Engine Rebuild

[rickt]

I have a 89 Caravan Turbo that is all stock with 95k miles. About a week ago when i was diving the rear cam plug in the side of the valve cover came loose. Oil ran out and the van shut off. SO i then brought it home looked it over and figured out what happend, fixed the plug and gave it an oil change it runs great now but if i rev it up at about 3000 rpms you can hear it knocking. So i figure it time to go throught the bottum end. Should i just find a good 2.5 block to replace mine then put it back together? or what are my options? Thanks

[turbovanman]

Well, for starters, stop driving it NOW!!!!! You seized it when it stopped and you have done damage to the bearings, maybe the crank or rods. It has low mileage so take off the oil pan and have a look then you can go from there. I repeat, STOP driving it before you do some really bad damage!!!!!

[Chikan]

New question along the same lines.. LOL (Sorry for hijacking the thread in advance)..
my 'tona did a similar thing 2 weeks after i got it (bout a month ago) so it's been sitting since.. finally got $ for the bearings & parts to go through my bottom end... i pulled the pan today, and lo & behold, WTF is this big bronze TANK lookin thing blockin my view of the crank? My friends & I busted 3 sockets tryin to get the thing off.. lookin into an impact set tomorrow.. but before we pull it completely, I'd like to at least know what it is... gotta get to those rods! lol

[89Shadow]

Quote:

Originally posted by Chikan ... but before we pull it completely, I'd like to at least know what it is... gotta get to those rods! lol

Probably the balance shafts - reduces vibration, harshness, etc.

[Chikan]

Are the balance shafts usually encased in a big bronze unit? This thing's about 8 inches long by 6 inches wide... completely blocking access to the #1 - #3 rods... wish I had a camera to take a pic... I'm probably wrong, but I'm thinkin it's some sort of catch pan for oil to keep some close to the crank...

[89Shadow]

Quote:

Originally posted by Chikan Are the balance shafts usually encased in a big bronze unit? This thing's about 8 inches long by 6 inches wide... completely blocking access to the #1 - #3 rods... wish I had a camera to take a pic... I'm probably wrong, but I'm thinkin it's some sort of catch pan for oil to keep some close to the crank...

Does it look like this ? If so that's them.

[Chikan]

Yup! Thanks for the pic & the help guys.. that's the !@#$ that's holdin up my work.. lol... if I can't get my hands on a good strong impact wrench, is there any other way to get the **** thing out?

[turbovanman]

What are you trying to get undone. The balance shaft assembly is held on with 6 bolts and there not that tight??????

[Chikan]

LMAO I my 'tona they are! Snapped 3 sockets clean open tryin to undo those bolts, and only got 2 of the 6 out so far... Dunno if the previous owner serviced somethin down there and screwed it up or what... all I know is the **** things are blockin my access to what I need to get to... LOL

[turbovanman]

Quote:

Originally posted by Chikan LMAO I my 'tona they are! Snapped 3 sockets clean open tryin to undo those bolts, and only got 2 of the 6 out so far... Dunno if the previous owner serviced somethin down there and screwed it up or what... all I know is the **** things are blockin my access to what I need to get to... LOL

Ahhhhh, the last dumbass, must have loctited the bolts in, people are so dumb.

[Chikan]

Yup, it figures... LOL.. oh well, typical so far for this car.. I love it to death (and will even more-so when I'm done with it.. LOL) but since i bought it last month it's been one hell of a headache... but hey, gives me an excuse to go out & tinker with it, right? Heheh

[turbovanman]

Very true, mines given me 3 weeks of headaches, finally got it finished and it looks like the rear main let go, oh well, I am changing the torque converter away-

[Chikan]

Ouch.. LOL
Well, I figured payin only $450 for the car when I got it, I was gettin a decent deal.. even IF it needed to be re-ringed.. no biggie... course, I wasn't expecting the oil pump to die after a week, and make it spin a rod bearing... go get the rings, pump, & bearings, pull the pan, and lo & behold my oil's full of water, so gotta go get a headgasket now too.. LOL so it's definately a project, but hell, I still see it as a darn good deal for a '93 'tona..

[turbovanman]

Yeah, when they work there sooo much fun!!!

[Chikan]

Yup! Brings back memories of my '85 Laser XT... (ahh, the good ol' days.. LOL)