50 replies to this topic

[Potta]

Hi Guys,

As some of you already know I've got an LC with a 186 in it that has been parked for 6-7 years and not started for at least 5-6 of those years.(The battery went flat. What can ya do?)

Anyway, I'm in the process of trying to start it. Mainly just to see if it is Ok and to hear it running again.

Its an almost stock 186, and I was told when I bought it that it has a 'lumpy' cam in it. It sounds like it but who really knows until you take it apart?

Question 1. I can turn the motor using the fan, in either direction, although it will only go a little bit anti-clockwise. Does that mean its farked? The balancer is definitely turning and I can hear valves moving inside. I'm guessing that the rings are either gone or fully knackered so there isnt' a lot of compression. is that a fair assumption?

Question 2. If I try to start it like this will it be farked? I can't hear any unusual noises when I turn it, just the gentle floop floop of the valves moving up and down. I only plan on running it until the float bowl empties on the carby. It ran fine before although it had a noisy lifter that would pipe up every now and then.

Any advice would be great guys. I like to think that I understand how it all works and I've done lots of bits and pieces over the years but I don't have the hands on experience with engines that a lot of guys on here do. The last thing I want to do is kill the engine.

Thanks

Have a good one.

[rodomo]

The motor is still in the car?
The engine has water?
Sounds a bit like a cylinder with water (or oil) in it to me?

[Potta]

Yes I've put water in it to look for leaks where I've replaced some pipes.

Its not a loud noise at all you have to listen for it.

Is there a quick way I can tell if there is water in a cylinder?

There is every chance because I left it sitting full of water and it could have rusted through, although externally it looks fine.

[Potta]

I tried again and I can actually turn it in both directions without too much effort, which is my main concern.

Should it be that easy to turn it?

[orangeLJ]

Its a red motor, slap it full of fresh oil, throw some fresh plugs in it, leave the coil lead off and wind it over a few times, whack it back on and fire it up.

If its not #@$^%& internally, then you shouldnt have too many dramas, might clack for the first second while oil returns to places it hasnt been for years.

[MRLXSS]

I agree with Chris! 'She'll be right mate'

It's a holden 6! This thing will start and run no problems! LOL

[Potta]

I hope you guys are right. I'll give it a crack on the weekend. Definitely some fresh oil and plugs. I don't think it even got that when it was my daily though, it might not like it

[wot179]

Stay put Johnno.Some of us enjoy and appreciate your input.

[Heath]

For f*cks sake getting it running isn't gonna be a problem. The trick is in doing it without reducing its life by about 80000ks.

That's EXACTLY what I was trying to say in the other thread. Some people just don't wanna f*cking hear it mate

Keyword some - we want you to stick around!

Edited by Heath, 30 October 2009 - 06:38 PM.

[orangeLJ]

No one said that what old johnno wrote wasnt right, but for an older engine that hasnt exactly been well looked after, its certainly not going to hurt, its not like the tolerances are going to be tight etc, so a second or two with no oil isnt going to be catastrophic.

I too appreciate what oldjohnno has to say, but why does that have to mean others cant voice an opinion?

[orangeLJ]

wasnt directed at anyone really dude, just thinking out loud hey.

In your case its understandable (especially when paying big dollars for a car or a rare car with original or expensive engine) but Potta's engine is just a highish km'd garden variety 186 and with the life of a red motor being extremely long a couple thousand kays worth of added engine wear isnt going to kill the thing.

Im a bad example though, I tend to rebuild my engines for no real reason at all (fun? shits and giggles? well mainly to go faster)

but yeah, I dont think anyone was trying to discredit anything anyone else said, just voicing our own opinions on it all, maybe johnno had a bad day/week, it happens to everyone and I often take things the wrong way/too personally sometimes too.

group hug anyone?

[orangeLJ]

Elsie is good actually! strangest cat in the world though, thinks she is a human 50% of the time, a dog 45% of the time and a cat about 5% of the time! full of attitude! (gets it from my missus and my mum)

she is currently snuggled up in bed with my mum (mums crook, we are just here for dinner and watching running on empty with my old man)

Youd be glad to hear Karlie and I are getting another kitten before chrissy Its not the same without having a meowing furrball around our house (we left els with my parents, they loved her too much to let her go!)

anyway, enough of the rabble in pottas thread,

Let us know how you get on with the engine potta.

[Potta]

Didn't get to it this weekend, maybe next weekend.....or tonight....bugger the neighbours.....

OldJohnno I'll be doing what you suggested, even though its a run of the mill engine (mostly), I don't want to take any risks because I REALLY can't afford to replace it...

If she runs alright I might end up whacking in some new gaskets, quick paintjob and dropping her in the new car when its ready, then after rego etc I can rebuild the engine or get another to build.

Thats the thing with building a car, so many things you can do and so many ways you can go about it.

And for the record I don't think the guys were having a crack at you oldjohnno, they were just pointing out how good red motors are. Your advice was definitely appreciated....

[GTR600]

You could try starting it a bit more offen maybe once ever couple off mouths instead of 5/6 years then you know she'll be ok.

Its hard when theres no major interest in driving it, but will keep everything were it should be for when you do.


good luck

[Potta]

You could try starting it a bit more offen maybe once ever couple off mouths instead of 5/6 years then you know she'll be ok.

Its hard when theres no major interest in driving it, but will keep everything were it should be for when you do.


good luck

There's plenty of interest in driving it mate but the car its in has had it....

Thanks for the kind words fellas, I'm over my little tanty now... I'd had a very bad day but that's no excuse; I just have to learn to stay off the forums when I'm feeling even crankier than usual...

Its all good Johnno....