Engine help, what to do..?

1993 · 12-06-2004, 02:15 PM

Ok, as stated before, i bought a 1992 sc with dual cam for really cheap as the boy said it was leaking water real bad around the head to block area, he let it set for a year. I bought it and towed it home thinking i would put water in it and start it and find where exactly the leak was, well when i put water in it, it went right into the oil pan just as quick as i could pour it in the reservoir! Now, i dont have much money to spend on this, i am kinda thinking of just rebuilding this motor because it would be cheaper than getting another motor, BUT, im afraid that i might put it all back together and get it in the car only to find out that it wasnt a simple headgasket and that it still leaks water into the pan and that it might be a fried block..Now, if it was just a bad head thats no big deal, i can get another one cheap here.. As far as getting another whole engine, its kinda expensive and on top of that, im afraid of being told that the new engine is good, then going through all of the trouble of installing it only to find out its no good either. what should i do, i want to get this car going.

jeep45238 · 12-06-2004, 02:31 PM

I have a spare block you can have for cheap plus shipping. And a couple oil pans, power steering brackets, SOHC valve cover/oil pickup/timingchain cover/pistons....

I'd imagine a toasted head gasket and probably the bearing's aren't in the greatest of shape either, and same with the rings. More likely a busted head.

Not too often that a saturn block gets fried, so I wouldn't worry about that too much.

1993 · 12-06-2004, 04:50 PM

I know it runs because we fired it up to load it on the trailer. now, the boy said he did get it hot before..im just afraid that the head or block is busted because it leaks the water into the oil pan so quickly. if its the head, no big deal, i can get another one for 30.00 at the junkyard and then just rebuild the bottom end, but im afraid of it being the block though..

ian12 · 12-10-2004, 12:50 AM

yes possibly the block or head is cracked. just a blown head gasket possibly but i doubt thats all. if water is leaking that quick its got to be more then just the head gasket. why not remove the head and inspect as much as you can and check out the gasket and see how level the block and head is. maybe since he said he got it hot before that the cylinder wall has cracked.

really id say remove all coolant from the system, then give it any oil change. check over entire car, then drive it around but not much just to see if everything seems good and engine doesnt lack too much power. then disassembly and troubleshooting begins.