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Oh NO! Engine Blew!!!!
Decided to take the 944 to work/school today. On the way home while just pulling away from a stop light the car was bucking and hesitating. I looked in the rear view and saw a HUGE white cloud of smoke coming from the back end of the car and then the engine died. The engine is locked tighter than tight. It will not turn. After waiting 2 hours for a tow I pulled the front covers and my belts are still intact and tensioned properly. At this point I wish it was the belt which broke cause then I would just be looking at some valves. I fear this is going to be a much deeper problem inside the motor. It is such a shame because this motor is very strong and can outrun many other 8 valve 944s. The poor thing had the highest dyno numbers out of all the other 8 valvers out at 944fest a couple years ago.
Anyways I have some work to do Friday on her. The good news is I have a almost complete engine from a 85.5 sitting in my yard. More to come.... Speedy 
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-19-2008, 04:55 PM
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Trying to work for parts!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MO
Posts: 1,760
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White cloud should be coolant though, so maybe the headgasket just went.
You did have it in neutral when you were trying to turn it by hand right?
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86 Metallic Grey 85.5 Metallic graphite - Gone |
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06-19-2008, 04:58 PM
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She is locked up tight. I was only going maybe 5 mph and the engine was only spinning at 1000 rpm. I did smell coolant after the incident but it is also leaking oil from somewhere as it left a spot on the flat bed.
Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-19-2008, 05:11 PM
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Registered
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it's contagious
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Brian '86 944 NA '94 Jeep Cherokee 3" and 31's '86 Chevy C10 425hp '98 Dodge Neon (the wife) |
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06-19-2008, 05:13 PM
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Proprietoristicly Refined
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: ~Carefree Highway~
Posts: 5,833
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Speedy,
Really sorry to hear your pain. No joking. I don't know how you have the time with work and school. My first thought was either rod bearings or main crank bearing seized. I bought my first Porsche in Tucson-1970 914 1.7. Working and school UA, front crank bearing seized. No time to do all three. Good luck John_AZ |
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06-19-2008, 05:13 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Nashville, TN
Posts: 4,049
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white smoke = coolant
not starting = possible hydrolock pull the head, check the gasket and see if the cylinders are full of koolaid |
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06-19-2008, 05:30 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Suntree, Florida, USA
Posts: 2,261
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You could just pull the plugs and see if water shoots out of the holes when you crank the motor???
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JB - BreitWerks www.breitwerks.com 321-806-8664 Engine Rebuild & Restorations |
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06-19-2008, 05:43 PM
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Quote:
I guess I could pull spark plugs and look for a lake of coolant in the cylinder. Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-19-2008, 05:43 PM
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Nobody Special
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NorCal
Posts: 522
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Head gasket
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86 - 951 - Garrett dbb T3/T4R/Tial/Maxtronic -SOLD 91 - BMW 325 iX AWD, 5-spd Coupe, Lazur Blau Metallic-SOLD 86 - 951-K26/8, daily driver-SOLD 87 - 944S - Another daily driver-SOLD |
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06-19-2008, 05:57 PM
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I pulled all 4 sparks.
the front is good. Dry and normal looking 2nd from the front was damaged pretty badly and a little damp. I fear it looks like something mechanical put a ding in it. see photo.    The 3rd plug back looked normal. The 4th plug (rear most) was totally soaked with coolant. My overflow container is completely drained and there isn't any coolant in the top hose either. There must of been just a crap load of coolant dumped into the cylinder all at once. Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-19-2008, 06:15 PM
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Trying to work for parts!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: MO
Posts: 1,760
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Yup, sounds like headgasket.
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86 Metallic Grey 85.5 Metallic graphite - Gone |
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06-19-2008, 06:34 PM
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Nobody Special
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NorCal
Posts: 522
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Do try and get the coolant out as soon as possible. Once mixed with air it will start to freeze up your rings unless you pump it out by pulling the DME relay and cranking it over to get as much coolant out as possible. Once you have done that, take an air nozzle/compressor and dry it out through the plug hole as best you can before pulling the head. The #4 HG failure seems to be the most common as there is a hot spot area where air gets trapped in the water jacket. Lindsey Racing makes a steam vent kit to solve this issue.
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86 - 951 - Garrett dbb T3/T4R/Tial/Maxtronic -SOLD 91 - BMW 325 iX AWD, 5-spd Coupe, Lazur Blau Metallic-SOLD 86 - 951-K26/8, daily driver-SOLD 87 - 944S - Another daily driver-SOLD |
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06-19-2008, 06:37 PM
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I am pulling the head today. I am hesitant about cranking the engine because of the damage on the 2nd spark plug. It appears something physically hit the spark plug. I am worried I also dropped a valve or something.
Speed
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-20-2008, 04:11 AM
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Quality
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Philadelphia area and Morristown NJ
Posts: 951
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How many miles on this motor? Previous work?
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85.5 944 NA 5spd - Sold but not forgotten 89 951 Turbo S - Revival in progress... 
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06-20-2008, 04:54 AM
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164,000 miles. All previous work conducted by yours truly. The most recent was new lifters in the cam tower about 5000 miles ago. It always had good compression numbers and ran like a top. Belt service was done religiously so I am glad to see it was not a belt failure. I would of lost all faith in the P9201 and the tensioning intervals.
Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-20-2008, 05:03 AM
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Greasy Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,457
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Sorry to hear about the failure
 My old '83 blew the head gasket the exact same way (cyl #4, no warning, HUGH cloud of coolant smoke) Your photo of the #2 plug has me a bit boggled though as well. When you say the plug was "damp" was it damp with coolant or fuel? It couldn't have been that way long if the engine has been running well, as it appears it is crushed enough to prevent a spark. If there is any coolant in that cyl as well, It may be that the coolant leaking into the cyl blew any carbon off the top of the piston, and that is what impacted the plug?!? In the good ol' days we used to remove carbon build up in big V8s by running them at near redline RPMs, then pour a 1/2 cup of water directly into the carb! it's amazing what steam can do! Good luck with the tear down! If you need any misc parts let me know, and I'll see what I have on the shelf. -Nick
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Owner: Bennington Motorsports www.benms.com Sponsor for Midwest Region 944-SPEC racing series -When was your timing belt changed or tensioned?? -Yes, I'm the crazy man that will loan out my 9201. Just PM me, I will add you to the list and get it out ASAP. |
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06-20-2008, 06:24 AM
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well I almost have the head off. All I need to do is disconnect the exhaust manifold from the exhaust and the head will lift right off.
Bad news though. There is a HUGE chunk of metal about the size of my pinky finger lodged between the valve and the head holding the valve open. There looks to be allot of damage to the valve seat area. I wonder if a piston blew apart. I will see soon enough. I am going to take a break and drink an ice cold Coke then proceed. Thanks for the parts offer Nick. I will see what is going on shortly. I am already making my list and checking it twice... Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-20-2008, 09:42 AM
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Nobody Special
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: NorCal
Posts: 522
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Quote:
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86 - 951 - Garrett dbb T3/T4R/Tial/Maxtronic -SOLD 91 - BMW 325 iX AWD, 5-spd Coupe, Lazur Blau Metallic-SOLD 86 - 951-K26/8, daily driver-SOLD 87 - 944S - Another daily driver-SOLD |
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06-20-2008, 09:57 AM
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meister member
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The engine is completely destroyed! The piston blew apart and the cylinder wall blew apart. Pics soon to follow as soon as I find my camera.
Speedy
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1983 944 guards red with 16" Fuchs, Host of Wisconsin area timing/ balance shaft belt tensioning party 1987 944S Purchased from Legion. Corvette LT-1 V-8 conversion with Mega Squirt II Check on progress ---> www.porschehybrids.com/gallery/speedracing944 Favorite Road = www.tailofthedragon.com 318 turns in 11 miles (11 min 20 sec best run) |
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06-20-2008, 10:58 AM
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That's pretty bizarre. You were just pulling away from the light normally - not revving it to redline or anything? Bizarre....
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83 944 NA - Black on black 86 951 - Red - SOLD 7/21 16 Ford Expedition He who hesitates is lost. |
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06-20-2008, 11:25 AM
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My 951
My 83 NA
