DasErde's sympathies... and even more ramblings from a really madman.

[J4KQ4me@aol.com]

Well, I don't know how many of you read my "Ramblings of a madman" post,
wherein I whined about my silly 85 4KQ and it's related constant maladies.
Well, as it turns out, there was this little knock I was hearing for the past
few days, that I dispatched as an oil logged vacuum pump. Driving it hard all
weekend seemed to make the knock a little louder, but nothing that would have
made me suspect internal engine problems. Well, on the way to my shop the
other morning, (The very day I was going to rebuild the vacuum pump) the knock
became a vibration, and then a severe loss of power. As I pulled off to the
side, it was over. the engine cranked, but no start. I looked under, and no
leaking oil, either. hmm.
      So a trip on the flatbed, and back to the shop. All of the fluids were
good. The engine cranked like the timing was way off. I thought on an outside
chance the crankshaft pulley might have come loose, so I checked the marks,
and everything lined up. I started on the compression check, and by the #2
spark plug, I knew I had a major problem. There was no electrode on it. When I
cranked the engine, I could see the broken piston laying in there. Aaaugh.
       So after all of the work I have put into this thing, it seems either
the con-rod let loose, or maybe a wrist pin. 
        How much of a lemon is this car? I just put new front pads in the
night before. See what it gets you? 
        Well, I have a nice 2309 cc 130 hp engine to bolt in. That should
liven things up a bit. 
   Later- Jon.