Junkyard Festy

[Oren09]

Air filter was clean.
I put everything back together because doing the head is beyond me. I was following service manual directions and couldn't even get to the timing belt.
The engine runs the same with oil and still makes the sound and smokes.

[Oren09]

Ok. New day. Sorry about my last post. I was cold, tired, and frustrated.

Mods, you can move this thread to a repair help forum if you like.

I did a compression test today.
(Left to right from front of car. {timing cover to dizzy})
Cyl1. 0
Cyl2. 115
Cyl3. 142
Cyl4. 152

I don't know what the pressure should be on these engines, but I'm sure there's something wrong with cylinder 1
I got nothing when I first tested cyl1 so I put the plug back in and went to 2. I got a reading so I put the tester back on number 1. Still nothing.
I did the test with all the other plugs in and coil disconnected. Engine was cold.

[kartracer46]

You have a blown head gasket my friend. Ususally 150# or so if it has some miles on it.

[hofficergrover]

Yep bad gasket.
It is super easy to fix the gasket if you get it and have another head that is good as in lifters and not warped or been over heated i would but that one on it. If have all parts it take you probably a day to do it since have not done it before it is easy.

[Oren09]

I redid the test with all the plugs out. The numbers on the other cylinders went up a bit, but nothing on number one. The engine just spun steady with 0 compression.
I put some oil in cylinder 1 and still nothing, so the rings are probably not the issue.

So should I use the existing head or pull the one off the Aspire in a yard nearby? I know that car runs because I took a battery in there and started it.
Is there a place I can take my head to to have it checked for warping/damage?

[kartracer46]

I would bank the old head is most likely fine, but the aspire head is a better head if you can buy it right. I personally would just use the old head and take my chances. No need to invest a lot into it if you don't have to.

Also note, after you do the head gasket be sure you change the oil, and maybe 500 or so change it again.

[Safety Guy]

Check for local machine shops that do head work. Get it checked and decked and cleaned. Maybe have the valve seals checked and/or redone, if it doesn't cost too much.

Better safe than sorry!

Karl

[Oren09]

Thanks. I'll start taking everything apart tomorrow.
Haynes manual is in the mail, should be here in a few days.

[villageidiot]

i just redid every seal and gasket on my 91, while i had the head off, i had a valve job, head surface, and new valve seals put in, cost 100 bucks.

[js_og]

Nice find on a low mileage festy. X2 on machine shops. Since it seems quite affordable to get the head resurfaced, I'll ask around here too

[Oren09]

I made a lot of progress today... until I rounded one of the intake manifold nuts. A 12mm socket fits snugly, but just spins of at an angle.
I'll try an adjustable wrench tomorrow, or anything else that I can think of.
If y'all have suggestions for removing a rounded nut, I'd appreciate sharing

[kartracer46]

you can try a good 6 point wrench if it's not to far gone. depening on which one it is you may get a good set of vice grips on it if the 6 point won't get it.

[Oren09]

Ok..
I got the head off. I left the intake manifold on because of that stripped nut. I couldn't get it off.

However, I found a more serious problem. The piston in cylinder 1 is sitting at the bottom of the cylinder and doesn't move with the rest of them.

[FFW]

Hmmm.......broken piston?

[kartracer46]

Dang, sounds like a rod failure. The aspire 1.3 engine may be your cheapest and best alternative. Price it tomorrow and tell us what you find, unless you want to dig deeper and possibly replace the piston and rod. We'll find you one if you want to try to replace it.