Want to kill an engine with a few bits of paper towel? Ask me how!

[HondaDustR]

Ok, here's a good story...

I started my second attempt at replacing valve stem seals 2 days ago (the first one failed miserably 'cause I couldn't get the seals on correctly to save my life!).
I go from getting tools out to seeing valve springs in only an hour. It was getting dark, so I saved the hard part for Thursday, of which I had ALL DAY to get this done. Lots of blood, sweat, and tears later, I had all 8 valve springs back on with new seals under them. Now, naturally, I had plugged the oil drain ports with paper towel so I wouldn't lose valve keepers down there (see where this is going??). Now just my luck, a series of unfortunate events followed, including getting rained on (no garage), weather clears up, I get everything cleaned up and lubed, ready to go back together and more bad weather is fast approaching. At this point I'm totally burned out (without even realizing it), try to rush to get the cam tower back on before it rains, completely forgot about the paper towels, strip a bolt head, replace the bolt, break another one off inside the tower (torque wrench jammed and didn't click...it's obvious I don't even have basic focus on what I'm doing anymore...), took the entire tower back off, got the bolt out, thank God! Then it really starts pouring... and it's dark. Pissed as a hornet, I actually do the smart thing and decide to just throw in the towel and finish it this morning before I do something even stupider (in time to get to work, of course...). At this point, my train of thought for the project has totally gotten screwed at apparently THE WORST part. Next morning, I get the cam tower installed and the car started and ran in the driveway just fine for 10 min while I clean up and rush out to work.

Now what happened next was almost surreal, since I meticulously assembled it, knowing I got EVERYTHING...(well, almost). I start seeing some extra oil smoke trailing behind, figuring it's just the exhaust heating up more and burning off the remains spilled further down the headers. I'm about 500 ft down the road and it's smoking really badly (and I'm almost late for work)...start thinking "man, I didn't spill that much oil, did I?" Ok, something's up, but I just need to get 3 miles down the road (because I'm late for work...). Stop at the first light, and the oil pressure is down a couple notches..."I can't possibly imagine what could be leaking oil...I got everything torqued down properly (and I'm late...)."
"Unless it's life threatening, I'll look at it when I get there..." Got about 100 ft down the road and around the corner and the oil pressure flatlines...lifters were nice and quiet (those are some good lifters, apparently...gotta make sure I keep those!)...came to a realization that this might actually be life threatening now...then as I came out of my dazed and confused (and totally wiped out thinking about this project and just want to get to work) realized what was going on...or,_____what was about to happen....

It was just seconds later... power drops easily 50%...oh S***!!! Screw it!!! tach flatlines... tried to restart, but the engine doesn't budge. Rolled into a parking lot (I tell you! This thing has given me the most convenient breakdowns possible...always near a lot...always close to home, even though I put hundreds of miles on it per month!) Popped the hood and there's oil EVERYWHERE! Try to roll the car in gear and pop the clutch, but it just bounces right off the engine. Walked the rest of the way to work like I was in a really bad dream, can't for the life of me come up with an explanation for what just happened... and then it dawned on me...paper towels!!!

So, I need at least a short block ASAP, and located as close as possible to the Northern VA/DC area. Anyone have anything that might work, or any leads, please PM me. Thanks in advance!

[Arizona_928]

ohh that really sucks. I know someone here in PHX that has one, I can follow up on it if your interested.

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by AZ_porschekid

ohh that really sucks. I know someone here in PHX that has one, I can follow up on it if your interested.

Well, the big thing is getting it to northern VA. If it can be shipped for a reasonable price, then sure!

[cvriv.charles]

Thats really sucks. This is the kinda thing I was tryign to tell this other dude who wants to dismantle his engine because he wants to clean it. A lot of things could go wrong. Even the best mechanics forget things.

Sorry about the trouble your having. You'll get it all taken care of. I bet that day at work was the worst!

[speedracing944]

crappy. Just plain crappy.

Triple check and don't rush. Best of luck finding a short block.

Speedy

[mallard ducks]

wow, what a story. that's awful. good luck on getting the car going again

[HondaDustR]

Ok, I got it towed home. Engine is welded shut. The crank wouldn't budge (the crank pulley bolt was coming loose!).
I'll probably begin the autopsy tomorrow. I wish I had my camera (broke that a few weeks ago, too ). I might be able to borrow one, 'cause this one's going to be good.

I have a couple leads on engines, but I hope I don't find a destroyed cyl head/valves, which would mean I'm in the market for more than a short block. I think the cambelt is still intact, but you never know.

But, man! You should see the trail of oil all the way down the street until not too far from where it died!

[cvriv.charles]

Is it me or does it sound like this dude is enoying the death of his car? LOL. Thats a lot of work there. But think how good your car is going to run once you have all that fixed! VROOM! That is if you dont,... you know,... leave paper towels in the engine again Or tools. check and double check again. You should do what surgeons do,... count everything you have that you using to work on the car

[carlege]

Originally Posted by cvriv.charles

Is it me or does it sound like this dude is enoying the death of his car? LOL. Thats a lot of work there. But think how good your car is going to run once you have all that fixed! VROOM! That is if you dont,... you know,... leave paper towels in the engine again Or tools. check and double check again. You should do what surgeons do,... count everything you have that you using to work on the car

No offense to Hondadustr but this was a case of not dotting your I's and crossing your T's and rushing with a combination of bad weather to boot. Has nothing to do with taking an engine apart and having time to put it back together if he had made a check list and followed it aswell as taking his time he would have a good running car. Hondadustr lesson learned take your time. You will make less mistakes

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by cvriv.charles

Is it me or does it sound like this dude is enoying the death of his car? LOL.

No, I'm just trying not to get too upset about it...


It's the daily driver factor that makes these projects either go through in record time, or fail miserably! I won't forget stupid stuff like that again, especially since now I'll have to build an entire engine.

[Dave L]

My first car was a BMW 325 and I would often work on it and have to have it back together for work the next day. It was hell, led to many many late nights and a lot of minor mistakes because I would work on it while very tired. Get something japanesse that is reliable and stable and keep the 944 as a fun car. I can work on my car when I want and not have to rush or get it back together for work the next day. It is much more enjoyable, less stressful and you will do better work.

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by Dave L

My first car was a BMW 325 and I would often work on it and have to have it back together for work the next day. It was hell, led to many many late nights and a lot of minor mistakes because I would work on it while very tired. Get something japanesse that is reliable and stable and keep the 944 as a fun car. I can work on my car when I want and not have to rush or get it back together for work the next day. It is much more enjoyable, less stressful and you will do better work.

Yeah, that would make it easier... I do have limited use of my parent's and brother's cars, but this was the one I ended up with, and it's either keep going on this road or get rid of it and get an old POS that probably needs the same stuff done to it, only I wouldn't even bother 'cause I wouldn't care enough about it past whether it drives or not. I can't afford to keep 2 cars, and there's no room anyway. The thing I like about this one is I can fix it (usually...), and I have a nice resource for information, and new (and used) parts right here on Pelican. No OBD crap to deal with here!

[Verruckt]

Did you get a motor? If not, I may have some parts in my garage. I live in Fairfax.

[SolReaver]

I use red colored tape , like in aircraft, for "remove before starting (or assembly) yea, I know it seems odd, then again, in light of the current situation, it doesn't seeem so odd.

[carlege]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

I use red colored tape , like in aircraft, for "remove before starting (or assembly) yea, I know it seems odd, then again, in light of the current situation, it doesn't seeem so odd.

Not odd at all but the norm..

[cvriv.charles]

You know what I do? When I finish a decent amount of work, even a small amount of work,... I walk away. Come back hours later or even the next day. You got to give it a rest to continue. Relax the brain. You would be suprised how much brighter you are when you take frequent breaks and even long brakes. Refreshed. in your case though your kind of pressed for time though seein its your DD. But still you just go to walk away for a while. when you go non stop you mess up big time.

[carlege]

Originally Posted by cvriv.charles

You know what I do? When I finish a decent amount of work, even a small amount of work,... I walk away. Come back hours later or even the next day. You got to give it a rest to continue. Relax the brain. You would be suprised how much brighter you are when you take frequent breaks and even long brakes. Refreshed. in your case though your kind of pressed for time though seein its your DD. But still you just go to walk away for a while. when you go non stop you mess up big time.

very good advice.... especailly if you get mad. Mad = anger = break things not good on a porsche engine

[ghnat]

HondaDustR,
I think you have a great attitude.

[HondaDustR]

Originally Posted by cvriv.charles

You know what I do? When I finish a decent amount of work, even a small amount of work,... I walk away. Come back hours later or even the next day. You got to give it a rest to continue. Relax the brain. You would be suprised how much brighter you are when you take frequent breaks and even long brakes. Refreshed. in your case though your kind of pressed for time though seein its your DD. But still you just go to walk away for a while. when you go non stop you mess up big time.

I even made it a point to do this. Non stop was part of the reason the valve stem seal job failed the first time, but I did remember the paper towels. Just bad luck. I'm sure I won't do that again anytime soon. If I at least used shop towels, or full pieces of paper towels that hung out and prevented me from putting the cam tower on without removing them...well, that's what you get for trying to save a couple stupid paper towels by using just enough to plug the holes.


I did find an engine near Richmond and will hope to aquire it within the week. The project has been moving pretty fast. Just have to pull the bellhousing and clutch off the old motor to make sure everything is in good shape before I make the big pelican parts order. Having oil sprayed all over the place back there and then sitting for a few days made alot of things 10x easier! The speed and refference sensors just popped right out!

[chuck83na]

Reminds me of the time I changed the belts in my car. I got everything back together okay, but somehow I left a small washer in the air cleaner housing (which I was using to keep a couple of bolts, etc). That got sucked in and scored a piston...Fun times....