HEMIWagon Project Log: Something in the motor broke

"JGrabowMSt" (jgrabowmst) 10/06/2014 at 23:51 • Filed to: HEMIWAGON

4

29

According to my call logs, at 3:09PM on Friday afternoon I called AAA only to be told that they don't go onto the Parkway. Great. Just my luck. The Parkway actually has it's own towing service. The good part is that they honor AAA memberships, and give AAA a bad name. I was on the truck within 10 minutes of calling. That is downright impressive by AAA standards. I feel like I could be broken down in a AAA parking lot and have to wait longer 25-60 minutes for a tow. The bad part is that they only get me off the Parkway. They don't tow me home. Shit. Call AAA again. Something like about a half hour or so after the second call, I'm on a truck home. I didn't argue with the driver, but I had a slight disagreement about the best way to head home. I live there, I think I may be able to get you in and out of the area faster if you consider listening to my suggestions about routes. Oh, it's a difference of 8 miles you're complaining about? You can go 8 miles out of the way, or you can sit in 45 minutes of traffic in a 3 mile stretch. You pick. Just keep in mind I have every intention of getting down to Wildwood before 11PM.

Well, after a phone call, car was on the truck, and we were going the 8 extra miles. About an hour later, we're being dropped off in front of my house. We hit a combined total of maybe 15 minutes of traffic. You're welcome.

So I got into the SL600, and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

But today, after work, I tore into the Magnum. I was tired, it was already dark by the time I got home, and I was not feeling very patient.

I knew the sound was coming from the drivers side, and I suspected a rocker arm or valve spring to be broken. A couple taps of a screw driver, and it finally popped off. I was very concerned at first, because it was not budging at all

For 147,5xx miles, this engine is really clean. A part of me was concerned I was going to pop the cover off to sludge. Amazingly, not the case. That's a good thing. The back of the valve cover could use a good cleaning, but is otherwise very clean as well.

While I was in there, I tore into the passenger side as well, having not yet found my problem.

Well, it wasn't the passenger side valve train either. Shit.

So I start pulling spark plugs. I thought the sound had come from the middle, so I first pulled one plug from cylinder 3. Then from cylinder 5. Both looked fine. Looked down the tube to try and look at the piston heads. What I would consider normal carbon buildup for a 10 year old car, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Then I pulled from cylinder 1.

Fuck. That's about all I have for this. So I pulled the other one to see how bad it was.

Double fuck.

So I try looking down the spark plug tube. Naturally, I dropped my phone into the engine bay in the process. Luckily at least the phone didn't break.

That's not a good sight. The heads have to come off. This is already more work than I wanted to put into this motor. I have to call a local shop, because I don't have time off to work on this car during daylight, much less the tools or time to remove the motor for disassembly.

Problems always come in threes right?

In order for the piston to smack the plugs, the piston would either need to be broken, or the something is going on with the rod. How did this not catastrophically blow up on the Garden State Parkway? I have no idea. I heard the sound start, and car was tapping away for maybe a minute or two minutes tops. When I slowed down, I had to shift into neutral, and rev the motor so I didn't get stuck in the toll plaza. Just barely made it onto the grass right after exit 124.

So, the good news is that it's not a rocker, spring or pushrod.

Goddamn car died right after the toll booth. $1.50 that could be going into this motor is gone.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > JGrabowMSt 10/06/2014 at 23:59

5

So the Wagon is parked In your driveway because it broke down while driving on the parkway?

Steve in Manhattan > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:01

0

Sorry I lost the thread - Magnum wagon with which motor?

JGrabowMSt > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s 10/07/2014 at 00:02

1

The wagon is parked on the street in front of my house because that's where the tow truck dropped it. It stalls right after starting, so I can't move it.

I'm going to have the shop pick it up as soon as possible, and figure something out, as soon as possible. I'm driving my other car for the time being until this gets fixed, which hopefully isn't very long.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:03

0

Rod bearings......wow....the clearance from the bearing got bigger and made the piston smack the spark plug...

JGrabowMSt > Steve in Manhattan 10/07/2014 at 00:04

0

5.7L HEMI.

JGrabowMSt > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 10/07/2014 at 00:06

0

It happened incredibly suddenly. Car was driving very well all morning. Then, out of nowhere on the highway "TAPTAPTAPTAPTAPTAPTAP".

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:06

8

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:07

0

I feel bad about this, is that okay?

JGrabowMSt > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 10/07/2014 at 00:12

0

Yeah, it's okay to feel bad. All things considered though, I'm genuinely impressed the damage is not worse. I'm tempted to ask the shop to do all the rod bearings, check compression and drivetrain movement, and put it back together. They can flush the block, clean the piston heads, valves, and all that jazz, and just button it back up. New head gaskets, valve cover gaskets, and spark plug tube gaskets.

I'd rather put this money towards a new motor, but I don't have the time for that right now. I'd need to do a lot of work to swap the motor, and this just needs to get back up and running.

Hopefully the rod and crank aren't damaged.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:17

0

Steve in Manhattan > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 00:22

0

Good thing you know how to take it apart and make a basic diagnosis. It is also remarkable that an engine in a modern car would have trouble at what is middling mileage in this day and age. Wonder what this engine costs in a junkyard.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier 10/07/2014 at 00:30

0

This is your favorite thing today isn't it? Weren't the chickens enough for you?

JGrabowMSt > Steve in Manhattan 10/07/2014 at 00:40

2

I'm not sure about junkyard prices. Both tow truck drivers had told me they rarely pick up HEMI cars and trucks. I've seen motors that guys have pulled out for swaps on forums get sold for $5000 and up in some cases. I'm hoping labor isn't going to kill me on this job, because my repair budget was about to go to a Wavetrac rear diff and coilover suspension.

The night it happened I got in touch with the shop and the owner told me he could come pick it up sometime, but I told him I wanted to survey the damage myself initially. I know my limits, but just as you said, it's good to know how to make at least a basic diagnosis.

I've put about 5k on the car this summer, driving it "sparingly" (not a DD just yet, but driving it as often as I can), and this is the first trouble I've had with it. I did the spark plugs, coolant, oil, rear diff fluid, air filter, new tires, and I have most of the parts for the front suspension, and just need rear sway bar links.

A part of me really hopes the piston isn't in bad shape, and can be cleaned off and put back together, but I expect to need some new internals. What I can take away from this is that at just shy of 150k miles, the MDS system is working exactly as it should be, and the hydraulic lifters are just as reliable as the day the car rolled off the lot. Seeing the valve springs in fantastic condition is also great, because they're known for being a little on the weak side.

Hopefully the next HEMIWagon update is me renewing the insurance (due Nov 1st), and not having to get a second and third job just to fix it. This problem literally occurred about a day after getting the email reminder to renew my policy. It certainly made my mood completely drop as well. But it seems as though everyone I know has been having car trouble this weekend, my sisters car got a flat, and a shop destroyed her wheel lock and damaged the wheel, still not being able to get it off the car, and my coworker hit a deer, so his car is in the shop as well. My girlfriend is really not feeling well, and we struggled to enjoy ourselves this weekend in the middle of all the stress. In the end, all things considered, it was a good weekend. It just could have been a lot better if the car cooperated a little more.

offroadkarter > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 02:55

0

Well, you wanted to do an engine swap

guess you have an excuse for it now

505Turbeaux > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 07:29

0

damn, now that is an odd thing. What in the hell could cause that? Like your piston was extending too far on the up stroke. pull the oil pan and make sure your rod caps are tight maybe and check for play?

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts 10/07/2014 at 10:02

1

Ctrl V is a good friend.

JGrabowMSt > 505Turbeaux 10/07/2014 at 10:50

1

That's exactly it, I have no idea what would have done that.

Unfortunately, I have zero daylight left when I get home, so I'm going to let the shop handle this one. I do trust them, and their quality of work and communication will be my deciding factor of both going ahead with repairs, as well as being a return customer.

I'm about to send them pictures, and see what happens.

JGrabowMSt > offroadkarter 10/07/2014 at 10:53

0

Yeah, but I don't have the budget for a new motor+computer+key+tune. I have the budget for minimal work to get it on the road again, considering the labor costs for pulling the motor. Luckily (I guess) this means the coolant will be flushed again, an oil change, and trans fluid (maybe, not sure). It'll be great to see what kind of wear is occurring, but this isn't how I wanted to check it.

offroadkarter > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 17:30

0

Is the motor binded to the ECU like in a GT-R or something? I know the dodge ECU's are a lot less.... tweakable than ford or GM ones.

JGrabowMSt > offroadkarter 10/07/2014 at 17:36

0

The motor is not, but the key is. If I swapped to a different motor, I'd have to use an ECU for the different motor so it would run correctly, which would mean I would need a new key, and possibly a new cylinder for the key (unless I got an uncut key that was programmed to an ECU, which is really unlikely).

The ECU itself uses the StarScan shit, which, yes, is both less tweakable, and harder to get your hands on the tools that do work.

If I got a new motor, it would have to be an 03-05 5.7L. I'm not sure I'll get one for significantly cheaper than what it will cost to fix this one, considering it will get new gaskets all over, and a really good cleaning. While I'd rather save my pennies for a whole new motor, it will cost me less pennies to fix this and keep driving the car. It just pushes my whole schedule for the swap back. Oh well. As long as I keep the car, right?

offroadkarter > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 17:44

0

I can't even blame Germany on this since its an American part of the car that broke... This puts me in a catch 22

JGrabowMSt > offroadkarter 10/07/2014 at 17:50

0

It's got the NAG1 trans, the thing is good for double the power I have, and has fresh fluid and filter. The trans/torque converter and rear are fine. I suspect a wheel bearing is bad, but it's going to stay that way for a while.

Just need my motor to get fixed, that's all. I'm just waiting for the shop to tell me when they can pick it up. Best guess is next week they'll get to it. The owner does a lot of racing, which leaves only a couple mechanics in the shop to do the work.

While they have it, they're going to measure up the car for the exhaust as well...so I can rumble around like you.

offroadkarter > JGrabowMSt 10/07/2014 at 17:52

0

as long as it doesnt sound like a diesel tractor like the BMW does. I'll probably be bringing that to the next C&C since the marauder will be in winter storage by then.

JGrabowMSt > offroadkarter 10/07/2014 at 17:54

0

I'm hoping the car is out of the shop (it really should be, this motor work shouldn't take them very long once they get the parts) for the next C&C, otherwise, SL600 it is. The Benz needs exercise anyway.

Winter storage? What's that?

Philbert/Phartnagle > JGrabowMSt 10/09/2014 at 06:44

0

Sounds like a piece of carbon broke loose and got between the plug ground strap and piston.

MountainCommand > JGrabowMSt 10/12/2014 at 23:10

0

you told me you wanted a engine and manual trans swap.... this looks like a sign...

JGrabowMSt > MountainCommand 10/12/2014 at 23:17

0

Don't even remind me. As much as I do, the swap will be probably 6-10k depending on how easily I can source the motor/trans/ECU/pedal box, plus the ungodly amount of time that it will take to get the pedal box installed, the clutch stuff mounted, and the transmission tunnel drilled out for the shifter.

I'm currently waiting on the shop to let me know what fixing the motor will run me, because I would honestly rather fix it and DD it as is for a bit longer, before digging into the swap. My goal was to have all the parts for the swap on hand before doing it, not have to rush into finding the stuff to make it happen on such short notice.

Funny how life does that to people....

MountainCommand > JGrabowMSt 10/12/2014 at 23:25

0

I was being a teeny bit sarcastic haha. Obviously go with getting it driveable for a minimal amount of cash. Are there possibilities of a drop in replacement swap from another magnum? by that i mean simply a replacement, no modifying things. You might be able to score a deal on a motor and have it shipped to the shop. And if the damage really is as bad as you lead on, it could be just as cheap overall... Who knows, just gotta wait to see what the shop says.

Plus with winter right around the corner, you dont want to have to put the sl through any of that.

Never rush into a situation involving good amounts of money. usually you end up with something you didnt intend to have or want.

JGrabowMSt > MountainCommand 10/12/2014 at 23:51

0

Funny, the SL gets whipped around a lot actually, it's no "fair weather" car. I drove it all of November last year right up to Thanksgiving weekend.

If timing wasn't so poor, I'd probably go for it.

But in the end, I'll actually probably do what K-Roll is doing right now and find a 6.1L block and ECU+key, build it up, and then find a shop that can test the engine, then find a TR6060, if new or low miles, great, if older, get that rebuilt with tougher stuff, and then find a good clutch to support the juice while not being stiff.

I'm just hoping the current motor can be fixed for under $2k. That's about all I can really hope for right now.