart. Just let your fingers do the walkin' and start shoping in the Yellow Pages under "Auto Engine Replacement" and call to find out how a remanufactured long block would be - installed.

Mine was $1900 installed but yours should be a lot less expensive . . .