* I apologize for the length of this thread in advance. I'm looking for some advice on some next steps for my 1984 Pontiac Sunbird Turbo Convertable.*
It started about a month ago. My Sunbird died and was towed back to my shop. I pulled a compression test and there was 80 psi of compression on cylinder 1 and the rest were 0. Not good. I pulled the head off and found a failed head gasket (broke right between cylinder 3 and 4.) I took the head to a machine shop and they cleaned it up and found several cracks and found it was severely warped. I got a reman cylinder head from Autozone complete with valves fairly cheaply. Put a new head gasket in the beast along with intake and exhaust since it all come out as one unit and torqued it down with new bolts. ( I also put some new hydraulic lifters in. Cam looked ok. ).
In the process of putting everything back together I forgot to put the alternator bracket on and the studs with the longer tops were in the wrong position so I had to untorque the head and move the studs around. I did this according to the torque procedure. I did not change the head gasket again after doing this (Felpro blue gasket)
I got the beast back together. Got it timed ( Cam gear is lined up at the top. Crank pully is at 8 degrees btdc.). I attempted to start. Nothing. Not even a cough. After much swearing and knashing of teeth I trouble shoot. Got fuel at the rack. I don't thing my injectors are spraying into the cylinders. But what's worse is I pulled a compression test and cylinders 3 and 4 have about 60 psi. Cylinder 1 has 80 psi And #2 has nothing!
Any thoughts? Rings in 2,3 and 4 shot? Should I have replaced the head gasket again after having to re-torque. Is my reman head junk? Is my block warped? Has the Sole left the engine?
Any help would be appreciated
Have you had this engine running since your purchase? If engine was running and now it isn't I doubt your rings suddenly went south.
New head bolts and gasket.
Have head checked at machine shop - reman means little. These heads are known to have cheap Chinese valves in them and won't hold compression.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmVVoUT7Di0
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I actually have not had the engine running since I purchased the head. (There's got to be another issue besides number 2 cylinder. It's not even trying to fire.) Looks like it was so nice (to replace) I'll do it twice which seems to be a theme with this car. Grumble grumble. Oh well, more excuse for garage time.
We'll see how good the warranty is on this head
Dave
David Smith wrote:* I apologize for the length of this thread in advance. I'm looking for some advice on some next steps for my 1984 Pontiac Sunbird Turbo Convertable.*
Cam gear is lined up at the top. Crank pully is at 8 degrees btdc.
Wait, what?!? When you put the timing belt on, you roll the crank back slightly for ease of installation, but when it's all tensioned up, both should be on the zero marks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hbT5D7KUn0
-Matt
82 Skyhawk Convertible:
https://goo.gl/j7R6Cu
83 P/2K Turbo:
http://goo.gl/EVKPX6
86 Firenza Cruiser: "Jack-Wagon"
https://goo.gl/bWP2uK
87 Skyhawk Custom:
http://goo.gl/krdDeU
90 Sunbird GT: "Turbo-Turd"
93 Sunbird Convertible: "FrankenBird"
(and a pair of Cavaliers I'd rather not talk about)
