Blackmobile on Fri. 13th went down for an 8 count!

[Blackmobile]

Well I've got some sad news but not totally surprising. I'd say, due to a tank of bad gas, mileage, and Fords poor cooling engine design, Blackmobile lost cylinder 7 & 8 after 130k miles. It appears the myth about cylinder #8 taking a beating due to heat, is true. I did a compression test and it shows only 80 PSI on 8 and 120 on 7. The result of this I believe is a detonation in piston #8, which caused a crack or hole in the piston.

<B>Here’s how it went down:<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comAfter the meet, I was following another member home on the highway, when he began experiencing issues with his shifting, so I never really got into it. I followed until we got off the highway, where mine started giving me issues at idle. There was no EVENT that happened (Ping, bang, crackle, Nothing) where I could say the problem happened. I stated that I wasn't happy with the gas in the tank because I never pump gas from a station that is getting a delivery at that moment, but the price this one-day was 4.28 for premium and I couldn't pass it up.<o:p></o:p>
The odd thing is the engine runs very smooth with the low compressions and there is no ticking or tapping at all from the engine. But it is pressurizing the crankcase when running and spewing oil past the valve cover gaskets when pressure is built up, which in turn flooded the spark plug chambers with oil. <o:p></o:p>
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All this is speculation until I get to remove the engine and tear it down, YES you heard it right, I am, and probably some friends will be yanking the engine out and tearing it down and see what the deal is. Mad money for the year has already been spent, so it’s time to get down and dirty and do what I have to do to get this baby back up and running. <o:p></o:p>
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This is just some friendly words of advice. If you ever thought about getting the rear engine cooling mod, Get It. If you have over 100K miles without it, keep an eye out for #8. And if you have any misgivings about the tank of gas you have, add some octane booster, just in case.

[magindat]

Ed,
I am both saddenned and excited to hear this. Saddenned to hear your misfortune. Excited to help with another project. Let me know when, where, and how I can help. I'll do all I can to be there!
Good luck!
Rich

I hope this helps a little:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forum...d.php?p=628376

[Pops]

Ed thats to bad! Hope that it is not a hard repair. Sounds like some internals need to be replaced in the future so you can turn the wick up a little more. Still not bad with that kind of miles on her. I know you drove it just like grandma would have!

[magindat]

I know you drove it just like grandma would have!

Ed's Grandma has a bum right leg. It goes completely stiff every time she sits in a driver's seat!

[Zack]

I found a source that can have a 10.0:1 Aluminator delivered to your door for $4500.

[Blackmobile]

Ed thats to bad! Hope that it is not a hard repair. Sounds like some internals need to be replaced in the future so you can turn the wick up a little more. Still not bad with that kind of miles on her. I know you drove it just like grandma would have!

Yeah, but sh drove a little duce coupe, and she was from Pasadena. LOL

[Blackmobile]

I found a source that can have a 10.0:1 Aluminator delivered to your door for $4500.

Thanks for the info, but the Mad Money funds have dried up for the year. Lean funds dictate a replacement or repair of the affected parts.

[merc]

I still have a O.E.M long block for sale.

[Blackmobile]

I still have a O.E.M long block for sale.

Thanks for the reminder, but the most cost effective route at the moment is to repair what I've got.

[Stranger in the Black Sedan]

Are you at least going to re ring the whole motor, or is it literally going to be replacing only a few pistons and re ringing 2 cylinders? Make sure the new pistons are weight matched to the ones coming out, if that is the case.

[Blackmobile]

Are you at least going to re ring the whole motor, or is it literally going to be replacing only a few pistons and re ringing 2 cylinders? Make sure the new pistons are weight matched to the ones coming out, if that is the case.

It all depends on how the parts look when they come out, but as of now I don't intend to fix what ain't broke.

Here are the results of my compression test: Min / Max

1 - 210/200 5 - 210/220
2 - 210/220 6 - 190/200
3 - 210/220 7 - 120/125
4 - 210/220 8 - 80/80

[merc]

Thanks for the reminder, but the most cost effective route at the moment is to repair what I've got.

Really, that could be true. I was thinking new piston rings, honing, new head gasket,one or two pistons, bolts and stud kit. Not sure about the condition of the heads but you might want new springs and values. That could cost about 2,000 dollars with labor. Hopefully you have friends with skills.

[Blackmobile]

Really, that could be true. I was thinking new piston rings, honing, new head gasket,one or two pistons, bolts and stud kit. Not sure about the condition of the heads but you might want new springs and values. That could cost about 2,000 dollars with labor. Hopefully you have friends with skills.

That's what I pretty much expect, other that just 1 piston. But the heads appear to be fine. If it wasn't for all the blowby preassure I'd still be driving it to work, as I did last week ( Boy was there a mess to clean up under the hood after that). The only tapping you hear under the hood is the injectors.
I still have to do a wet compression test to see if it's the rings (which I don't believe it is) or if it's a cracked piston (which I expect to find after tearing it down).

One thing I can say about my last project car was "I have turned every bolt on the car" except for the body bushing, Most rusted out before I could get to them in 13 years of ownership.

[Zack]

If you take a 130k motor out and replace a few pistons, then throw it back together, I will have ZERO respect for you in the future.

Tell you what, empty your wallet and cash your next paycheck...then light it on fire, cause thats what you will be doing.

Park the car until you can do it the RIGHT WAY

[Zack]

Edit on the Aluminator:
$4256 delivered to any location in the lower 48.

Charge it and be done with it!
You can make 800 back on your cylinder heads alone.