What have I done? (long)

[Jason Broussard]

Hello Listers,

It's been a couple of years since my last post, I think I have my 10V dialed
(sorry Jim no EFI yet, but it is running again). So I decided what the heck
lets try my luck with a 20V. This is turning out to be a mistake.

The saga starts like this.  I purchased a 91 200 20V on 9/30/04. The car
LOOKS to be in great condition. The person I purchased the car from had all
records for the car and it gave me the impression the car should be in great
condition. Problems disclosed before the purchase: Seat heaters don't work,
Boost is 1.3 bar, and cruse control doesn't work. No big deal I can fix
those. Took the car in for an inspection and the shop found the following
problems: Break pads shot, missing bolts from the oil pan, rack boots
cracked and leaking, exhaust rusted out, leak coming from the top of the
tranny, break lines cracked, hoses look original and worn, AC not cold, and
shocks worn.

I decide, while it's at the shop lets look into the boost problem. At this
point I should add, I used to work at this shop when I was in high school,
so I know the owner. The owner and I decided to pull the codes to see what's
going on. We got the Error code for the Hall sender, but it was
intermittent. I tell the owner, the timing belt is somewhat new and maybe
they screwed the timing up. We turn the motor to TDC and pull the
distributor cap, and what do I find, a pool of oil. Oh boy this is not good.
Clean the oil out and the timing was way off. Fix the timing put it all back
together and take it out for a test drive and things look to be some what
fixed. The car won't hit 1.7 unless I use the Bentleys test method, but it
does hit 1.7. If I drive it with my foot to the floor I only get 1.5, go
figure. 

Any ways I decide I will fix the problems in order of safety, brakes first,
hoses second, new distributor third.

On my way to work on 10/21 I see a huge cloud of smoke and the temp gauge
starts shooting up. I knew exactly what happened. Pulled over and shut it
off Immediately. Had it towed to the shop. I got a hose kit this weekend and
replaced all the coolant hoses. Fired it up, let it warm up for a while and
revved it up to 3K RPM's and lots of white smoke. Turned it off and called
it quits for a while.

Now for the question, what are the chances I didn't blow the head gasket and
it is just water in the exhaust. I really don't want to deal with the head.
I call my Dad for a second opinion and he mentions I might have cracked the
block. What are the chances of that? Monday if I feel up to it I'll pull the
plugs and take a look, but for the moment I'm going to sit in the corner and
cry.

Any thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

-Jason

 

86 5K CSTQ Blausport cam, G60 Conversion, steal braided brake lines, K24,
1.8 bar, 20V suspension, 200 interior, Fuch Rims (Car soon to be for sale to
pay for the 20V's problems)

91 200 20V TQ stock and falling apart. 

Boulder Co.